Becoming a Class or PGR Representative

1. Becoming a Class or PGR Representative Compiled by the SRC and the Senate Office

2. Why should you become a Class or PGR Representative? • It’s a great opportunity to… • Represent the views of your classmates and peers • Influence change in learning and teaching on your course or research in your School • Interact with your classmates, peers and staff • Improve your confidence • Be a leader

3. What’s in it for you? • Class or PGR Representative Training (recommended) • Recognition of the Class or PGR Rep role on your academic transcript • Provided you have attended training and Staff-Student Liaison Committees (or another School/College Committee on which you represent your classmates and/or other students in the School/College)! • Opportunities to develop skills sought by employers • Experience of formal meetings • Greater understanding of the University and current issues in higher education • The chance to make a real difference

4. What will it involve? • Getting classmates’ and peers’ views on their learning experience • Representing the majority views of your class at meetings • Working with other Class or PGR Reps • Raise issues on Student Voice and report back outcomes to your classmates and peers The training will explain all of this

5. What‘s the time commitment? What’s the time commitment? • Class or PGR Representative Training • 2½ hours (various dates available) • Attendance at Staff-Student Liaison Committees (or as a Rep on another School, Graduate School or College Committee) • normally a minimum of one meeting per semester • Consultation with and reporting back to your classmates • You may do this in class (with permission), or electronically via Student Voice, e-mail, Social Media (e.g. Facebook) • Other than that – as much or as little as you choose

6. Is there support for this role? Is there support for this role? • Advice and support are available from: • Your SRC School Representative • Your SRC College Convener • Your SRC Postgraduate Convenor • SRC Vice President (Learning & Development) – vp-learning@src.gla.ac.uk • SRC Website http://www.glasgowstudent.net/about/classreps/ • Convener of the Staff-Student Liaison Committee

7. Is there support for this role? • Student Voice • A new, online community for • Discussion with peers, classmates etc • Contacting your Representatives • Feeding back concerns and receiving feedback from ‘issues’ raised • Available through MyGlasgow from October

8. What transferable skills might you develop? • Communication • Organisation • Team work • Negotiation skills • Time management • Speaking in public • Confidence

9. How do you become a Class or PGR Representative? • Your Course Leader or Programme Director will explain the process • See also: • Section 4.2 of “Guidance on the Operation of Staff-Student Liaison Committees” on the Senate Office website (http://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_129536_en.pdf)

10. How do you sign up for training? • Further training information on http://glasgowstudent.net/about/classreps/signup/ • Automatic confirmation of training date, time and venue will be sent to you • Training sessions available for Class Reps (UG/PGT) and PGR Reps

11. You did the Class Rep training last year – do you have to do it again? • No – you only have to attend the core training once • BUT – training attended earlier than 2008 doesn’t count

12. Training Dates • Class and PGR Rep training sessions are normally offered at a range of times during Weeks 5, 6 and 7of each semester • Details available at www.glasgowstudent.net

13. Effective Engagement in the Code of Practice on Student Representation

14. Want to view this presentation again? • Go to: http://www.glasgowstudent.net/about/classreps/ or • http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/senateoffice/qae/studentrepresentation/ and follow the link to “Becoming a Class Representative”