Student Submission 2015 by Cardiff Students

student submission 2015

Contents

Introduction

Sexual Health Provision

Summary Of Recommendations

Fees For Asylum Seekers

Learning And Teaching

Residents’ Associations

Education Change Portfolio

Heath Park Students

Wednesday Afternoons

Visibility Of Student Support

Welsh For All

Study Spaces

Enhanced Degree Transcripts

Internet Access On Placement

Assessment And Feedback

Student Representation

Student Rep Coordinators’ Time President On University Executive Board

Examination Errors

Capital Projects

Students’ Union At The Heath Park Campus

Postgraduate Students

Centre For Student Life

Rehearsal And Performance Space

Sport

Learning Resources And Study Spaces

Flexible Gym Memberships

Sporting Facilities

Printing Needs And Costs

Campus Life

Supporting Students

Financial Contingency Fund

Disabled Students’ Allowance

Renovated 24 Hour Study Spaces

Financial Incentives And Scholarships

Improved Catering Provision Student ID Cards And Payments

Transport

Introduction The annual Student Submission has become an extremely valuable process for the Students’ Union. It allows us to put to use all of the feedback collected from our students throughout the academic year and make the student voice heard. Campaigns such as Speak Week and the regular College Fora feedback have all contributed to this submission. We are continuously impressed by the level of partnership that exists between the University and the Students’ Union. There is a genuine commitment to working together from the University’s most senior staff and throughout the entire staff body and the Student Submission provides a formal platform for furthering the voice of Cardiff University students. There have been a great number of projects that the Elected Officer team have worked on this year that have been fully embraced by staff at the University. It is largely because

of the close working relationship with the University, built on partnership and mutual respect, that we are able to call ourselves a leading Students’ Union and one which makes positive changes to the lives of Cardiff University students. We recognise that the University is very much evolving and we are excited to see such significant progress made in areas that directly affect the student experience at Cardiff. The continued consultation with students on the projects mentioned in this submission, and beyond, will play a significant part in ensuring their success. Due to the varied nature of the content in the document, it was impossible to order all of the points by priority so instead they are prioritised in each section. The Elected Officers would like to thank all those who we’ve worked with over our year in office and hope, with this submission, Cardiff University continues working to improve the student experience in 2015/2016 and beyond.

Elliot Howells

Claire Blakeway

Barney Willis

SU President

VP Heath Park

VP Societies & Campaigns

Faraz Alauddin

Bryn Griffiths

Rhys Jenkins

VP Welfare

VP Sports & AU President

VP Education

Student Submission 2015

Summary Of Recommendations Learning and Teaching

Assessment and Feedback

Recommendation: The University should continue to invest in the Education Change Portfolio and its business cases to ensure these developments are expanded to include all necessary features. Training should be provided to teaching staff in order for them to use the equipment and the systems to their full potential. A portfolio of good practice should be produced to show how the technology can be used to enhance teaching and learning. In addition to this, these developments need to be factored in to the budgeting process to ensure appropriate funding is available for their delivery as there is an expectation from students that they will be delivered in their entirety.

Recommendation: The University should work with Colleges and Schools directly to develop an action plan with targets to address the issue of examination errors. Where errors are made and changes are made to marking, as a result, these should be communicated to all students that are affected, whether they were part of a potential initial complaint or not.

Recommendation: The issue of ensuring Wednesday afternoons are kept free for extracurricular activities needs to be reviewed annually, as agreed in 2004/2005. Following this review, the University should formalise the agreement around keeping Wednesday afternoons and Friday prayer hours free and remind academic schools and timetabling staff of the agreement to ensure its effective implementation. Consideration should be given to extending this agreement to all postgraduate students and healthcare students where possible. Recommendation: There should be the option to learn Welsh via a similar method to the Languages For All programme to allow students from both Welsh domicile backgrounds and otherwise to learn Welsh while at Cardiff University. This should be achieved by September 2015 allowing students to see that this is something the University is committed to promoting. This programme should use some of the lessons learnt by the Languages For All programme such as session times for Heath students to ensure an efficient roll out of the programme. Recommendation: The University should explore options for formally recognising extra-curricular activities on degree transcripts, while giving students the option to decide what appears on them. This should happen through the same process as the one in which students are able to choose how their name appears on certificates, which is particularly important for those who identify as transgender.

