Why engage with Course Reps and how to work effectively

with them

Learning and Teaching Conference 2012

Objectives of today’s trainingBy the end of this session, you will...1. To reflect on your levels of engagement with Course

Reps.2. To consider the benefits of engaging with Course

Reps.3. To evaluate how your engagement could be

improved. 4. To be able Identify the key responsibilities of Course

Reps and how to work effectively with them.

Define a Course Rep

Course Rep Key Stats

• 1068 Course Reps registered• 51% of Course Reps trained• 27.4% PG (21.8 PGT & 5.6% PGR)• 72 Student Chairs registered• 16 Student Secretaries• 5 Faculty Reps

Course Representation at NewcastleUniversity Teaching Learning and Student Experience Committee

(UTLSEC)- Education Officer

- Postgraduate Representative

Faculty Teaching Learning and Student Experience Committees (FTLSECs)

- Taught School Representatives

Boards of Studies- Chairs and Secretaries of Staff-Student

Committees

Staff Student CommitteesUsually several per School to cover all programmes

and stages- Course Representatives

Graduate School Committees (GSCs)- Research School Representatives

School Postgraduate Research Committees- Chairs and Secretaries of Staff-Student Committees

Staff-Student CommitteesSeparate staff-student committees for postgraduate

research students are recommended- Course Representatives

Students’ Union Education Executive CommitteeComposed of School Representatives and chaired by the

Education Officer

Course Rep Achievements• Law Library to open on Sundays.• In Biomed the Course Reps have successfully lobbied for laser

pointers to be replaced by cursors in lectures so they can be seen on recap.

• In Historical Studies the Course Reps highlighted issues with the module selection process.

• In Combined Honours Course Reps have helped improve communication between subject schools.

• In Biology, Course Reps successfully increased the time that they have to complete lab based work.

• SACS Course Reps have re-designed the Art Café.

Don’t take our word for it…“I was surprised how seriously the staff took our opinions”

“Many of the reps' ideas have been implemented - such as a revamp of the common room and a new student mentor service.”

“Not only did it improve the course but I got to know my DegreeProgramme Director and the course admin staff which is useful”

“I have a problem myself and I have gained important diplomaticskills from the meetings.”

How Engaged Are You With Course

Reps? L.O.E = Level of engagement score out of 10.

Discussion Groups

Discussion Questions1.What are the positives of working with Course

Reps?

2.What difficulties could be encountered working with Course Reps?

3. How could these difficulties be overcome?

Discussion Group Feedback

How the SU supports Course Reps

Representation at the heart of what we do

“Representing our members is core to our existence and we will provide a strong and independent voice to decision makers, both locally and nationally. We will support our members in creating the change they want to see, through effective representation and campaigns which have real impact.“

NUSU strategic plan, 2012-15.

SU Support

• Monthly newsletter• E-mail support• Dedicated facebook page • Web pages• Face to face meetings• Attendance at relevant meetings• Regular training

Dates Session & Audience (No.) Time

17 Oct—20 Nov Course Rep TrainingNew Course Reps (500+) PGT & PGR Course Rep Training

1.5h  1h

23 Nov Course Rep Refresher LunchReturning Course Reps (40)

2h

Oct & Nov Chair & Sec TrainingSSC Chairs and Secretaries (40)

2h

Dec 11th Skills Training DayAll (20)

2.5h

Feb January Intake TrainingJanuary Intake Reps (20)

 

Feb 21st Information Day

All (25) 

2.5h

Mar6th Leadership Skills Day

School Reps and Chairs & Secretaries (20)4h

Apr26th Employability Day

All (40)4h

May School Rep TrainingNew School Reps (50)

2h

ScenariosThe responsibilities of a Course Rep

The Revised Student Representation Policy

+

The revised policy

• During 2010/11, the Student Representation Policy was reviewed.

• The aim of the review was to assess the effectiveness of the current policy and ensure it remained fit for purpose.

• Following widespread consultation, a revised policy was produced and was approved by UTLSEC in December.

Major Amendments

• Faculty reps to be replaced by School Representatives.

• Secretary role to become optional.

Minor Amendments• Chair role to remain mandatory and deputy chair role to

be created.

• Annual Reports to be a standing item for the final SSC meeting

• Schools encouraged to reward representatives.

• The work of higher level reps to be recognised in the Higher Education Achievement Award.

Items to note• Current requirement to hold minimum of four SSC

meetings per year to be maintained.

• NUSU to continue to offer centralised training.

• Schools encourage to facilitate informal meetings / events for SSC members.

• Minutes from SSCs to be made available to relevant cohort.

School Reps – How it will work Each School will have two representatives, one taught and

one research.

School Representatives will be recruited during semester 2 wherever possible.

22 Currently recruited (19 Taught, 3 Research)

Once selected, the school reps will be trained by the Students’ Union.

What would you like to achieve? (Course

Rep wise)

ANY QUESTIONS?

Rachael Thornton / Liam Dale (Education Officer)e: education.union@ncl.ac.uk t: 0191 239 3963

George Watkins (Representation and Democracy Co-ordinator)e: rdc.union@ncl.ac.uk t: 0191 239 3983

Gilly Box (Development Officer, QuILT)e: gilly.box@ncl.ac.uk t: 6290