Graduation Guide 2016 Your Students’ Union guide to getting the most from your Graduation
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fficers 2015 O t en d tu S r u o m o fr Graduation stories
Hello and congratulations from your Students’ Union! You’ve made it! All of your hard work has been leading up to this very special day.
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James Stephenson “My graduation was one of the best days of my life. It was so amazing to know that after 3 years of hard work it was over and it was time to celebrate. Seeing all my family there and how proud they were will stick with me forever. It was even better to share the experience with my friends who have been through the same.
We thought we would put together some helpful tips and information to ensure you get the most out of your Graduation!
Jamie Bennett “I felt like graduation day was the start of my life, not the end. I was really proud to be the first one in my family to achieve a degree. It was great to see all my mates and celebrate with them. It was a simple day and really doesn’t have to be a stressful time, so just enjoy it.”
Becoming VP Activities for Liverpool Students’ Union, I got the chance to preside at other graduations and that was an experience that I’ll also never forget, although the candle light blowing out wasn’t my finest hour.”
Jamie Bennett
James Stephenson 2
Aisling Davis
Lorraine Sebastian-Francois “Unlike most people, instead of your wedding day being the day you waited for all of your life, graduation was that for me. I had invited my cousins, nephews, brother and mum to my graduation. It was the most awesome day, it was raining in the morning when I went to collect my gown but my family all turned up looking amazing and and it was like I forgot how the day looked. We went to the cathedral, LJMU took some photos of me and my family outside. The best moment was when my name was called and I got on stage, like a sigh of relief and pride came over me, and my family literally screamed the cathedral down. I’ll never forget the feeling of that day.”
Aisling Davis “I was lucky enough to have experienced four graduations: two of my own, and two where I was presiding on behalf of LiverpoolSU. It’s such an incredible day, really does make you stop and think about your achievements and reflect on all that you have done in university. The day itself is bittersweet: on one hand you feel excited to be finished and graduating, and on the other quite sad that it’s all over. I remember just looking around thinking that I am not going to see some of my classmates again and feeling quite sad but reflective over it all. I was also lucky to have my family over from Ireland for the first time, and my mum and granny the second time round. It’s a day that I will never forget, and advise all students to attend their graduation ceremony.”
Lorraine Sebastian-Francois 3
Vice President Academic Quality - Jamie Bennett Email: VPACADEMIC@LJMU.AC.UK Twitter: @LSU_VPAQ Role: Jamie’s role as Vice President Academic Quality is to ensure LJMU students are receiving the most from their education resources. He’s in charge of making sure students are graded fairly and overseeing learning opportunities for LJMU students. This will be Jamie’s second year in this role. He has already produced a paper using the research he collated from your thoughts about your assessment feedback. This paper has been presented to Learning and Teaching Development Panel, and is soon to be taken to the Education Committee for action. We look forward to seeing the positive change to academic quality in 2016.
President - Aisling Davis Email: PRESIDENT@LJMU.AC.UK Twitter: @LSU_PRES Role: Aisling’s job as President is to represent
views of all students’ to LJMU, locally and on a national scale. In the future Aisling will frequently meet with the LJMU’s senior management to ensure Liverpool SU’s services and activities are effective and have student’s interests in mind. Aisling was previously your Vice President Academic Quality. During her time in this role, she led campaigns such as Mind Your Mate, which tackles mental health issues. This was a huge success and we look forward to all the great work she’ll be doing as President.
Introduction to the new 4
officers 2016
Vice President Community Engagement Daniel Crombleholme Email: VP@LJMU.AC.UK Twitter: @LSU_VPC Role: Daniel’s role as Vice President Community
Engagement will be to ensure LJMU students are integrating and shaping the communities they are a part of. Daniel will be representing LJMU students in their local communities, local councils and national government. This year he will be working to improve accommodation, safety and transport across Liverpool, making it a more enjoyable, safer, student friendly city. We look forward to seeing Daniel helping LJMU students get the most out of their communities.
Vice President Activities – Summer Jette-Gray Email: VPACTIVITIES@LJMU.AC.UK Twitter: @LSU_VPA Role: Summer’s role as Vice President Activities
will be to work closely with clubs, campaign groups, volunteer groups and societies to ensure all groups are supported in getting the best student experience. Summer will be working to make students’ time at LJMU fun, whilst also allowing them to develop in the groups they partake in. She will also be supporting and promoting social, cultural, educational, religious and political activities. We can’t wait to see what Summer brings to this role.
officers w e n e th to n o ti c u d o tr In 5
2016
Postgraduate Students
s Printing credit for post grads
Do Something About It If you are graduating for a second time then you’ll know all the hard work and effort that leads up to graduation day. You’ve been here before, you know how this works and you get to celebrate your academic success all over again! At Liverpool Students’ Union we care about postgraduate experiences and have been working hard to improve opportunities for those choosing to take up further studies at LJMU.