Student Submission 2015

Capital Projects Recommendation: The University should invest in a purpose built Students’ Union building at the Heath Park Campus at which scaled and tailored services, activity and social space should be provided. We appreciate that such a facility may not be available until the significant progression of the Estates Masterplan. Therefore, space should be made available in the meantime to house Students’ Union services and facilities. This space would also provide an opportunity to provide a version of the Centre for Student Life on that campus housing University support services. Recommendation: As part of the entrance to the Centre for Student Life, there should be a Students’ Union street level engagement space which will give student groups the freedom to book the space for their own activity as well as give the Students’ Union a space to run campaigns. We appreciate the need to attract commercial income to expand student services and facilities but would hope that the University ensure the impact of this is on the Students’ Union is continuously monitored. Any decrease in commercial income, identified as a result of competition, should be met with an uplift in funds provided by the University. Recommendation: The addition of flexible space should be considered as part of a wider space on campus for implementation as part of the Estates Masterplan, or prior to this by making daytime spaces available during evenings and weekends. This space could not only be used for rehearsals and performances but conferencing and exhibitions for use by the University, the Students’ Union and external members of the community.

Learning Resources and Study Spaces Recommendation: The University should aim to upgrade facilities in as many libraries as possible aiming towards the look and feel of the Trevithick Library while working towards the library extension identified in the Estates Masterplan. As many spaces as possible should be open around the clock allowing for more flexible working with the priority being during examination times. Recommendation: The University should use the recently completed analysis of printing costs and work towards providing a consistent approach for all students, regardless of their type of study or their academic programme. This should be achieved while not disadvantaging students that currently benefit from reduced costs or free printing. In addition to this, a study should be conducted with regard to what courses are providing in paper form and the approach should be consistent across the institution.

Supporting Students Recommendation: Following the announcement from the Welsh Government (WG), the University should fund the Financial Contingency Fund (FCF) for the 15/16 academic year and beyond for at least the amount allocated by the WG in 14/15 to ensure students that struggle to access education have the FCF as a lifeline. This will also ensure we are an inclusive institution that is supporting students from all backgrounds. Recommendation: The University should work with the Students’ Union to challenge cuts to the Disabled Students’ Allowance and commit to providing any funding shortfall and support that disabled students will no longer receive from the government. Recommendation: The University should see sexual health as a priority in its student support provision given the demographic it serves. Consideration should be given to the installation and maintenance of free condom dispensers within University buildings, in addition to the ones currently in the Students’ Union. Comprehensive, accurate and up to date advice and signposting should be provided through the intranet to ensure students are getting the right information. Key support staff should be available to provide emergency contraceptive advice to students in addition to ensuring there are specialist sexual health staff at the new GP clinic.

Recommendation: The University should provide financial support and incentives for asylum seekers. An option could be at least 2 scholarships annually that will cover both studying and living costs for asylum seekers if they choose to study at Cardiff University. This living cost would be around £4,000 based on the living costs calculator of a Cardiff University Undergraduate student. This commitment to students seeking asylum would put inclusion, equality and diversity at the heart of the University and bring it in line with other comparable institutions such as Queen Mary University and London School of Economics. Recommendation: Following a review of the pilot scheme at the end of the 15/16 academic year, the University should consider expanding the Residents’ Associations project to all halls of residence and support the development of events and activities. The University should support the Students’ Union and Student Support Services in providing guidance and training for these committees to ensure they are signposting students in the right direction, ultimately improving the welfare of our students and their experience of university. As new halls are built in line with the Estates Masterplan, consideration should also be given to incorporating a social space for these groups to meet and organise events in.

Heath Park Students Recommendation: A feasibility study should be carried out in order to look at whether a different entrance point to Student Support at the Heath Campus is available as a matter of urgency. Ideally, the entrance would be student facing, inviting students in and should act as a demonstration of Student Support’s accessibility and willingness to support vulnerable students. In the meantime, signage should be drastically improved, making access to the centre easier and less intimidating. There should also be a greater effort to promote Student Support’s presence across the campus, explaining the services that are there to support students and information about how they can access them. Recommendation: Ahead of the Estates Masterplan, consideration should be given to the expansion of such spaces on that campus to cater for the needs of students seeking working space. More IT equipment should be made available in and around the Health Library to alleviate pressure on key working areas.

