Education Network
from the Bristol SU Education Officers Welcome and congratulations on being elected as a student representative for the year 2017/18. This handbook is packed full of useful information to help you represent your students in the best way possible. Make sure you use it! Course reps are the biggest group of elected student representatives in the whole University. Every year, course reps make changes that will affect student lives for years to
help, you can email us, give us a ring or pop in and see us whenever you like. With great power comes great responsibility! You are your course mates’ representative: your voice carries the weight of their approval. Use it wisely. There will be some challenges. It’s not all fun and games: sometimes it might be difficult to engage with your peers, or the changes you want might not be possible.
come. Whether that’s increasing study spaces, or hosting a forum for your student community, reps constantly improve student life.
But it’s so rewarding when changes are made because of your efforts! So if you have any problems, come and see us and we’ll do our best to help.
Bristol SU is here to help you. We deliver training for all student representatives online and in person at our Course Rep Conference. We’re always on hand to
Keep your students in the loop. Ask them what they think. Tell them what’s happening. Involve them in campaigns or petitions.
Mason Ammar
Shubham Singh
Undergraduate Education Officer
Postgraduate Education Officer
Now you’re a course rep, we recommend the following steps... □□ Complete the online training (compulsory) □□ Attend the induction Course Rep Conference □□ Pick up your welcome pack and freebies (free stuff) □□ Read through the student rep handbook
□□ Join the ‘All Reps’ Facebook group □□ Introduce yourself to your peers so they know you are their course rep! □□ Meet with the other course reps on your programme – you will be more powerful if you work together and support each other! □□ Find out when your first SSLC meeting is!
You’re part of a network of leaders Student body
course reps
school reps
Students will raise their concerns with you, their course rep
You will attend SSLCs to represent the views of your peers
School reps take these issues to Faculty SSLCs
faculty education officers reps Faculty reps chair the Faculty SSLCs and work closely with Elected Officers
Elected Officers represent students at senior University Committees
Bristol SU Student Council Meeting once a term Attended by: all reps
Bristol SU Annual Members Meeting Meeting once a year Attended by: all students
Staff Student Liaison Committees (SSLCs) Meeting at least once a term Attended by: course reps
Bristol SU Standing Committee Meeting at least once a term Attended by: faculty reps
Faculty Staff Student Liaison Committee (FSSLC) Meeting at least once a term Attended by: all faculty reps and school reps (*in Health Science all course reps are invited)
Student Partnership and Representation Group (SPaRG) Meeting at least once a term Attended by: appointed faculty reps
Faculty Course Reps Meetings Meeting at least once a year Attended by: faculty reps, school reps and course reps
Education Network Meeting at least once a term Attended by: all reps University Level Meetings Meeting at least once a term Attended by: appointed reps
School Rep overview
Faculty Rep overview
take to the Faculty level FSSLC any issues that could not be dealt with at a School level meeting.
- supporting school reps to bring course reps together.
School reps collect and collate the information from their School level SSLC to
Faculty reps develop a community of student representatives across the faculty
Terms of Office: one academic year School reps exist at the discretion of Faculty Admins – not all Faculties have them. Terms of Office: one academic year Elected: locally only at the first SSLC of the year. School reps have already been elected as course reps. Core responsibilities • See responsibility of a course rep • Chair/Co Chair Staff Student Liaison Committee
Elected: online Core responsibilities • To keep abreast of student issues in the faculty, and actively seek out the opinion of peers • Work with Education Officer (UG/PG), Students’ Union and University staff to deliver manifesto objectives • Attend and assist with course rep training
• Sit on the Faculty Staff Student Liaison Committee
• To attend and chair faculty student staff liaison committees
• Act as lead course representative
• Work with school reps to host facultycourse reps meetings
• Be a communication link between faculty reps and course reps
• Act as point of contact for staff in Faculty management positions • Lead on academic campaigning and community organising • Participate in the Students’ Union Democratic Forums; Education Network, Standing Committee and Student Council
Part of the role of the Students’ Union is to lobby the University on a wide range of issues, both academic and nonacademic.
When acting as a course rep, rather than an individual student, you are there to represent your cohort in the diversity of their opinion.
When course reps raise academic issues that are very important or affect a large number of students, it’s important to contact the Bristol SU Education Officers so we can be a powerful student voice. We can then ensure that the issue is taken through the most appropriate and effective channels.
If you feel strongly about an issue in the University and you want to build a campaign around it, you need to be clear that the issue falls within the course rep role and that you have the support of your cohort. You need to gather the views of your fellow students and represent these views through appropriate channels.
As engaged and active students, course reps may wish to raise non-academic issues that they feel strongly about. The Students’ Union will offer guidance about how to take forward wider issues in a way that takes account of your role as a course rep.
Need a hand? The Representation Team is here to help! You can pop in to see us on the 3rd floor of the Richmond Building, or contact us on: 0117 331 8660 bristolsu-representation@bristol.ac.uk
Now you’re a course rep, we recommend the following steps... Aside from the enormous sense of satisfaction and improving your course for the better, you may be wondering what you get in return for all your hard work.
Rewards - FREEBIES At the course rep conference, all reps will be eligible to collect FREE: • Course Rep T-Shirts • Union tote bag • Union Lanyard • USB Memory Stick
Representation It is your role to ensure that, as effectively as possible, your peers’ voices are heard. A good course rep is able to present these views passionately and fairly at meetings without bias towards their own experiences.
