Student Representative Handbook
Putting You First
Student Representative 2010/11
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Contents 3
Introduction
4
Thank you from the Sabbatical officers
5 6
A message from the Vice Chancellor Your Role as a Student Rep
8
Service Standards
10 11
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) The role of your Programme Leader
12
Meetings
16 18
Appendix 1: The SU Advice Service Appendix 2: Student Representative Job Description
19
Appendix 3: Service Standards and Key Performance Indicators
21
Appendix 4:
Jargon Buster
Contact Cambridge:
Laura Holman First Floor, Helmore Building extn 2253 E-mail: l.holman@angliastudent.com 9 – 5 Tuesday – Thursday
Chelmsford:
Debbie Phillipson First Floor, Tindal Building extn 4250 e-mail: d.phillipson@angliastudent.com 9 – 2 Monday – Thursday (During Essex school holidays 9 – 5, Mon – Wed)
Peterborough:
Alison Sutton Room 8, Education Centre, Peterborough Tel. 0845 1965560 extn 5560 e-mail: a.sutton@angliastudent.com 1 - 3 Monday & Tuesday, 10 - 3 Wednesday & Thursday
Fulbourn:
Chrissie Smith Student Union Office (next to the Student Lounge) Victoria House, Fulbourn, Tel. 01223 695365 e-mail: c.smith@angliastudent.com Visit www.angliastudent.com – Contacts/office door for office hours
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Introduction By registering as a student, you have joined the Anglia Ruskin community. Welcome! In any community, we need to share experiences and contribute to improvements to make our community a better place to be. At Anglia Ruskin, one of the ways we do this is through the Student Rep system. Student Reps are the voice of the students on their course. It is a hugely important role as it has a direct impact on improving the way your pathway (pathway is your University’s name for a course) is run. Your experience as a student is not just about how well you are taught – it is about whether there are enough resources in the library, whether your lecturers are accessible in between lectures and tutorials, whether the rooms you are taught in are the right size and have the correct equipment: all of these issues and many others are raised by Student Reps, who work with University staff and your Students’ Union to resolve them.
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All students, whether full time, part time, taught on campus or distance learning, undergraduate or postgraduate, are eligible to become reps. We recognise that for part time or mature students, becoming a Rep may be challenging, but the role is flexible: please remember that it is vital that we have Reps who are part time and mature students as well as those who are full time, younger students, because otherwise your voice will not be heard so clearly and your experiences are different from more traditional students. This handbook is a combination of information and resource materials for Reps to use during their term of office. We hope you will spend some time reading it and find it useful: if you have any questions, or think that something is missing, please ask the Student Rep Co-ordinators, who are based in the Students’ Union offices in Chelmsford and East Road, Cambridge (their contact details are shown opposite).
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Thank you from the Sabbatical officers (who run your Students’ Union)
Dear Student Rep, Congratulations on your success on becoming a Student Representative! This is something to be proud of; it means that your peers have entrusted you to represent their views to the University. Through the work that you do, we can assure you that your experience will benefit you and your course greatly. Although we realise that this may be daunting, our Student Rep Co-ordinators are here to give you guidance and support, whether it is preparing you for University Committees or giving you training and development in your new role. Both of us became student reps during our time at University and can say from personal experiences that the work that you do in this area can really make a difference and you will become a voice of your peers. The Student Rep system is the best way students can make their voices heard. You are now a catalyst for change. During your induction you will be given training which will provide you with key skills that will benefit you as a rep, but also in many areas throughout your time of study. It is through effective student representation that your needs are considered; it is through your active participation that the right goals are achieved and it is through good communication and teamwork that we succeed in getting the student voice heard.
Matt President
Liz Academic Affairs Officer
We hope that you enjoy this role, and we hope that you get as much out of the experience as we both did during our time as reps. We will see you in the briefing sessions‌Good luck for the coming year!