Student Submission 2015

The University should explore the extension of opening hours in other libraries to prevent the need for students that study at the Cathays campus to work at the Heath. Recommendation: The University should see internet access on placement as an area of priority, both within Healthcare courses and beyond. Efforts should be made to communicate with students to establish where such provision is missing and address these areas as a matter of urgency. Where internet access is not available in the hospital or living accommodation, consideration should be given to providing mobile internet access in the form of dongles, where a data connection is available, to ensure students can continuously access the internet. Additional consideration should be given to working with private companies to install internet access in rural areas. Wi-Fi access should be seen as a priority when providing accommodation for students on placement.

Student Representation Recommendation: Student Rep Coordinators in every school be allocated time in their schedule in which to carry out the additional duties that come with the role ensuring the development of the school’s Student Staff Panel and encouraging students to be partners in their education. Recommendation: The University should, as set out in HEFCW guidelines, allow student representation at all levels of the University and should, therefore, add the Students’ Union President to the membership of University Executive Board for the 2015/2016 academic session, for review in Summer 2016.

Postgraduate Students Recommendation: In order to encourage students to continue studying beyond undergraduate level at Cardiff University, more financial incentives should be offered to students and, where possible, a consistent approach should be taken across the institution. This could be as simple as a percentage reduction in fees for alumni of Cardiff University.

Sport Recommendation: University Sport should introduce flexible gym membership options, preferably 1 month rolling contracts in order to become more accessible to all students.

Student Submission 2015

In addition to this, University sport should continue to offer 12 month contracts (or offer 9 month contracts) with upfront payment as these will likely still be popular with some students e.g. sports teams who have team sessions in the Strength & Conditioning Centre. Recommendation: The University should strive to provide first class sporting facilities that cater for the needs of our diverse student body. Consideration should be given to both developing the sites we already have and acquiring new sites that are in close proximity to academic buildings as well as residential sites.

Campus Life Recommendation: The University should address these issues of poor catering provisions on campus, in line with the recently completed catering review, to ensure the catering provision on campus is varied, well located, healthy and affordable. Consideration should also be given to specific dietary requirements. The environment should be attractive and the look and feel should be developed with student input. Recommendation: The University should aim to expand key card access to all halls of residence and all University buildings, where applicable. This key card should also double up as students’ University ID card and identification for entering residential sites. The University should continue to consider options for integrating a payment option to this card which could either link directly to a bank account or be topped up using physical or online top up stations. If that isn’t a feasible option, contactless payment should be available in all commercial outlets on campus with a view to have an app for alternative payment and loyalty options. Recommendation: In line with the Estates Masterplan, the University should provide a range of convenient and sustainable, but primarily safe, transport options for students, staff and visitors. Options for a Boris Bike style scheme should be considered as quickly as possible for use around the institution and beyond. The University should make use of the fact that the campus’ heart is situated next to a train station and that a train line runs parallel to our largest residential site by working with Network Rail to provide discounted train passes for students, with potential introductions of new stations.

Learning And Teaching Education Change Portfolio

Wednesday Afternoons

There are a range of hugely exciting projects being undertaken across the institution that will significantly enhance the way in which students learn at the University. Projects such as Learn Plus, Electronic Timetabling and the potential for an Online Progress Tracker are positive steps towards creating a modern, accessible and interactive teaching environment. At present, limited revenue funding is allocated to this portfolio of work, which has resulted in the delay of the implementation of certain projects that would have a positive impact on students.

For a number of years, the main competitive sporting structure for our students; British Universities and College Sport (BUCS), has taken place primarily on Wednesday afternoons. In addition to this, a range of other activities such as volunteering opportunities and societiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; workshops are taking place during this time.

There appears to be an unwritten agreement that schools will not schedule compulsory sessions after 1:00pm on Wednesdays. The issue of keeping Wednesday afternoons free for undergraduates was discussed at a meeting of University Senate in the 2004/2005 academic year with a resolution to recommend to Council â&#x20AC;&#x153;that Heads of School be encouraged to minimise the amount of scheduled teaching activities after 1pm, and where possible after 12 noon, on Wednesdays.â&#x20AC;? Some students are still unable to participate due to having compulsory sessions after 1:00pm on Wednesday; perhaps due to the unwritten/unofficial nature of the agreement. 10 years on, there is also a demand from postgraduate students that they should have the same opportunities as undergraduates. The University as a whole has a very different makeup since this was discussed; we have far more postgraduate students and have also merged two institutions to offer a range of healthcare courses. Healthcare students often have further difficulties with their timetables as, like postgraduate students, they were also omitted from the initial agreement. We appreciate there is difficulty when it comes to clinical placements and the same benefits cannot be afforded to students on placements. Since the initial agreement in 2004/2005, there has been a desire from students to ensure that Friday Prayer Hour, 1:00pm to 2:00pm, is kept free, allowing our students to observe this important religious commitment without disadvantaging their ability to study. Recommendation: The issue of ensuring Wednesday afternoons are kept free for extra-curricular activities needs to be reviewed annually, as agreed in 2004/2005. Following this review, the University should formalise the agreement around keeping Wednesday afternoons and Friday prayer hours free and remind academic schools and timetabling staff of the agreement to ensure its effective implementation. Consideration should be given to extending this agreement to all postgraduate students and healthcare students where possible.

