Welcome to SSLC Training!

1. Welcome to SSLC Training! If you are waiting, then please make sure that you have… filled in your details on the attendance list an SSLC Handbook (red) a Participant Handbook

2. SSLC Training 2008 Mohammed Surve Education Officer The full-time Sabbatical Officer overseeing academic representation, and student co-ordinator of the SSLC system.

3. Objectives of SSLC Training Equipping Reps to understand… • The role of the SSLC • How this fits into Warwick’s system of student / academic representation • The role and responsibilities of an SSLC Rep, SSLC Secretary & SSLC Chair • Students’ Union Support for SSLCs • Where to access further help and support • How to use the SSLC Portal • The Students’ Union’s Education Strategy • The Warwick Advantage Award

4. What is the SSLC? • Student-Staff Liaison Committee • Collaboration between Union & University • Student-led • It exists to provide a forum for staff and students to discuss issues relating to a course, department or centre and this is important for the following reasons: • It provides staff and students with the opportunity to discuss new ideas and solve problems. • It provides an opportunity for student views to be taken to senior university committees. • It ensures student input into degree programmes and syllabi

5. How does the SSLC System work? • Each department has an Academic Convenor. • Each SSLC has a student Chair and a student Secretary. • Each degree course and year elects students to represent them on their SSLC. • Reps sit on departmental staff meetings. • Each SSLC should meet at least 4 times a year. • Whilst the physical committee meeting is the most visible presence of the SSLC, work can and should be done outside meetings where necessary.

6. Issues discussed at SSLC Meetings Wednesday Afternoons & other timetable issues Needs specific to students of that department Equality Impact Assessment Research Study Space National Student Survey results Library Services Curriculum development Personal Tutor System Careers & skills development issues Assessment & Feedback Module Feedback Hidden course costs Computing & e-resources Teaching

7. The Bigger Picture Senate Education Officer & President sit on SSLC Coordinators AQSC BUGS BGS Education Officer, Academic Forum Coordinator & PG Forum Coordinator sit on Faculty Boards Education Officer and/or Faculty Rep Faculty Reps sit on Departmental Staff meeting SSLC Chairs/Secretaries sit on SSLC SSLC Reps sit on Student issues

8. The Union’s Education Strategy • Student views on 5 key areas: Learning, Research, Accessibility & Participation, Representation, Student Finance. Copy also available on the SSLC portal (go.warwick.ac.uk/sslc). • Feed in throughout the year • All SSLCs will receive a copy of the Education Strategy QAA Student Written Submission • Quality Assurance Agency Institutional Audit every 4-6 years • Students submit a report as part of the process. • Warwick SU’s report is available on the SSLC Portal • Use it to discuss big issues with your department

9. The National Student Survey (NSS) • Final year undergraduate survey • Last year’s results • Assessment & Feedback 2008 (60%); Academic Support (77%) • Put the NSS as a standing item on your agendas

10. What’s your role? SSLC Reps need to: • Make sure students in your year know who you are • Canvas fellow students to find out what they would like raised at meetings: -E-mails through departmental secretaries -Notice boards -Lecture shouts -SSLC Portal -Feedback box -Facebook Group • Attend meetings! • Feedback to the cohort • Ensure that your contact details are available online and on a departmental notice board

11. What’s my role? (continued) • You may be contacted to: • Help gauge student opinion, by your department, the University or the Union • Spread information • Provide feedback • Help solve problems Communication is key!

12. What’s the Secretary’s role? • Write up the agenda for the meeting and post on Portal • Take minutes at the meeting • Ensure that minutes are approved by committee members and then uploaded to Portal • Other administrative tasks, as decided by committee • Attend Faculty Forum meetings

13. What’s the Chair’s role? • Call meetings, • Run meetings • Ensure fair treatment of all committee members • Make sure committee decisions are actioned • Oversee Portal page • Ensure that the annual report form is completed and submitted on time • Attend staff meetings as Student Rep • Attend Faculty Forum

14. Dealing with common problems

15. Looking at the scenarios you have been given, decide which action(s) need(s) to be taken: • Use the Chair’s Authority • Approach an individual member of staff • Approach a Senior member of staff • Contact the relevant University staff (eg. Faculty Librarian, IT Services Representative, Careers Advisor) • Raise the issue at the SSLC Meeting • Hold a Pre-SSLC meeting for Student Reps only • Go to the Departmental Office • Ask some more students to get a wider view • Speak to a Faculty Rep or the Education Officer • Take another action

16. SU support for SSLCs • A Union representative will try and visit your SSLC at least once during the year • We are here to help, so please keep communicating with us

17. SSLC Procedure • Depending on the nature of the issue, sensitive issues that come to SSLC may be discussed at the meeting for signposting only. (ie. they will not be minuted) The SSLC should use discretion here. • Complaints involving named members of staff or named students should NOT be raised in the public forum of SSLC • i.e. student has problems with their personal tutor • Students are unhappy with the teaching of a particular member of staff

18. Complaints Procedure There may be situations where reps are unable to handle issues or where complaints need to be made. It is important to be aware of the alternative routes: Director of Graduate/Undergraduate Studies Heads of Department Personal Tutor Departmental Senior Tutor Education Officer University Senior Personal Tutor Welfare Officer University complaints & feedback page: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/gov/complaintsandfeedback

19. The SSLC Portal:go.warwick.ac.uk/sslc

20. SSLC Portal Info • The Portal was designed to centralise information relating to the SSLC, and make it easy to find reps’ details • Each department has its own page • It is the responsibility of each SSLC to oversee its own page - making sure all reps’ details are correct - uploading minutes and agendas • Editing permissions can be obtained by emailing Tim Sansom at tim.sansom@warwicksu.com • Guidance on how to edit your page is available on the SSLC Portal.

21. The Warwick Advantage Award Commitment, Dedication and Development What we want: • At least one term of non-academic involvement (or one year for the higher award) • Evidence of a project or event you’ve taken responsibility for • Complete the simple online form – that’s all it takes! What you get: • A certificate signed by Pro-VC Michael Whitby (or the VC himself for the Gold Award) • An amazing awards celebration party • A fantastic addition to your CV!

22. Questions? It is crucial that we have accurate contact details for all SSLC reps, so please fill in the attendance sheet and use the portal!

23. Thanks for coming and all the very best for your year as SSLC Rep! Mohammed Surve, Education Officer: education@warwicksu.com www.warwick.ac.uk/go/sslc