My update for the AGM
I’m JJ, Your Vice President Education. My role is to ensure that your voice is heard on all things relating to your academic experience whilst at UWE.
So far this year I’ve been working closely with the Student Reps team, on course to smash last year’s total number of reps with over 1100 Student Reps representing students on all levels throughout the university. I’m particularly proud that we’ve increased engagement with postgraduate representation, so that we students can get their voices heard. I’ve put on a Rep Selfie Competition with prizes to encourage engagement, as well as optional National Student Survey Workshops for Reps to attend to enhance their knowledge and empower them in their role.
Study Spaces Working Group – I have set up a project board with key university stakeholders which has oversight of the study spaces and PC labs on campus. We are working on innovative ways to promote and encourage the use of these to students using innovative signage, satellite tracking using Google Maps and redeveloping the room booking systems to make the spaces more accessible. I also have a team of 3rd year IT Business Management students who, as part of their course, will be undertaking a project to map out PC Labs and Study Spaces on campuses and launch an evaluation of the Bookable PCs system. This group now feeds in to UWE’s Masterplanning Group so I am pleased that student feedback will influence UWE’s 2020 vision on the basis of infrastructure and design.
Glenside Campus Redevelopment- Scarlett and I represent Glenside Students and have run a few successful events already for students such as the welcome event with over 300 attendees and a series of coffee mornings where students could paint mugs for our new mug wall and give feedback on their SU. I am working hard with our new Glenside Campus Officer Shelley and Glenside Staff to improve the Student Centre to match the needs of the students. Cash Machine and Microwave already installed, we still have money to spend on making the Student Centre a welcoming, community space shaped by students, for students.
AGM- I’ve been striving to make this year’s AGM more accessible and easier to get involved in than ever before; Motion writing workshops, more confluent information, more visual graphics, more incentives to attend and a live twitter interaction wall will all be features for this meeting. I hope you’ll enjoy attending and being part of making changes to your Union.
Academic Procedures and Regulations – I am launching a campaign with the Regulatory Frameworks Review Manager and the UWESU Advice Centre which aims to raise awareness of key regulations relating to the student experience (e.g. extenuating circumstances, assessment offenses etc.) – We have created videos, reformatted student facing web pages and have been working with the SPS Comms team to develop a communications strategy to go with this campaign. The aim is to ensure students are aware of vital changes to policy and regulation and are not disadvantaged by these changes.
Quality Assurance Agency Higher Education Review –In Autumn 2015 UWE will face a review and as part of which I will write a student written submission on behalf of the student body. I have been on many training days and preparation events for this review. I have been working with the HER Board and reps team to co-ordinate how we will gather feedback for this report and use our limited resource to maximum effect. If you’d like to get involved with the review then please feel free to drop me an email! Super Reps – Over induction week we conducted over 80 welcome talks to new students (with Elected Officers and staff leading) with ‘Super Reps’ who have championed the Rep scheme and encourage students to run for election as a Student Rep. They also had a stall at Fresher’s Fair with gathered feedback on the student experience and raised the profile of representation at UWE.
Academic Personal Tutoring – I have been assisting with the development of the APT schemes in GEM, BBAS, CSCT and Adult Nursing, who are trialling vertical tutor groups. This has included gathering feedback about student experiences of the APT scheme and working to manage student expectations. I have developed guidance documents for staff to outline the student expectations of the scheme and even delivered part of the training for new APTs. I am currently in the process of applying for funding from UWE to create information materials which communicates the outline of the scheme to students and staff