Student Submission 2015

Learning And Teaching Welsh For All

Enhanced Degree Transcripts

In September 2014, the University launched a Languages For All programme for all undergraduate and postgraduate students at the University. The programme gives students the opportunity to learn a foreign language for free alongside their degree course. It is hosted by the School of Modern Languages and students are offered a choice of language learning options designed to support their personal development and future careers.

The transcripts that students receive following graduation are seen as the formal recognition for their work throughout their time at University. We feel that it is disappointing that these certificates only include information about their degree and no other activities undertaken such as the Cardiff Award, involvement with Enterprise activity or recognition for their positions on society or club committees.

The programme offers six languages; French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese and Mandarin. The programme does not currently offer Welsh as a language course. This is disappointing given we are the leading University in the capital city of Wales and many of our students will have an interest in learning or may even have some knowledge of the language that they may wish to expand on. Recommendation: There should be the option to learn Welsh via a similar method to the Languages For All programme to allow students from both Welsh domicile backgrounds and otherwise to learn Welsh while at Cardiff University. This should be achieved by September 2015 allowing students to see that this is something the University is committed to promoting. This programme should use some of the lessons learnt by the Languages For All programme such as session times for Heath students to ensure an efficient roll out of the programme.

Student Submission 2015

Recommendation: The University should explore options for formally recognising extra-curricular activities on degree transcripts, while giving students the option to decide what appears on them. This should happen through the same process as the one in which students are able to choose how their name appears on certificates, which is particularly important for those who identify as transgender.

Assessment And Feedback Examination Errors At present, a number of examinations and assessments have found to have errors in the questions themselves or the rubric. It is often the case that these are not discovered until the examination itself which means students are interrupted while working through their paper. It is not uncommon to have more than one examination taking place in one room which means some students are unnecessarily disturbed by an announcement that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t affect them. This has the potential to cause confusion amongst students but also distress them at an already stressful time. We welcome the attention this has been given by the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s senior staff and the reduction of errors in January was a positive one but more needs to be done to ensure minimum errors occur moving forward. Recommendation: The University should work with Colleges and Schools directly to develop an action plan with targets to address the issue of examination errors. Where errors are made and changes are made to marking, as a result, these should be communicated to all students that are affected, whether they were part of a potential initial complaint or not.

Student Submission 2015

Capital Projects Students’ Union at the Heath Park Campus

Rehearsal and Performance Space

Although we will soon be undergoing a minor refurbishment of our Students’ Union presence on the Heath Park Campus, our facilities and services at The Heath Park Campus do not fit the needs of students. These students have very different needs and priorities and it is our feeling that the best way forward is to duplicate what we do whilst tailoring services to meet these students’ specific needs. Following approval of the Estates Masterplan, there is a long-term vision for even more students to be studying on that campus and our services need to meet the needs of that growing body of students.

There is a growing need for rehearsal and performance space for our 250+ student groups. A huge proportion of these student-led societies and sports clubs require space to rehearse multiple times a week but also perform at various occasions throughout the year. Tens of thousands of pounds are spent annually on hiring external venues for this use as facilities on campus are not fit for purpose. The renovation of space in the Students’ Union over summer 2015 will go some way to addressing this issue but it is hoped that more flexible space will be made available elsewhere on campus.

Recommendation: The University should invest in a purpose built Students’ Union building at the Heath Park Campus at which scaled and tailored services, activity and social space should be provided. We appreciate that such a facility may not be available until the significant progression of the Estates Masterplan. Therefore, space should be made available in the meantime to house Students’ Union services and facilities. This space would also provide an opportunity to provide a version of the Centre for Student Life on that campus housing University support services.

