Transcript Course Representation System

Programme Representation
System
Training handbook
Programme Representation Handbook
Welcome Rep!
Hello!
My name is Alice Swinscoe and I am the current VP Education here at Loughborough Students
Union. One of the main areas of my job is to promote and coordinate all student representation; this
includes giving training, briefing and helping programme reps.
Representation is so important because it gives the student body a chance to say not only what’s bad
about the student experience, but also the opportunity to be proactive, i.e. to say what’s good and works
well, to promote new teaching and learning methods, and encourage better methods of support.
The aim of this handbook is to help you through your time as a student rep by equipping you with
information you need to be an effective rep. All that’s left for me to say is good luck with the year
ahead!
Best Wishes
Alice Swinscoe
Facilitators of Change
My Name:
Programme Rep:
Interesting Fact
Why I became a Programme Rep?
Perfect Night Out?
Your Role and Responsibilities
WHAT IS A PROGRAMME REP ?
Taking everything into consideration, it would seem that it’s the programme rep who is the front-line
representative for the students on their courses. This puts you in a unique position of being able to
influence your own learning and that of others in their peer group. This can be achieved through you as
programme reps providing staff with information about how their course can be effectively improved.
They can also support staff in their bid to introduce new teaching and learning projects. To put this into
layman’s terms, you are there to make sure the course is GOOD! You will have specific responsibilities,
and although these may vary between Departments, they should include the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
To liaise with the Students’ Union
To attend training
To identify yourself to your peers as their rep
To gather student feedback
To attend meetings with University staff
To provide both positive and negative feedback
To be accountable to those who elected you
To campaign effectively on relevant issues
To provide a link between staff and student
Facilitators of Change:
The Role of a Programme Representative
Programme reps are there to protect, defend and
extend the rights of the students on their course!
Active facilitators/organisers of change rather
then passive observers:
Decisions are made before meetings not during
them:
>> Programme reps are not an advice centre that
solves everyone’s educational issues.
>> There is a misconception that the only way to
solve students problems is in the meetings.
>> Put simply this just isn’t the case!!
>> Programme reps should be active participants;
both themselves and in organising other
students to take action before meetings take
place.
>> Taking action before meetings involves . . .
Lobbying, writing reports, generating student
opinion, influencing student opinion, generating
support and involving, the list endless!!!
Identifying Issue: The Apathy Staircase
APATHY STAIRCASE
Action
Visioning
Injustice Injection
Experience
APATHY STAIRCASE: E.G Library
Rally
Write to the VC
24 Hour Access
That’s awful; we deserve better; at other
uni’s it’s like . . . . . . . . .
Poor, low # Books, Rubbish Hours
Resource Sheet 2a: Identifying Issue: Widely, Deeply &
Winnable
Now its time to think about the learning experiences on your course, can you identify any issues that are
Widely Felt, Deeply Felt and Winnable?
Your Issue:
Widely
Deeply
Winnable
Deeply
Winnable
Deeply
Winnable
Deeply
Winnable
Your Issue:
Widely
Your Issue:
Widely
Your Issue:
Widely
Structure of the
Programme Rep system
Support from Loughborough SU
The Student’s Union is here to support you in whatever way we can, so that you can
represent your peers to the best of your ability. The Students’ Union has a dedicated
VP Education who is here to deal with cases that can not be resolved through more
informal processes. If you have an issue brought to your attention as a rep, you can
always come to the Students’ Union for help and advice, as can all students.
The Programme Rep Coordinator is in the Students Union - Alice Swinscoe, you can
contact her via: [email protected]
Alice will be your core support Officer.
We also have our VOICE unit to offer support you can email them via
[email protected]
SSLC
Students
Student
Department
Committee
Head of
Department
The Programme
Rep
Other
Programme
Reps
Dept
Chair
VP Education
(Alice Swinscoe)
Lecturers
Departmental
Admin Staff
Structure of the Students’
Union
Developing Network & Communication
COMMUNICATION ACTION NETWORK:
What they are and why we should use them?
Why use Communication Action Network?
