Course and Faculty Representative training 09-10

Welcome • Introduction • UBSU overview • What are course/faculty reps? • Meetings • Responsibility • Student contact • Issues that may arise/are on the agenda • Advice and Support • Benefits • Questions Course and Faculty Representative training 09-10 www.ubsu.co.uk

Introduction to UBSU Course and Faculty Representative training 09-10 Values *Representation *Involvement *Support *Democracy *Diversity • Services • Advice Centre • The Blend • Sports • Clubs and Societies • The Long Bar • Sub Club • Commercial Partners • Sabbatical Officers • President: Julie Sadlier • VP Communications: Jodie Lockwood • VP Democracy & Diversity: Betasha Case • VP Education: Adam Calvert • VP Welfare: Faye Biggs • VP Union and Community Development: Jay Chinnasamy • 12 Student Officers at Bedford and Luton www.ubsu.co.uk

Course and Faculty Representative training 09-10 Structure of UBSU www.ubsu.co.uk Election & Referendums General Meetings Student Representative Council Campus Student Representative Council Executive Committee Sabbatical Officers

Course and Faculty Representative training 09-10 • What is a Course Rep? • A Course Representative is the voice of his/her fellow students studying a particular course. The Students’ Union believes students should be the first priority of the University and Course Representatives help keep the University focused on that objective. • The elected voice of students on a course • Grassroots representation • Link between student and department and UBSU • Monitor the quality of academic provision • Raises questions and concerns • Provide positive & negative feedback • Campaign for change • Provides an accountable system for student views • Sit on Course Committees and Student Representative Council www.ubsu.co.uk

Course and Faculty Representative training 09-10 • What is a Faculty Rep? • CATS, HSS, BS and EST • 5 per Faculty elected in cross campus ballot • Course rep Champions • Attend Faculty Academic Boards • Raises issues to higher levels if course reps ask them too • Has an over view of similar course issues • Help shape policy and procedure • QAA course approvals and reviews www.ubsu.co.uk

UBSU Meetings • Student Representative Council (SRC) • Meets once a term • Establish Institution wide policy • Work to widen democratic nature of UBSU • Work to resolve student issues alongside Sabbatical Officers • Campus Student Representative Council (CSRC) • Meets at both Bedford and Luton campus • Establish campus specific policy • Forward policy to SRC • Work to resolve student issues alongside Sabbatical Officers • Annual Student Meeting (ASM) • Ultimate governing body of UBSU • Votes of motions to guide UBSU’s aims and objectives Course and Faculty Representative training 09-10 www.ubsu.co.uk

University Meetings • Course/Field Committee • Maintain academic standards and monitor quality of provision • Ensure aims and objectives of courses are being met • Ensure students’ learning experiences are informed by student opinion • Main channel of communication between students, unit team and FAB’s • Faculty Academic Board • Ensures students’ educational experience is being enhanced • Plans the development of academic provision within the faculty • Ensures the student view is sought and acted upon Course and Faculty Representative training 09-10 www.ubsu.co.uk

Meetings-the rules! • The where, the when, the who! • Learn from the Past – Speak to committee members, read past papers and minutes • Be prepared ie read the agenda and ask students for views • Participate – Ask questions or for clarification, be pro-active • Learn the Structure and put items on the agenda Course and Faculty Representative training 09-10 www.ubsu.co.uk The Structure Apologies for Absence Minutes of the last meeting Matters Arising Reports Items Any other business (AOB)

Responsibility • Students • To express student view • Comment on strengths and weaknesses of academic experience • Make every effort to attend meetings or send apologies if necessary • Feedback to students/course reps • UoB • To value student contributions at meetings • To ensure all reps receive the agenda and minutes • To allow reps time to engage with students on their course • UBSU • To ensure election of reps is promoted • To ensure students’ know who to contact at the UBSU for advice • Support course/faculty reps Course and Faculty Representative training 09-10 www.ubsu.co.uk

Course and Faculty Representative training 09-10 • Student contact • Display your details on the course board • Set up an area on BREO • Speak to your administrator about sending student emails • Utilise Facebook • Ask for a couple minutes at the start/end of lecture • Set up a drop in time • Remember to feedback to students www.ubsu.co.uk

Potential issues • Deadlines: Changed without consultation • Lecture rooms being inadequate ie too small • Reading lists: need for library resources • Feedback: lecturers exceeding 3 weeks without explanation • Cancelled lectures • Unavailability of past exam papers • Teaching methods • Limited access to labs/equipment Course and Faculty Representative training 09-10 www.ubsu.co.uk

Course and Faculty Representative training 09-10 • Where to take issues • Lecturer in question • Head of Department • Personal tutor • Academic Librarian • One of the support services ie PAD or CAAS • Course/Field Committee • Faculty rep and Academic Faculty Board • Administration team • Students’ Union • University complaints procedure etc www.ubsu.co.uk

Support • Department • Field/Course/Programme Administrators • Course leaders • Head of Department • Wider University • CAAS- Corporate Academic Advisory Service • PAD- Professional Academic Development • CAREERS- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKPxr-_iSZ8&feature=player_embedded • UBSU • Advice Centre Luton H012: Louise.tadiar@beds.ac.uk • VP Education: Adam.calvert@beds.ac.uk • Education and Representation Manager: Rebecca.heard@beds.ac.uk Course and Faculty Representative training 09-10 www.ubsu.co.uk

Course and Faculty Representative training 09-10 • Benefits • Enhanced career prospects • Volunteering benefits • UBSU and UoB Course rep certificate • Transferable Skills • Public Speaking, negotiation, advocacy, decision making, organisation skills, team work, meeting and committee skills, problem solving, leadership, communication skills, presenting skills, time management, self management. All things to look great on your CV! www.ubsu.co.uk

Course and Faculty Representative training 09-10 • Get to know… • Your students/course reps • Your admin team • Your UBSU support • Your Faculty Manager: • Business School: Richard.bunce@beds.ac.uk • Health and Social Sciences: Moira.hampson@beds.ac.uk • Creative Arts and Technologies: Jan.howlett@beds.ac.uk • Education, Sport and Tourism: Bridget.dix@beds.ac.uk • Questions? www.ubsu.co.uk

Course and Faculty Representative training 09-10 • Things you may hear… • NSS- National Student Survey • QAA Audit- Quality Assurance Agency Audit • Approvals and Reviews • Second/ External Marking • HEFC (E)- Higher Education Funding Council (England) • OIA- Office of the Independent Adjudicator • RAE- Research Assessment Exercises • TQSC- Teaching Quality Standards Committee • Questions? www.ubsu.co.uk

Course and Faculty Representative training 09-10