Centre for Student Life We are excited by the progress that has been made on the Centre for Student Life development and are grateful that the University has ensured there is Students’ Union representation on all relevant related committees. It has been established that the University will be offering a significant range of commercial services in the new building which may have a negative effect on the Students’ Union’s opportunity to attract commercial income. While we think this project is a very positive one and one which will enhance the student experience at Cardiff, there is also a risk that the Students’ Union will lose some of its identity with the creation of the new building. Recommendation: As part of the entrance to the Centre for Student Life, there should be a Students’ Union street level engagement space which will give student groups the freedom to book the space for their own activity as well as give the Students’ Union a space to run campaigns. We appreciate the need to attract commercial income to expand student services and facilities but would hope that the University ensure the impact of this is on the Students’ Union is continuously monitored. Any decrease in commercial income, identified as a result of competition, should be met with an uplift in funds provided by the University.

Student Submission 2015

Recommendation: The addition of flexible space should be considered as part of a wider space on campus for implementation as part of the Estates Masterplan, or prior to this by making daytime spaces available during evenings and weekends. This space could not only be used for rehearsals and performances but conferencing and exhibitions for use by the University, the Students’ Union and external members of the community.

Learning Resources And Study Spaces Renovated 24 hour study spaces Some of Cardiff University’s libraries are dated and overcrowded. They need aesthetic revamp, as well as additional functionality, to make them enticing and comfortable places to work and study. There has been a huge increase in students using laptops and tablets since the libraries were constructed so there needs to be an increase in the number of power sockets available. There is also demand for greater provision of alternative learning spaces; spaces allowing students to study in a more relaxed environment or in designated areas for group work. In addition to this, students’ working habits are changing and there is an increasing need for 24 hour study space. The recent minor renovation at the ASSL inspired by the Trevithick Library has been welcomed and further plans of a similar nature would be encouraged elsewhere on campus, especially on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the ASSL. Recommendation: The University should aim to upgrade facilities in as many libraries as possible aiming towards the look and feel of the Trevithick Library while working towards the library extension identified in the Estates Masterplan. As many spaces as possible should be open around the clock allowing for more flexible working with the priority being during examination times.

Printing Needs and Costs There is an inconsistent approach across the institution with regard to printing costs, but also with regard to what students on different courses are required to print. Some schools don’t charge for printing, some provide a certain amount of credits and others expect students to pay for all printing. Similarly, some courses provide all lecture content in paper form while others expect students to print this at their expense. This does not provide for a positive student experience as the rationale for these decisions is not communicated and therefore, students question why there isn’t one rule for all schools. Recommendation: The University should use the recently completed analysis of printing costs and work towards providing a consistent approach for all students, regardless of their type of study or their academic programme. This should be achieved while not disadvantaging students that currently benefit from reduced costs or free printing. In addition to this, a study should be conducted with regard to what courses are providing in paper form and the approach should be consistent across the institution.

Student Submission 2015

Supporting Students Financial Contingency Fund In August 2014, the Welsh Government (WG) cut the Financial Contingency Fund (FCF) for Welsh institutions just days before the new academic session. Cardiff University’s allocation of the financial contingency fund, totalling around £400,000, was accessed by over 700 students in 13/14 and was used to break down barriers to education. It is often the sole reason students are able to continue studying. Students with other financial commitments, such as student parents, carers or those who commute to study, are most at risk and this cut makes accessing higher education particularly difficult for them. We were shocked and disappointed with the lack of consultation with institutions before this decision was made and, with the support of NUS, we lobbied for the decision to be overturned. In September 2014, this decision was overturned and the Welsh Government were able to provide a FCF for the 14/15 academic year but have recently confirmed that this won’t continue into 15/16. Recommendation: Following the announcement from the Welsh Government (WG), the University should fund the Financial Contingency Fund (FCF) for the 15/16 academic year and beyond for at least the amount allocated by the WG in 14/15 to ensure students that struggle to access education have the FCF as a lifeline. This will also ensure we are an inclusive institution that is supporting students from all backgrounds.

