Rebecca Would – VP Education and Democracy
Its Autumn Elections time and we are electing course reps in every single year of every single course, this means all students (including Freshers) can get involved by nominating themselves, suggesting a friend and voting!
Having Course Reps, School and Department Presidents and Faculty Officers (collectively termed ‘Academic Reps’) is really valuable for making real change, on your course and for all students. Some of the most useful things I achieved when I was a rep were:
- Changing deadlines! – Sometimes lecturers are so focused on their own modules, that they put deadlines on the same day, and one of the most impactful things you can do as a rep is get a deadline moved so students have enough time to complete each assessment.
- Getting assessments weighted differently! – When I joined, it was back in covid and everything was online, but when I got to third year staff wanted to give us exams. I gathered feedback from students who were upset by this and got our assessments re-weighted so that the essay was worth more than the exam. This helped students feel less stressed about the exam and helped students feel confident they could pass the module.
- Opening the student study space! – I chose colours for chairs in the new student study space (in Geography) and helped organise the opening event – it’s not all about modules and assessments!
Other reps have also got reading lists updated and diversified; seminars and lectures improved by having more interaction and quizzes; and even influenced transport to campuses! Reps even get to be consulted on big university projects such as improving Assessments and the Hartley Library (actual things I’m consulting reps on this coming year).
As a rep, you have a big impact on the experience of students on your cohort just by gathering their feedback and telling your staff what is working well and what you need more of, what can be improved and where students have questions.
I can’t wait to see your nominations (or your suggest a friends), and make sure you’re voting on October 15th so you have a say in who represents you – please vote for yourself if you’re running!