Course Rep Training 2018 19 Emma Beenham Membership

Course Rep Training 2018 -19 Emma Beenham Membership Services Coordinator

Learning Objectives • Understand your role and why it is so important • Discover your role within the Students’ Union • Explore how to be an effective part of the feedback loop and communicate with your peers • Understand the role of SSCCs and how to be an effective representative in them • Identify support, opportunities and how you’re recognised for your work

Why do we bother? “It is widely accepted that the views of students individually and collectively, should inform quality systems with the purpose of improving the student educational experience both for current and future cohorts. ” QAA, 2012 ”For some years now student representation has been something not to be simply tolerated, marginalised or confined to the students’ union, but something to be embedded and woven into institutional decision making at all levels. ” NUS, 2012 “Done well, it [traditional learner voice] produces student-led innovation in teaching and learning, and influences changes to the curriculum, quality, learning environments and the community in and outside institutions. ” NUS, 2016

Why are you important? The student experience improves The University and SU listen to these voices and act on them with St. ARs following up All students have opinions about their course and academic experience Course Reps represent and channel these voices

Students as Partners and Co-designing Curriculums Genuine University – SU partnership Value for money Excellent student experience Teaching designed by students for students Skills for you Negotiation Teamwork Chairing meetings Professional communication Conflict resolution

Student Voice Chart 2800 Newman University Students 150 Course Representatives 36 Society Representatives 10 St. ARs NSU Executive Committee (2 FTOs, 6 PTOs) Student Forums Annual General Meeting (AGM) NSU Trustee Board Exec Committee

Academic Feedback SSCCs Course Reps St. ARs Students Module Leader Academic Reps Officer Head of Subject, Department, SSCC President

Gathering Feedback: Advice for Course Reps

Getting Started • Introduce yourself to your course/programme leader and peers – ask for a few minutes at the beginning / end of a class • Ensure people know how to contact you § Email § Facebook group § Moodle page • Ask for a list of contacts of relevant staff in your subject area • Be proactive – it’s never too early to ask for feedback. And don’t necessarily wait until your next SSCC if you can solve something before then

What can/should you gather feedback on? Learning Resources Student Support Employability Important Themes For Course Experience Organisation & Management Teaching & Learning Assessment & Feedback

Feedback and Evidence • Think about what your peers would like to see • Have you noticed something that lots of people are struggling with? • Is there something you’ve had problems with and want to find out if lots of people have had the same experience? • What have you really enjoyed this semester? • Is there something you want to make sure next year’s students also experience?

Getting Feedback: Be Inventive NSS/ PTES /P RES

Constructive Feedback • Share what works, your concerns, outline the positive outcome of change • Be specific • Focus on the situation • No personal comments • Observations not interpretations

Attending SSCCs

Why is it so important? The opportunity to represent your department and ensure feedback is being acted upon How to represent yourself You must act and speak in a professional manner What if you can’t attend? You must send apologies to the Chair or Faculty Admin via email

ru ns tive o ni osi i p P O st on C s ck ew ba Vi ct ed Fe iv e Feedback Funnel Keep, start, stop Conversation Change!

Conflict Resolution Last year’s St. ARs and Reps asked for more advice on dealing with situations when staff talk over them or won’t let them finish their points Ø Ø Ø Ø Remain calm, and don’t join in the talking competition Sit with your hand up and make it clear you want to speak The Chair should call upon you in due course – you may have to be patient! If the chair doesn’t call upon you and moves on, you can point out that these meetings should be student-led and you’d like to finish your point, or allow x Rep to finish their point If the Chair says there isn’t enough time, remind them that student business is of first priority in the agenda and all students should feel like they have been listened to Remain calm at all times and try not to raise your voice If this doesn’t work, try and bring your point up again in AOB These methods are usually successful, but if they aren’t, please make a note of the member(s) of staff in question and report the incident to the AR Officer and President

Getting Your Point Across When giving constructive feedback in SSCCs or 28 Day Later meetings, there are some simple pointers you can follow to ensure you communicate what you really want to say. Try and stick to the point and avoid going off on a tangent as much as possible * Try and keep each point to around 1 -2 minutes max by ensuring that you PEA: POINT - make your point in a sentence or two EVIDENCE - how do you know this? ACTION - what do you want to happen next? You don’t have to know the answer to this but it always helps. If you don’t know, be sure you come up with an action before moving on * Don’t forget your positive, negative, positive feedback sandwich as much as possible *

28 Days Later Meetings • St. ARs arrange meeting with academic Chair of SSCC approximately 28 days after the SSCC • Together the St. ARs will work through the action points in the minutes and work out what has and hasn’t been done • An action plan will be drawn up – detailing things that have been completed an action list for things that haven’t yet been done. This will be communicated to Course Reps and the SU • A timeframe should be created for those actions not completed and the St. AR and ARO should follow these up appropriately, communicating the actions to Course Reps as is appropriate

Unresolved Feedback or Issues Contact your Academic Reps Officer or President: leed 400@newman. ac. uk, su-president@newman. ac. uk Talk to the Head of Subject or Head of Department if appropriate Submit a motion to the next Student Forum

Support Gill Leedam: Academic Representation Officer – leed 400@newman. ac. uk Tom Ashford: President – su-president@newman. ac. uk Emma Beenham: Membership Services Coordinator – e. beenham@newman. ac. uk Your departmental St. ARs University staff: Personal Tutor, ASA, Ho. S, Ho. D Development and networking events (e. g. One City Rep Conference) Academic Reps Newsletter

Today we have… ü ü ü ü Did we cover everything you wanted to? Had an overview of SU and University processes Learnt where you fit in with the SU Learnt about feedback structures Had an overview of how to collect feedback effectively Learnt more about your role as a Rep around SSCCs Learnt conflict resolution techniques Reaffirmed the recognition and opportunities you get as a Rep

Things to remember this year ü ü ü You can have a huge impact on student experience Use your enthusiasm to empower the people you represent Breaking down barriers to education Use this year as a positive experience You get out as much as you put in Tell us about all the great things you do!

Training Completion It is a compulsory requirement for all Course Reps to complete training. Please return your completed Test Sheet to Emma (e. beenham@newman. ac. uk) by Wednesday 31 st October, or earlier if your first SSCC occurs before this date. If you have any questions do get in touch

Any questions? e. beenham@newman. ac. uk