CAN
Coordination
team
Communication Action Network (CANS) are used
to get to a whole organisation
>> Ensure that information is transient throughout
SU populations
>> Creates a culture where communication result in
action
>> Effective communication throughout your SU is
key to the success of your campaigns
CAN Area coordination
Programme Rep Handbook
Developing Network & Communication
COMMUNICATION ACTION NETWORK:
programme Representation as Effective Communicators
 Programme Reps as CARs:
Your role is to communicate not delegate (Box 1),
Each communication must end in am activity (Box 2)
To ensure that a can isn’t just a top down structure (Box 3)
 Box 1:
Your role is to communicate not delegate
Keep it simple
Communicate actions to and from a small number of students each (e.g. 5-7 each)
Communicate one thing at one time –don’t overload
Communication with the membership/students on a face-to-face and one-to-one basis
 Box 2:
Your role is to ensure that each communication ends action .
Example: CAN actions may be
>> Surveys
>> Submitting papers/proposal to committee
>> Petitions
>> Logging on Committee Action Plans
>> Budges/Stickers/Stalls
>> Committee Representation
>> Rallies
>> Meeting Minutes
Programme Rep Handbook
Developing Network & Communication
COMMUNICATION ACTION NETWORK:
Programme Reps as Effective Communicators
 Box 3
A can must not be perceived as a ‘top down structure’ the information from students that flows towards
the CAN coordination team is just as important as the information that flows out of it.
Adopt a role in the CAN that the campaigning issues required-be flexible!
Therefore it is essential that you facilitate the flow of information to and from the student membership
–education activists
E.g. Allowing time to brief the students membership on actions and return to be debriefed on those
actions
Programme Rep Handbook
Developing Network & Communication
COMMUNICATION ACTION NETWORK:
Programme Reps as Effective Communicators
Programme Reps as
CARs
Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
Example
Communicate not
delegate, The
Library is changing
its opening hours,
not have a look on
the website the
news will be on
there .
Programme
Reps as CARs
Action
Rallies, stickers
badges
Flow!!
Time to communicate
to students and
debrief them
constantly updating
them, ‘back and forth’
Course Representation Handbook
Developing Network & Communication
COMMUNICATION ACTION NETWORK:
Your Networks
Think about your course in relation to your Students’ Union . . . . What would you
communication action network look like?
Students
Lecturers
Programme
Reps
Departmental
officer
Programme
Reps
Overcoming Apathy
DEALING WITH CONFLICT
Listen/Explore/Equalise & Empathise/Elevate
What to do
Examples
(Listen) Encourage the other person to speak BE
alert to what is said but not implied
Yes? You don’t seem convinced that this is the best
way to . . . . . . . Is that right? What is it about this
you don’t like?
(Explore) Get to the root of the issue or problem
ASK open questions – it may help the speaker come
to a clear view
Why do you think that? Why do you feel. . . . . Can’t
be done?
(Equalise & Empathise) Acknowledge their view or
feelings. Respect their views, empathise with them
– by doing this you bring yourself to the same
wavelength as them – even if you don’t agree with
their views. Sometimes you can convert an
objection into a question that can then be
answered
I can see why you feel like that I can understand
where you are coming from Yes, change can be
difficult
(Elevate) their thinking, give then some hope and
enthusiasm
What do you think that you could do to stop your
rights as a student being breached? How do you
think that we could make the most of your
experience and skills (e.g.) in stopping this course
closure
SCENARIOS
University Structure
 SSLC – The department meetings, held a minimum of 3 per
year. Attended by students and academic staff. Chaired by
the HoD or their nominee
 Faculty Board – Look at all matters relating to the
organisation of education, teaching and research within the
faculty. Report to senate.
 Senate – Oversee all academic work of university.
Summary
>>Your Role and Responsibilities
>>First meeting
>>Course Representation forum
>>Course Representation Steering group
>> Raising issues
>> Loughborough SU– Course Rep Guidelines/Policy
>> ANY QUESTIONS ON THE SESSION
>> ANY QUESTIONS ON THE Programme Rep Hand Book