online course rep training
TRANSCRIPT
Online Training for Course
Reps
• To complete this module, read through the materials, then complete the relevant quiz on Blackboard.
• In order to answer all of the questions on the quiz, you will need to read through all of the information, including the linked resources.
• You will also need to read through the Course Rep Handbook and ‘What to do if…’ document.
• These are available on the Course Rep Resources page of the Students’ Union website, along with lots of other information that is relevant to your role as a Rep.
Welcome to the online module
Module objectivesBy the end of this online module, you will be able to:
• Outline the role of Course Reps within the structure of the academic representation system.
• Gather student opinion on suggested changes to programmes, as well as general academic feedback on a regular basis.
• Collaborate with other Reps in order to create an approachable and visible presence within the student body.
• Signpost students with specific concerns to a range of relevant support services.
What is a Course Rep?
• Course Reps are student volunteers, elected for a year to represent the views of their cohort at course-level, in meetings with academic and administrative staff, as well as senior staff.
• At least one Course Rep exists for each Degree Programme or cluster of interconnected courses, consisting of fewer than 50 students per year. • For Programmes with more than 50 students per
year, at least two Course Reps will be appointed.
What is a Course Rep?
• Reps are responsible for receiving and collating student feedback relating to their academic course as well as passing this information on to relevant staff or volunteers as appropriate.
What is a Course Rep?
The academic representation system
• The representation system is based on the work of over 430 Course Reps.• Each Department also has a
Department Rep, who is the lead for Course Reps in that department.
• Department Reps also work closely with College Reps, who sit on College Academic Committees, feeding key departmental issues up to higher levels.
• The Students’ Union Education Officer works closely with all Reps and raises issues that require immediate attention to senior management level.
The academic representation system
What can you help with?The main areas of feedback for Course Reps are:
• Assessment and feedback (see the feedback charter)• Learning and teaching• National Student Survey• Learning resources• Curriculum• Delivery of teaching.
• It is not within your role to support students with individual complaints, or non-academic issues such as welfare, financial or careers advice.
• However, you are able to help them by signposting them to the appropriate service, who will then be able to support them.
• You should familiarise yourself with the services available to students, so that you are able to point them in the right direction for support.
What are you unable to help with?
The feedback loop
The cycle of academic representation begins
with gathering feedback from
students, and ends with feeding back to
them the outcomes of discussions with staff.
Gather feedback from
students
Pass on feedback to
staff
Gather input from staff
Develop solutions &
ideas
Feedback to students
The feedback loop
1. Gathering feedback from
students
Gather feedback from
students
Pass on feedback to
staff
Gather input from staff
Develop solutions &
ideas
Feedback to students
Gathering feedback from studentsAs a Course Rep, it is important to create a visible, approachable presence among the students in your programme. This will enable you to:
1. Ensure that general feedback on academic issues is gathered from students on a regular basis.
2. Seek opinion on specific changes to academic programmes proposed by departments.
To be as visible as possible, it is useful to use a number of different platforms to gather student feedback.
You could try:• Doing a ‘shout-out’ before the start of a big lecture (with the lecturer’s permission).• Emailing the students on your course using Blackboard, or through your department
administrator, to ask for direct feedback.• Setting up a Facebook group for students on your course to post their feedback.• Sending out an opinion poll or survey using an online tool such as Survey Monkey.
Gathering feedback from students
• It is also worth collaborating with other Reps from your department in order to collate student feedback into agenda items that can be discussed at Student Staff Committee (SSC) meetings.
• When collating feedback, it is important to ensure that the confidentiality of the students that gave you the feedback is maintained.
• Unless students have given permission for their details to be shared, all feedback should be anonymous.
Gathering feedback from students
The feedback loop
2. Student Staff Committee (SSC)
Gather feedback from
students
Pass on feedback to
staff
Gather input from staff
Develop solutions &
ideas
Feedback to students
Student Staff Committee (SSC)• As a Course Rep, you are expected to attend at least one SSC per
term, although you should aim to attend them all.
• This is your opportunity to pass on the feedback gathered from students in your year to staff from your department.
• This includes positive feedback, suggested improvements and potential concerns that have been raised.
• You will receive details of each meeting in advance, including an agenda, from the secretary of the meeting.
• At SSC meetings, each Course Rep from the department is given a chance to outline the feedback they have received.
• You will be able to gather input from staff, and discuss ideas for solutions and improvements that can be implemented in the department.
• Action points will be agreed for both staff and Reps, and these will be noted on the minutes, which will be circulated after the meeting.
• At the start of each meeting, the minutes from the previous meeting will be discussed, and action points will be followed up.
Student Staff Committee (SSC)
• If any urgent issues have been brought up, it may be best not to wait for the next SSC to pass on the feedback.• By speaking to a member of staff straight away, you may be
able to resolve the issue more quickly.• If a solution is found before the SSC, it is still worth mentioning
the issue at the next meeting in order to let the other Reps and members of staff know that the issue has been resolved.
Student Staff Committee (SSC)
The feedback loop
3. Feedback to students
Gather feedback from
students
Pass on feedback to
staff
Gather input from staff
Develop solutions &
ideas
Feedback to students
• The feedback loop is a continuous cycle, and it is important to let students in your year know what has been discussed at SSC, and the decisions that are made.
• This is known as ‘closing the feedback loop’, and shows the students you represent that their feedback is being passed on and acted upon.
• Sometimes, closing the feedback loop may include giving students information about why a certain issue cannot be changed, or passing on feedback from staff to the cohort.
• Similar to gathering feedback, it is best to close the feedback loop across multiple platforms.
Feedback to students
• To recognise your work as a Course Rep, you can be awarded a Bronze, Silver or Gold Course Rep Accreditation.
• Throughout the year, Reps can gain points by engaging in a variety of activities across the University and Students’ Union.
• To gain the Silver or Gold, you need to achieve at least the minimum requirements allocated to each level.
• Each month, an individual who stands out as a result of their engagement in student representation will also be named Rep of the Month.
Course Rep Accreditation
• A number of additional workshops provided by the SU Training Team can count towards your Course Rep Accreditation.• These workshops aim to help you improve your skills as an
Academic Rep, as well as building transferrable skills.• You can book onto a session through the online booking form.• For updates, follow @su-training on Twitter, or like the
ULSU Training Facebook page.
Further training
Development Coordinator (Academic)
Elena Boaru [email protected]
Education Officer
Alex Mitchell [email protected]
Training Coordinator (Student Leaders)
Lloyd Clark [email protected]
Useful contacts