Equality and Diversity Promoting equal treatment and diverse understanding should be at the heart of everything a course rep does.
Collaboration Whether you work with other course reps, your academic society or the staff in your school, collaborating will be a more rewarding experiences and should yield far better outcomes.
Sustainability Sustainability isn’t just about the environment, it’s important to think about social and economic sustainability too. How about setting up a book sale for your course, or creating a student study group so you can share ideas?
Fun Being a course rep should be a fun and rewarding experience; if you are finding that it isn’t, come and speak to us and we’ll do all we can to help!
Issue Does it affect more than one person?
yes Does the issue affect your course or the entire faculty?
course
faculty
Is it about a specific member of staff?
Does it affect your faculty or the whole university?
yes Raise it in a private meeting with the Head of School
yes Raise it with your programme director
yes Speak to a member of staff / the Bristol SU Rep team
no Is it urgent?
no Could the issue be solved informally?
no Raise it at your next SSLC
faculty
university
Is it urgent?
Contact the Bristol SU Education Officer
yes
no
Raise it with your Faculty Rep & Faculty Education Officer
Could the issue be resolved informally?
yes
no
Speak to a member of staff / the Bristol SU Rep team
Ask your School Rep to raise it at the next FSSLC
no What is the issue about?
academic
disciplinary
Is it extenuating circumstances, plagiarism, appeals?
Speak to JustAsk for any kind of disciplinary
yes
no
They should speak to Just Ask and their personal tutor
Tell them to speak to their personal tutor
personal Students can talk to Just Ask about ANY of the following issue, however there are other services that can help too.
hEALTH & WELLBEING
They can speak to the Student Health Centre.
OTHER
HOUSING
INTERNATIONAL
Signpost them to the Accomodation Office or the Lettings service
Recommend they speak to the International Office
EMPLOYMENT Signpost them to the Career Services
disability Point them in the direction of Disability Services
Loneliness? Bullying? Worried about a friend? Signpost them to Just Ask
Academic calendar 2017/18 2017 September October November December
January
February
Marc
1 Fr
1 Su
1 We
1 Fr
1 Mo New
1 Th
1 Th
2 Sa
2 Mo
2 Th
2 Sa
2 Tu
2 Fr
2 Fr
3 Su
3 Tu
3 Fr
3 Su
3 We
3 Sa
3 Sa
4 Mo
4 We
4 Sa
4 Mo
4 Th
4 Su
4 Su
5 Tu
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5 Fr
5 Mo
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8 Th
Year’s D.
9 Sa
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9 Tu
9 Fr
9 Fr
10Su
10 Tu
10 Fr
10Su
10We
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10Sa
11 Mo
11 We
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11 Mo
11Th
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12 Tu
12 Th
12Su
12 Tu
12Fr
12 Mo
12 Mo
13 We
13 Fr
13 Mo
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13Sa
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14 Th
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14 Tu
14 Th
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14 We
14 We
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15 We
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15Mo
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16 Fr
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23Sa
23Tu
23 Fr
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24Su
24 Tu
24 Fr
24Su
24We
24Sa
24Sa
25 Mo
25 We
25Sa
25Mo Christmas
25Th
25Su
25Su
26 Tu
26 Th
26Su
26Tu
26Fr
26 Mo
26 Mo
27 We
27 Fr
27 Mo
27 We
27Sa
27 Tu
27 Tu
28 Th
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29 Fr
29Mo
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30 Mo
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30Tu
30Fr
31Su
31We
31Sa
31 Tu
Day
Boxing Day
Good
bruary
o
e
o
e
o
e
o
e
March
April
1 Th
1 Su
2 Fr
2018
May
June
July
August
1 Tu
1 Fr
1 Su
1 We
2 Mo Easter
2 We
2 Sa
2 Mo
2 Th
3 Sa
3 Tu
3 Th
3 Su
3 Tu
3 Fr
4 Su
4 We
4 Fr
4 Mo
4 We
4 Sa
5 Mo
5 Th
5 Sa
5 Tu
5 Th
5 Su
6 Tu
6 Fr
6 Su
6 We
6 Fr
6 Mo
7 We
7 Sa
7 Mo Early
7 Th
7 Sa
7 Tu
8 Th
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8 Tu
8 Fr
8 Su
8 We
Monday
May BH
9 Fr
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9 Mo
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10Sa
10 Tu
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10 Tu
10 Fr
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12Sa
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12 Th
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13 Tu
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13 Fr
13 Mo
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18 Mo
18 We
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19 Mo
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19 Tu
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20 Tu
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20Su
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20 Mo
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21 Mo
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21Sa
21 Tu
22 Th
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22 Tu
22 Fr
22Su
22 We
23 Fr
23 Mo
23 We
23Sa
23 Mo
23 Th
24Sa
24 Tu
24 Th
24Su
24 Tu
24 Fr
25Su
25 We
25 Fr
25 Mo
25 We
25Sa
26 Mo
26 Th
26Sa
26 Tu
26 Th
26Su
27 Tu
27 Fr
27Su
27 We
27 Fr
27Mo August
28Sa
28Mo Spring Bank H.
28 Th
28Sa
28 Tu
29Su
29 Tu
29 Fr
29Su
29 We
30 Mo
30 We
30Sa
30 Mo
30 Th
31 Tu
31 Fr
28 We 29 Th 30Fr 31Sa
Good Friday
31 Th
Bank H.
Education Network