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A message from the Vice Chancellor (who runs your University)
All of us at Anglia Ruskin University are very proud that our Students’ Union has been recognised nationally as one of the leading Students’ Unions in the country. This is not least because they have been so successful in articulating student concerns generally, as well as providing valuable advice on student views as we have reformulated our academic offering over the last few years. At the heart of this success is the Student Representative system in which we identify one student for each cohort who will take on the role of helping us better meet the needs of that cohort’s students. The Students’ Union trains these ‘Student Reps’ for us to ensure that they are effective in their role and keeps in touch with them throughout the academic year. I know from conversations with Student Reps that they and their views are treated with great respect across the whole academic community. Quite rightly, our excellent academic staff will hold strong views about such topics as the content of degree programmes and will at the same time be conscious that what we can offer to students has to be within the available financial envelope - especially in the new era, dominated by government cuts. But our experience is that the vast majority of things raised by students do have academic benefits and are affordable and so are well worth supporting. I write this at a time when the press is focusing on the government’s efforts to resolve the future of university funding. However unwelcome, it seems inevitable that the burden of finance falling upon students themselves will increase in some way or another, regardless of how much of any increase gets passed on to universities themselves. We quite understand that there will be a concomitant raising of student expectation and it will therefore be more important than ever that we have an effective Student Rep system. Thanks for volunteering and we all look forward to working with you over the duration of your course. Professor Mike Thorne Vice Chancellor Anglia Ruskin University
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Your Role as a Student Rep Whether you are an undergraduate, postgraduate or research student, campus based or distance learner, ALL students’ views are presented by Reps. What you should do Your Students’ Union and your University expect that you will: Identify student issues and needs by proactively seeking out the views of your fellow students
Attend and participate in meetings and raise issues (whether or not you support them) that students have asked you to talk about
Give praise as well as criticism: it is easy to forget to mention the good, but staff should be praised for getting it right
Feed back to students in your cohort the outcomes from meetings that you attend (if reps from other groups in your cohort cannot attend a meeting, you need to feed back to them too)
What you should not do: You must not deal with problems that affect an individual student: these may include issues relating to
Academic progress (if a student is having problems with their course or fails an assignment)
Liaise with other Student Representatives and the Students’ Union on issues affecting your Pathway or Programme
Accommodation
Personal, emotional or health problems
Attend preparation sessions (when appropriate) before meetings
Visa or immigration issues
Attend Rep training and Student Rep Forums
Bullying
The SU has an Advice Service on both the Cambridge (East Road) and Chelmsford Read and respond to emails from your SRC campuses and you should send students there: and the Students’ Union more information about the Advice Service is given at Appendix 1. Student Reps in Fulbourn Complete the annual Student Rep Survey or Peterborough should refer students to the Cambridge (East Road) Advice Service. There Comply at all times with the University’s are also support services in the University. When Rules and Regulations for Students you come to training, you will be given an up to date chart of where students can be referred for Promote Equal Opportunities specific issues but if in doubt, refer them to the SU Advice Service.
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Your Role as a Student Rep The grey areas There may be times when a student’s individual problem has implications for the whole student body. In these circumstances it may be appropriate to raise the issue at a meeting, but you must not mention individuals by name: if in doubt contact your SRC. The SRCs and the SU Advisers work closely together, to ensure that issues are dealt with appropriately without breaching confidentiality. There is a more detailed Job Description at Appendix 2. The Student Charter The University’s Student Charter aims to explain exactly what you can expect from your University and what it expects from you. Make sure you refer to it whenever you want to raise an issue: it can help support your case. A copy is included in your Rep pack and you can also find it in the Student Essentials section of the University website, www.anglia.ac.uk. What’s in it for me? Being a student rep will help you develop transferable skills that are valued by employers. These include; listening and communicating, presentation, negotiation and assertiveness, organisation and time management, networking. Not right for the role? If, after acting as rep for a while you feel it is not the role for you, you must tell your Programme Leader, who will need to arrange elections for a new rep for your cohort. Please also tell your SRC. The Students’ Union and the University value Student Reps very highly and it is important that there is confidence in the system. Therefore, if students on your course, the SU or the University have concerns about your ability to fulfil the role, this will be investigated and may result in you being required to stand down.
The Student Representative Co-ordinators The Student Representative Co-ordinators (SRCs), Laura Holman and Debbie Phillipson, are here to give you training and support: they are based in the SU offices in Cambridge (East Road) and Chelmsford. Chrissie Smith and Alison Sutton are the SU’s Membership Services Administrators in Fulbourn and Peterborough, and they are responsible for administering the Student Rep system on those campuses and liaising with University staff and Reps there. (Chrissie and Alison are also there to help students with any queries about the Students’ Union, so if you are based in Fulbourn or Peterborough, do go and see them.) Your SRCs should be your first port of call with anything rep related. Do make use of us and of the other services the Union offers you. You can find our contact details inside the front cover
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Cambridge: Laura Holman Chelmsford: Debbie Phillipson
Peterborough: Alison Sutton
Fulbourn: Chrissie Smith
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Service Standards To improve the services we offer to our members, your Students’ Union is taking part in the Students’ Union Evaluation Initiative (SUEI) and we received a SILVER standard at first audit in June 2010. As part of this, we regularly review all our activities and set minimum standards that students should expect from us. We have therefore set the following standards for our service to you. If you feel we are falling below these, please tell us. The standards are: 1.