An idea was submitted by a postgraduate to our ‘Do Something About It’ page proposing that postgraduates should receive printing credit upon starting a postgraduate course. This idea is currently being presented to LJMU in order for them to take further action on this. Mature Student Network The Mature Student Network is a society which brings together LJMU mature students to socialise, support and campaign together. This is a great network to be involved with if you are considering or carrying out further academic studies at LJMU. They meet frequently to discuss how the mature student experience could be improved and hold social events for all mature LJMU students to attend.
The Life of an LJMU Postgrad As the postgraduate’s experience can vary greatly from the undergraduate’s, Lorraine Sebastian-Francois made it her mission this year to research what postgraduate student life entails. LiverpoolSU recognise the importance of supporting postgraduates with their studies and providing them with a union that meets postgrad needs.
Follow them on Facebook - LiverpoolSU Mature Students Network
Lorraine conducted a postgraduate student survey asking postgraduates about their experiences with their LJMU course, outside university activities and any issues that they would like to see resolved/improved for postgraduate students. This feedback was then presented to LJMU staff in order inform them exactly what postgraduate student experiences involve. 6
On the day... • Breakfast is the most important meal Especially on Graduation Day! This is going to be a long ceremony and you don’t want your stomach to be the only thing people hear between speeches, so make sure you eat something substantial in the morning.
• Break in those new shoes It seems obvious, but this little tip will save you a day of pain. Do this especially if you plan on buying a pair of leather hard-set shoes for graduation. And if you insist on wearing them for the first time on graduation be sure to bring some plasters and some flip flops!
• You can’t predict the weather Check the weather the day before graduation and prepare yourself for possible downpour, this is the North-West after all. Even if your weather app says it’s going to be sunny all day, bring an umbrella! And bear in mind sunny days = summer wind, so use hairspray or setting gel to keep your do looking great all day.
• Hang up your gown Be sure to hang your graduation gown in the bathroom a couple of days before the big day. The wrinkles from being folded in the packaging will drop and you won’t be held accountable for any iron shaped holes in your gown.
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• Remember that everyone will be nervous As you walk across the stage just keep in mind that this is not a film, you are not likely to fall and be the laughing stock of the whole ceremony. And if you do have a little trip just laugh it off, no one will remember or should be preoccupied with that, it’s time to celebrate your degree!
• Don’t stress about your hair Your hair will be squashed by your cap, so there’s really no point stressing over it. That’s not to say you shouldn’t get it professionally styled just keep in mind that you will be wearing a cap (explain that to your hairdresser too). Also bring some hair products with you to style your hair after the ceremony.
• Bring a camera for lots of photos There’s nothing more annoying that not having enough space on your phone to take some snaps and you especially don’t want to be in a mad rush freeing up space before the ceremony starts. Make sure you have enough storage on your phone the night before. And if you have one bring along a camera, homestyle photos can often mean a lot more than the professionally taken ones.
• Book your meal in advance If you’re looking to have a big meal the day after the ceremony, be sure to book a table. Lots of people will have the same idea so don’t expect just to be able to walk into somewhere. • Bring some safety pins Just in case your robe doesn’t fit quite right, which they probably won’t unless you have it tailor-made. Also your LJMU colours are not attached to the gown so you will have to pin them down. Safety pins are a must.
• Get your outfit/gown early You don’t want to be rushing around at last minute so make sure you buy your outfit and graduation gowns early. Use your NUS Extra card for some great discounts on big brands.
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on
ti a u d ra G r fo ts n u o c is d NUS Extra
Outfit: 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 10% 15% 20% 10% 20% 10%
off at Oasis Missguided Miss Selfridge Lipsy Matalan Karen Millen Forever 21 Boohoo Blue Inc ASOS Jack Wills Officers Club Coggles off at Joules off at Austin Reed off at Samuel Windsor off at the Savile Row Co off at Jack Wills
Hair & Make-Up: 10% 25% 10% 15% 15% 16% 25% 20%
Shoes: 10% 20% 10% 10% 10% 20% 10%
off off off off off off off
at at at at at at at
Aldo Style Edit Soletrader UrbanExcess.com The Hut Style Edit Soletrader
off off off off off off off off
at Superdrug at Nicky Clarke Hairdressers at Nails Inc at lookfantastic.com at Lee Stafford online at HQ Hair at Bulldog skincare Beauty Expert
Celebratory meals 40% 25% 40% 20% 20% 20% 20% 25% 40%
Accessories: 10% off at Accessorize 10% off at Rock N Rose 10% off at MyBag
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at at at at at at at at at
Zizzi Prezzo Pizza Express Pizza Hut Giraffe Frankie & Benny’s Ed’s Diner Chiquito ASK Italian
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LiverpoolSU Graduation Shop We’ll be selling Graduation Teddies, Scroll Holders and Hoodies at Liverpool John Lennon Art & Design Building from Monday 11th July until Friday, 8am-2pm. The hoodies will have the names of everyone you’re graduating with, or you can personalise your hoody and buy online!
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