Disabled Students’ Allowance The Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is a non-means tested financial help for UK domiciled disabled students and is a key factor in whether students with disabilities will attend university or not. There have been significant cuts to the DSA outside of Wales which will impact on many of our current and prospective disabled students. It is expected that Welsh Government will adopt similar cuts. For example, under the proposed changes, claimants would no longer receive funding for standard computer equipment with students needing to contribute towards a new computer or laptop they need to aid them through their course. All ‘non-complex’ non-medical help such as scribes or library assistants would have to be provided by universities and colleges. Previously, the DSA covered both of these costs. While there has been some delays and minor changes to when these cuts will come into effect, it is still a threat to one of the fundamental values of the University and the Students’ Union; equality. Recommendation: The University should work with the Students’ Union to challenge cuts to the Disabled Students’ Allowance and commit to providing any funding shortfall and support that disabled students will no longer receive from the government.

Sexual Health Provision At present, the University provides no service to address directly the sexual health concerns of our students. The sexual health provision extends to links on the website, some of which were out of date until very recently. It is very encouraging to hear about plans for an enhanced sexual health provision in the GP clinic that is on campus but more needs to be done to ensure we are safeguarding our students from sexual health risks. Recommendation: The University should see sexual health as a priority in its student support provision given the demographic it serves. Consideration should be given to the installation and maintenance of free condom dispensers within University buildings, in addition to the ones currently in the Students’ Union. Comprehensive, accurate and up to date advice and signposting should be provided through the intranet to ensure students are getting the right information. Key support staff should be available to provide emergency contraceptive advice to students in addition to ensuring there are specialist sexual health staff at the new GP clinic.

Student Submission 2015

Fees For Asylum Seekers

Residents’ Associations

An asylum seeker is someone who has had to flee their country of origin because of persecution or violence and has sought sanctuary in another country. This status is given to them while the Home Office assess their claim and decides whether to grant refugee status. Up until the 14/15 academic year, these individuals were charged the same fees as International Students if they chose to study at Cardiff University. These fees are often far higher than home fees and it would be almost impossible for asylum seekers to pay.

Cardiff University has 16 separate halls of residence housing a total of around 6,000 students. There is no formal interaction between residents and therefore, there is a lack of community spirit in our halls. This has been highlighted as an area of concern for students because this will often be the first time they are living away from home.

Asylum seekers are not international students, they have been forced to flee their home country for their safety and this has now been recognised by the University. As a result, asylum seekers are currently charged the same fees as home students. Asylum seekers cannot apply for funding from Student Finance bodies, unlike home students. This is still often a barrier to education for these individuals and we feel that there should be other financial incentives and support to assist asylum seekers in accessing education. Recommendation: The University should provide financial support and incentives for asylum seekers. An option could be at least 2 scholarships annually that will cover both studying and living costs for asylum seekers if they choose to study at Cardiff University. This living cost would be around £4,000 based on the living costs calculator of a Cardiff University Undergraduate student. This commitment to students seeking asylum would put inclusion, equality and diversity at the heart of the University and bring it in line with other comparable institutions such as Queen Mary University and London School of Economics.

This year, the Students’ Union has established a project to address these issues, with the working title of Residents’ Associations. This project aims to build an inclusive environment within each halls of residence, improving the student experience of halls creating a much more friendly and positive environment. It would also allow the voices of residents to be heard collectively so problems can be communicated through a more defined and cohesive process. This will be achieved by setting up associations in each of our halls that will consist of an elected committee of students acting as the main contact points for other students. They will be responsible for holding events, amplifying the student voice and signposting students to support services. Funding for the events themselves will come from University accommodation fees which has already been agreed and set at £5.00 per head for the trial period in 15/16, which focuses on 3 halls of residence. Recommendation: Following a review of the pilot scheme at the end of the 15/16 academic year, the University should consider expanding the Residents’ Associations project to all halls of residence and support the development of events and activities. The University should support the Students’ Union and Student Support Services in providing guidance and training for these committees to ensure they are signposting students in the right direction, ultimately improving the welfare of our students and their experience of university. As new halls are built in line with the Estates Masterplan, consideration should also be given to incorporating a social space for these groups to meet and organise events in.

Student Submission 2015

Heath Park Students Visibility of Student Support The Student Support provision for the Heath Park Campus is currently located on the second floor of Cardigan House. The entrance to this building is difficult to find, which is not helped by a lack of clear signage. The current entrance is also uninviting; located in the middle of a dark corridor connecting a hospital delivery point with the main hospital. As a result of this location, vehicles are often using the route to transport goods between the two sites. Not only is the space difficult to access, it is intimidating and potentially dangerous and makes accessing student support even more difficult for students that are already potentially vulnerable. Recommendation: A feasibility study should be carried out in order to look at whether a different entrance point to Student Support at the Heath Campus is available as a matter of urgency. Ideally, the entrance would be student facing, inviting students in and should act as a demonstration of Student Support’s accessibility and willingness to support vulnerable students. In the meantime, signage should be drastically improved, making access to the centre easier and less intimidating. There should also be a greater effort to promote Student Support’s presence across the campus, explaining the services that are there to support students and information about how they can access them.