The SRCs will respond to email and telephone enquiries from Student Reps within three working days, during teaching weeks.
2.
The SRCs will place an out of office message on emails if they will be away from the office for more than two working days, giving an alternative contact.
3.
The SRCs will send an update to Student Reps twice each semester.
We have also agreed (with the University) service standards for Programme Leaders: full details of our service standards and key performance indicators for representation are given in Appendix 3.
Training
Your SRCs provide training to give you the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Rep at Anglia Ruskin. You should attend the Induction training, even if you have been a Rep elsewhere as these sessions contain information specific to your role at Anglia Ruskin. We will be offering the training sessions consecutively in two hour Induction and Development slots.
Induction training The SU – how it works and what it offers The role of the Rep at Anglia Ruskin Gathering students’ views University meetings and meeting etiquette
Sessions will be run in Semester 1 and repeated in Semester 2: details of times and dates can be found on the SU’s website, www.angliastudent. com, on the Facebook group (see below) or on the University’s Infoscreens. To register for a place on a training session, please book through the events section of the Angliastudent website, email your SRC or phone the SU office for your campus.
Feeding back to students after meetings
Development training Anglia Ruskin’s quality assurance process and the Reps’ contribution Union governance & democracy Influencing skills Time management
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Website
Student Rep Society
Please visit our website www.angliastudent. com/get involved/current reps. This page will keep Reps up to date with news and events. You will also find an electronic copy of this handbook, meeting dates, University contacts and links to useful websites.
The Students’ Union has a number of Clubs and Societies. This year we are hoping to establish Student Rep Societies in Chelmsford and Cambridge. The Societies will be run by Student Reps and members will have access to grants from the Students’ Union to develop their activities.
Student Rep Facebook Group We have set up a group on Facebook – Anglia Ruskin University Student Reps. This is a way for you to stay in touch with us and to contact and discuss issues with other Reps in the University. We will be posting regularly – come and join us. You can also find your SRC on Facebook – look for Laura Rep Co-ordinator and Debbie Rep Coordinator!
Student Rep Awards Every year we celebrate the successes of Student Reps at an annual awards ceremony. This year for the first time, we plan to do this through the Student Rep Society at the annual Sports and Society Balls in Chelmsford and Cambridge on 16 April 2011
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are a few quick answers to some of your potential questions. How many Reps should there be on my pathway? There should be a Rep for every cohort, in every year, in every pathway. If there are more than 50 students in your cohort, then another Rep should be elected for every 50 extra students. How do I contact Reps in different years? There are a number of ways to do this. Join our Facebook group – Anglia Ruskin University Student Reps, which has lots of other reps from all Faculties signed up. You can come along to a Student Rep forum that will allow you an opportunity to meet people in the same role as you. You can draft an email to your SRC who can email it out to relevant Reps on your behalf: remember to put your contact details on the email! Above all, go to your Programme Committee: the reps will be there. What is ‘my Programme’? At your University a Programme is a group of related Pathways (or courses): for example, the Architecture and Planning Programme includes Architectural Technology, Housing and Environmental Planning, as well as Architecture. For every Programme, a member of the academic staff is the Programme Leader, with overall management responsibility for the pathways in that Programme. How do I find out who my Programme Leader is? Your Programme Leader should have introduced themselves at the start of your course. You can find an up to date list of Programme leaders through the SU website, www.angliastudent.com Do I need to register to attend a training session? If so, how do I do it? Yes. Your SRC needs to know numbers to arrange refreshments and find a suitable room. To register, you can email your SRC or drop into the office, or register online at the events section of the SU website www.angliastudent.com. Training times can be found in your Rep Pack, on the SU website or the University’s InfoScreens.
