March 2024 Directors Meeting, Division of Student Affairs and Academic Support
Course Rep training
1. A positive impact on the lives of all students
BEING A COURSE REPBEING A COURSE REP
2013-20142013-2014
2. Michelle Zellers Academic Rep Coordinator
Nicole Pegg VP Academic Affairs
Dan Carr Advice & Rep Manager
A positive impact on the lives of all students
4. Why be a Course Rep?
A positive impact on the lives of all students
What do you hope to gain from
training today?
What do you hope to gain from
being a Rep this year?
5. Shape Higher
Education for the
better
Voice students’views
A positive impact on the lives of all students
Do something that
benefits other students
Meet new people
Have fun
Be influential
Develop yourskills andconfidence
Enhance your
employability
Get involved
6. A positive impact on the lives of all students
REPRESENTATION
part
two
7. A positive impact on the lives of all students
At the core of representation
is the idea that
students are not passive:
we have the right to shape
our learning experiences,
our university, our halls, our
communities, and our HE system.
8. A positive impact on the lives of all students
What has
representation
achieved?
9. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Student representation: A brief history
1959
Opposing
Apartheid
National Union of
Students – UK
11. Founding Women’s Studies
San Diego State University, US
A positive impact on the lives of all students
Student representation: A brief history
1970
12. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Student representation: A brief history
2008
Winning 24 hour
opening times for
the City Campus
library
Northumbria Students’
Union
13. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Student representation: A brief history
2011
Eliminating £2
million in
hidden fees
Northumbria
Students’ Union
14. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Student representation: A brief history
2012
Stopping the
government’s
plan to increase
fees
Across Quebec, Canada
15. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Student representation: A brief history
2013
Defending the
rights of
international
students
London Metropolitan
University
16. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Student representation: A brief history
2014 and beyond
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17. A positive impact on the lives of all students
OUR NETWORK
part
three
18. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Your work as a Course Rep
doesn’t just benefit students
on your course.
It’s part of the big picture of how
students are shaping
Northumbria University – and
Higher Education as a whole.
19. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Potential issues on
your PROGRAMME
Assessment
Feedback
Learning &
teaching
methods
Programme
design
Hidden fees Student/staff
ratios
Resources on
Blackboard
Placement
opportunities
Module
choices
Student
support
+ anything students care about
20. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Course Reps of
Programme X
Students of
Programme X
Other Reps
in the same
faculty
Programme Leader
of Programme X
21. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Potential issues in
your FACULTY
Opening timesLabs &
specialist
resources
IT resources Student
support
Hidden fees
Student/staff
ratios
Work & study
space
Placement
opportunities
Good degrees stats
+ anything else that students care about
22. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Faculty Reps
@CR Forum
Faculty
managers
Other Reps
across the
university
23. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Timetabling Campus
safety
Tuition
Fees
+ anything else that students care about
Bursaries
Diversity, access, inclusion
Priorities,
direction,
vision
International student
support
Potential issues at
our UNIVERSITY
Budget
allocation
Transparency
Ethics &
sustainability
24. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Academic
Forum
(uni-wide)
Student
Council
& Sabbs
25. A positive impact on the lives of all students
National
Union of
Students
University managers
(Vice Chancellor, etc)
Student
Council
& Sabbs
26. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Tuition fees
‘Lad culture’
Public
funding
levels
+ anything else that students care about
Diversity, access, inclusion
Priorities,
direction,
vision
Potential issues for
our HE System
Student
debt
Admissions process
Privatisation
Transparency
Research
agenda
27. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Northumbria
Students’
Union
National
Union of
Students
National education policy
Anglia Ruskin Bristol
Cumbria
Kings
College
Manchester
Met
Edinburgh
+ Nearly
600 others
29. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Remember:
at the SU
any student can
voice their
views directly.
30. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Drop by the SU building. Email a
Sabb. Message NSU on Facebook.
Speak @ Student Council (any
student, any meeting). Elect your
leaders every Nov & March.
Complete a questionnaire or join a
focus group to shape our 2014
Education Policy.
31. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Why have a network?
Face-to-face
conversations
Relationship
building
Knowledge
sharing
Skills
sharing Strategy
Action
Strength in
numbers
Continuity
Diversity
32. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Open Knowledge Project
New this
year!
New thisyear!*
*
*
*
*
33. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Open Knowledge Project
ISSUE
ACTION
NETWORK
on your course
you’ve taken
: how can we help?
34. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Open Knowledge Project
DO YOUR
‘SHARES’
December March
36. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Focus on building relationships and
communicating with 3 groups of
people:
Other
ACADEMIC
REPS
(esp Course
& Faculty
Reps in your
faculty)
STAFF on your course
(esp your Programme
Leader)
Other
STUDENTS
on your
course
YOU
37. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With each group, you’ll have
certain GOALS.
With each group, you may face
certain CHALLENGES.
38. A positive impact on the lives of all students
ENGAGING YOUR
COURSE MATES.
PATIENCE
39. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With your course mates...
GOALS
• Make yourself known as Course Rep.
• Hear the ideas and concerns of
students right across the course.
40. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With your course mates...
GOAL: Make yourself known as Course
Rep.
41. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With your course mates...
GOAL: Hear the ideas and concerns of
students right across the course.
IDEAS:
• Connect with any other Course
Reps on your programme.
Share your knowledge.
Who/what don’t you know?
How can you find out more?
42. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With your course mates...
• Reach out.
• Focus on face-to-face conversations.
• Listen to student viewpoints at social
gatherings, too.
• Consider organising a social for your
course.
Grant £ available!
43. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With your course mates...
CHALLENGES
• Students may not know why they’d
need representation, or what issues
Reps can deal with.
• Students may not believe they have
power to make changes to the system,
at the course level or beyond.
44. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With your course mates...
• Students may have personal problems
that you’re not qualified to deal with.
45. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With your course mates...
CHALLENGE: Students may not know
why they’d need representation, or
what issues Reps can deal with.
IDEAS:
• Mention what students have already
achieved through representation.
• Take advantage of ‘hot topics’ – ask
new people to weigh in!
46. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With your course mates...
CHALLENGE: Students may not believe
they have power to make changes to the
system, at the course level or beyond.
IDEAS:
• Let your own passion show.
• Do some myth busting.
It’s true that alone, we can
change very little.
47. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With your course mates...
BUT speaking to a Rep to voice
your views only takes a few minutes.
It can make a cause more powerful
and increase our chances of having
an impact.
Share updates, especially as you
negotiate changes.
48. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With your course mates...
Feedback
loop
49. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With your course mates...
CHALLENGE: Students may have
personal problems that you’re not
qualified to deal with.
IDEAS:
• Signpost to SU Advice Service.
su.advice@northumbria.ac.uk
For individual academic issues
(plagiarism, extenuating
circumstance, etc)
50. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With your course mates...
• Signpost to Student Support &
Wellbeing for...
Welfare & international (including
visa compliance)
Mental health
Disability support
Chaplaincy/faith advice
51. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Overwhelmed? Don’t be. Building
a culture of representation takes
time.
(& patience)
52. A positive impact on the lives of all students
The important thing is to just get
started. Then, as challenges arise
during the year, you can discuss
them at Course Rep Forums and
brainstorm solutions together. Or,
email any Faculty Rep or
su.coursereps@northumbria.ac.uk
any time for support.
53. A positive impact on the lives of all students
LIAISING WITH STAFF.
NEGOTIATING CHANGE.
PERSISTENCE
54. A positive impact on the lives of all students
SSLC
Student Staff Liaison
Committee
and/or
Programme Management
Committee
55. A positive impact on the lives of all students
While it varies by programme, you
should be invited to a meeting at least
once per term (and as much as once
per month).
Be proactive to make sure this
happens. You can make appointments
with your Programme Leader, too.
56. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With staff...
GOALS
• Build a good working relationship.
• Ensure student issues are heard,
considered, and responded to.
• Get the info you need to participate
effectively in the whole meeting
agenda.
57. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With staff...
GOAL: Build a good working
relationship.
IDEAS:
• Consider scheduling an introductory
meeting with your Programme Leader.
• Learn about their goals/vision.
• Send apologies when you can’t attend
a meeting.
58. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With staff...
• Use the ‘criticism sandwich’ model.
• Be polite (but clear) even when you
disagree.
• Thank other people for their time.
59. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With staff...
GOAL: Ensure student issues are heard,
considered, and responded to.
IDEAS:
• Add discussion items to the meeting
agenda in advance.
• Come prepared when proposing
change (consult students in advance,
develop a well-reasoned argument).
60. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With staff...
• Be a united front with the other Reps
(pre-meets probably necessary).
• Push for a response to your ideas
while in the meeting.
• Follow up on agreed actions.
61. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With staff...
GOAL: Get the info you need to
participate effectively in the whole
meeting agenda.
IDEAS:
• Review the agenda in advance.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask
for time to discuss an issue with your
course mates.
62. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With staff...
CHALLENGES
• Universities move slowly.
• Universities move quickly.
• The pathways to change aren’t always
obvious.
63. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With staff...
CHALLENGE: Universities move slowly.
IDEAS:
• Listen for clues to learn about the
agenda of your Programme Leader or
other staff.
What do they want to change? What
do they view as non-negotiable?
64. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With staff...
• If you are told the issue will be raised
in a future meeting, press for details.
When? What decision-makers will be
present? Can you come to present
your idea? Can you get a copy of the
minutes?
65. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With staff...
CHALLENGE: Universities move
quickly.
IDEAS:
• Be aware that controversial decisions
(like a fee rise, programme closure, or
budget cut) may be announced and
implemented quickly.
66. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With staff...
• Be aware that you (and your
Programme Leader) may not be
consulted in advance.
• Recognise your unique position as a
student.
You can voice opinions that staff can’t
in response to higher level decisions.
67. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With staff...
CHALLENGE: The pathways to change
aren’t always obvious.
IDEAS:
Could you also petition Student
Council? Take it straight to a top-level
decision-maker? Join up with a national
campaign?
68. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With staff...
The single best way to find out more is
to contact your Faculty Reps. They’ll
contact Nicole, Michelle, or Dan if
further advice is needed.
Or email
su.coursereps@northumbria.ac.uk if
you need more help.
69. A positive impact on the lives of all students
LINKING UP YOUR WORK
WITH OTHER REPS.
TEAM WORK
70. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With other Academic Reps...
GOALS & CHALLENGES
• Communicate.
• Recognise differences.
• Find common ground.
• When it makes sense, take action
together.
71. A positive impact on the lives of all students
With other Academic Reps...
• Attend Course Rep Forums – and stay
engaged when you can’t make a
meeting.
• Step forward – share your knowledge.
• Step back – listen and recognise what
other people have to contribute.
• Be open to new ways of learning and
working.
72. A positive impact on the lives of all students
RESOURCES
& opportunities
part
five
73. Introductory
training
Promotionalresources
A positive impact on the lives of all students
Skills training:
negotiation, campaigning,
more...
Winter
volunteering
social
Grant
money
Voice in ourEducation Policy
Support
network
Progression
opportunities
Recognition
on your
transcript
Voice in everything
we do
74. A positive impact on the lives of all students
For recognition on your transcript,
sign up to the Volunteer Database
and log your hours of volunteering
(today counts!)
For links to the database + a how-to guide
go to our website: mynsu.northumbria.ac.uk
> Student Activities > Volunteering
75. A positive impact on the lives of all students
For our training
programme,
visit the SU
website > Your
Union >
Employability
Join us on
Facebook
so you don’t
miss any
updates.
facebook.com/NSUCourseReps2013
76. A positive impact on the lives of all students
Other leadership roles...
77. 2014
Education Policy
A positive impact on the lives of all students
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FILL THIS OUT
surveymonkey.com/s/NSUeducation
JOIN A FOCUS GROUP
su.coursereps@northumbria.ac.uk
SPREAD THE WORD.