Study Spaces The Health Library in the Cochrane Building on the Heath Park campus is an excellent working space and one which has been extremely well received by the students that study on that campus. It is considered one of the best libraries on the University’s campus and should be used as an example when developing similar spaces in the future. However, as the number of students that study at the Heath grows, the Health Library and its surrounding spaces don’t have a large enough capacity to cater for the needs of these students, nor is there enough IT equipment available. There is an overwhelming demand for the space by Heath students, hospital staff and students from other parts of the University as it is one of the only 24 hour library space for the majority of the year. Recommendation: Ahead of the Estates Masterplan, consideration should be given to the expansion of such spaces on that campus to cater for the needs of students seeking working space. More IT equipment should be made available in and around the Health Library to alleviate pressure on key working areas. The University should explore the extension of opening hours in other libraries to prevent the need for students that study at the Cathays campus to work at the Heath.

Student Submission 2015

Internet Access On Placement All students that study a Healthcare course will be required to undertake clinical placements as part of their studies. These placements are often in rural parts of the UK, and as a result, students aren’t able to access the internet. This becomes an issue when students are missing out on important University announcements, aren’t able to access learning material and are generally not able to communicate with others. Whilst we appreciate the efforts already made by the University to provide alternative means of accessing the internet, there are still groups of students that are not provided with internet access. Recommendation: The University should see internet access on placement as an area of priority, both within Healthcare courses and beyond. Efforts should be made to communicate with students to establish where such provision is missing and address these areas as a matter of urgency. Where internet access is not available in the hospital or living accommodation, consideration should be given to providing mobile internet access in the form of dongles, where a data connection is available, to ensure students can continuously access the internet. Additional consideration should be given to working with private companies to install internet access in rural areas. WiFi access should be seen as a priority when providing accommodation for students on placement.

Student Representation Student Rep Coordinators’ Time

President On University Executive Board

It is clearly a priority for the institution to ensure students are treated as partners in their education but this exact experience varies depending on the school in which that student is studying. It is evident that the schools who make every effort to ensure their academic representation system is encouraging students to give feedback are the ones who get the most from it.

Both the University and the Students’ Union boasts that there is student representation on all its decision making bodies. The University’s Executive Board (UEB) makes decisions on areas that directly affect students on a regular basis and it is felt that the Students’ Union President should be a part of those decisions. The inclusion of the President on the UEB Change Portfolio committee is one which has been welcomed but it is felt that this should be extended to wider UEB meetings.

The success of a rep system in a school is often down to the amount of time the school’s Student Rep Coordinator has to complete the duties required of them. This is exemplified in the School of Healthcare Sciences where the coordinator is allocated time to carry out the role. Recommendation: Student Rep Coordinators in every school be allocated time in their schedule in which to carry out the additional duties that come with the role ensuring the development of the school’s Student Staff Panel and encouraging students to be partners in their education.

Recommendation: The University should, as set out in HEFCW guidelines, allow student representation at all levels of the University and should, therefore, add the Students’ Union President to the membership of University Executive Board for the 2015/2016 academic session, for review in Summer 2016.

Student Submission 2015

Postgraduate Students Financial Incentives and Scholarships At present, there are limited financial incentives for students to continue studying at Cardiff University following their undergraduate degree. Some schools offer scholarships and bursaries but this approach is inconsistent across the institution. This comes at a time where postgraduate loans are offered to students funded by Student Finance England leaving students funded by the Welsh Government financially disadvantaged. Recommendation: In order to encourage students to continue studying beyond undergraduate level at Cardiff University, more financial incentives should be offered to students and, where possible, a consistent approach should be taken across the institution. This could be as simple as a percentage reduction in fees for alumni of Cardiff University.

Student Submission 2015

Sport Flexible Gym Memberships

Sporting Facilities

Over the last 7-8 years there’s been something of a shift of the norm when it comes to gym memberships across the fitness industry. Previously, almost all gyms would offer memberships with a 12 month contract, but today the majority of facilities offer flexible memberships and we feel that it would be very beneficial if the University started to offer similar options.

The current sporting facilities at Cardiff University do not meet the expectations of students and are not up to the standard of most of our Russell Group competitors.

Health and fitness is increasing in popularity, but the current membership structure for the University gyms is a barrier to entry for many students. There are currently 2 membership options – ‘Gold’ which provides access to the gyms across campus and ‘Platinum’ which provides the same access but includes group classes for no extra cost. Both of these require full payment in a lump sum at the beginning of the year – this is the main barrier to students. Many students are unable to afford to pay a large lump sum all at once. It is also a poor option for students who may be away on placement for periods of the year, whose courses start at times of the year other than September, or those who are new to using a gym or don’t know if they will be too busy later in the year due to the demands of their course. The University also has a need to remain competitive to commercial gym providers in the city centre; most of which are providing flexible options for their customers and benchmark against their cost of membership as stated in the University’s and Students’ Union’s Joint Sport Strategy.

As the campus and its shape develops in line with the Estates Masterplan, we are presented with an opportunity to drastically improve the quality of our sporting facilities at the institution. The addition of a full-size 3G pitch is a welcome one and has had a very positive impact on the University’s sporting provision. The demand for improvements to sports facilities is still high and common requests include resurfacing the current Astroturf pitch and the building of a second one, a University swimming pool, more all-weather surfaces, improvements to facilities and pitch quality at Llanrumney, increased gym space and the creation of purpose built studios. It is also felt that the location of some facilities is a barrier to participation for a number of students as they are not within walking distance to student accommodation; halls or otherwise. Recommendation: The University should strive to provide first class sporting facilities that cater for the needs of our diverse student body. Consideration should be given to both developing the sites we already have and acquiring new sites that are in close proximity to academic buildings as well as residential sites.

Recommendation: University Sport should introduce flexible gym membership options, preferably 1 month rolling contracts in order to become more accessible to all students. In addition to this, University sport should continue to offer 12 month contracts (or offer 9 month contracts) with upfront payment as these will likely still be popular with some students e.g. sports teams who have team sessions in the Strength & Conditioning Centre.

Student Submission 2015

Campus Life Improved Catering Provision

Transport

The catering provision for both students and staff on campus is not up to the standard we would expect from such a high calibre institution. The range of food is limited and there are few healthy options. The approach to the location of catering outlets and their look and feel is dated and could be far more attractive and inspiring.

The transport provision on campus is limited and although most services and facilities are within walking distance, the shape of the campus is changing and therefore, the need for travel options is going to increase. They key routes to consider are the routes between halls of residence and the heart of the campus, routes between the two campuses and options for travelling in to the city centre and beyond via national and international transport routes. It is also important to consider a variety of transport options including cycling paths, bus routes, train lines and safe walking paths in addition to considering students’ use of cars and the options for parking.

Recommendation: The University should address these issues of poor catering provisions on campus, in line with the recently completed catering review, to ensure the catering provision on campus is varied, well located, healthy and affordable. Consideration should also be given to specific dietary requirements. The environment should be attractive and the look and feel should be developed with student input.

Student ID Cards and Payments At present, students are required to carry their University ID cards, room keys and residences ID in addition to carrying personal cards for financial transactions and any personal keys. This is not only an inconvenience but also poses a security risk as it is difficult and costly to change locks if keys have been lost. It would be far simpler if all, or at least some, of these functions were carried out using a single digital card. Recommendation: The University should aim to expand key card access to all halls of residence and all University buildings, where applicable. This key card should also double up as students’ University ID card and identification for entering residential sites. The University should continue to consider options for integrating a payment option to this card which could either link directly to a bank account or be topped up using physical or online top up stations. If that isn’t a feasible option, contactless payment should be available in all commercial outlets on campus with a view to have an app for alternative payment and loyalty options.

Student Submission 2015

Recommendation: In line with the Estates Masterplan, the University should provide a range of convenient and sustainable, but primarily safe, transport options for students, staff and visitors. Options for a Boris Bike style scheme should be considered as quickly as possible for use around the institution and beyond. The University should make use of the fact that the campus’ heart is situated next to a train station and that a train line runs parallel to our largest residential site by working with Network Rail to provide discounted train passes for students, with potential introductions of new stations.

Cardiff University Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union Park Place Cardiff CF10 3QN Tel: 029 2078 1400 cardiffstudents.com

If you would like a copy of the Student Submission or have any questions about its contents, please contact the Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union President on: SUPresident@Cardiff.ac.uk