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I’ve been a Rep elsewhere before/I am a mature student with my own business, do I need to go to training? We recommend that all new reps attend the induction session as this gives details of how representation works at Anglia Ruskin. When will I be told about the committees I should attend? Programme Committees: You should receive an email in your student email account (anne.other@student.anglia.ac.uk) from your programme administrator at least two weeks before the meeting. If you don’t, please contact your SRC. Other committees: Your SRC will invite you to attend about 4 weeks before the meeting. What do I do if my course mates aren’t interested? Don’t worry: a lot of students cannot see the point of reps until something goes wrong. The important thing is that your fellow students know that you are the one to come to if/when that happens. What happens if I can’t attend a meeting? If you are unable to attend your Programme Committee you must send your apologies to the administrator. If there is more than one Rep for your cohort, find out if the other Rep is able to attend. If neither of you can go, you must provide a written report together on how the semester has been for your cohort to date: please include the good things as well as the bad. If you have agreed to attend a meeting that your SRC has invited you to and then find you cannot go, tell your SRC as soon as possible so that a replacement can be found. I am confused about where to take an issue, where should I go? If you are in any doubt, contact your SRC. They have a lot of experience and can point you in the right direction.
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The role of your Programme Leader The University has given your Programme Leader responsibility for managing Student Representation in your Programme. One of the administrators will also act as a point of contact for you and the other Reps in your Programme. A list of Programme Leaders and administrators for each Faculty can be found on the Students’ Union website, www.angliastudent.com You can expect that your Programme Leader will:
(v) .
Provide space and opportunity for you to meet with students Publicise Student Representative training and forum dates Allow you access to normal channels of communication, including notice board space, where available, in order to receive and relay information to the students Provide you with all necessary information so that you can represent your peers Respond appropriately, and in accordance with the regulations and procedures of the University, to any issues that you raise on behalf of your fellow students Hold Programme Committee meetings at times that allow as many Student Representatives as possible to attend. If you are not able to attend, to develop and encourage alternative means of student input.
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Meetings Students on placement
As a Representative you will attend meetings to raise issues and give the student viewpoint on matters affecting your course. You are a full member of these meetings: this means that you have the right to speak and to vote on any proposals where a vote is required. Attendance at all meetings except Programme Committees is voluntary. Although you are not expected to go to all the meetings to which your SRC may invite you, you must always try to attend your own Programme Committee. If you find that Programme Committees are regularly scheduled for times when you cannot be there, contact your SRC as soon as possible. If you cannot attend your Programme Committee, you must brief another rep or send a written report. For most meetings you attend (other than Programme Committees and Student Representative Meetings), the SU will prepare you by sending you briefing notes and inviting you to a preparation session before the meeting where you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. A member of the SU staff (usually your SRC) will attend the meeting with you as a Designated Observer to support you and answer any questions you may have during the meeting.
If you are a student nurse or teacher, you are permitted to come off placement to attend official University meetings. Student nurses should get their placement books signed by the Chair of the meeting. Teaching students are programmed for more days in school than are required by the TDA: this is to allow you to attend University meetings, and to allow for sickness or other necessary absence. If you are unsure whether you have completed sufficient days in placement, contact your module tutor. Other students on placement should ask their module tutor, Pathway Leader or Programme Leader before agreeing to attend.
Travel The University does not expect you to travel between campuses to attend meetings. Instead, when meetings are held in Chelmsford, Reps studying there will attend, and when in Cambridge, Cambridge based Reps will go. The same applies to Reps studying in Peterborough and Fulbourn. If a member of staff asks you to travel to a meeting on another campus, contact your SRC. Meetings and their etiquette are covered in detail at training.
Jargon Buster Staff at University meetings tend to talk in acronyms. To help you understand what people are talking about, we have included a list of the most common acronyms and the most common University titles, with a brief explanation of what each one means, in Appendix 4 . We also include a list of the acronyms relevant to specific meetings in the briefing notes we send you before you come to a meeting.
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Meetings How do I know which meetings to go to? For Programme Committees and Student Rep meetings, your Programme Leader or administrator will be your point of contact. For other meetings, your SRC will contact you shortly before Committees are scheduled and ask for volunteers. University meetings (except for Programme Committees) have a set number of spaces for Student Representatives: a prompt reply to the SRC is more likely to get you a place. A list of meetings for your Faculty can be found on the Students Union website, www.angliastudent.com Programme Committees (Faculty Board sub committee) Chaired by: Programme Leader Responsibilities: To oversee student achievement and maintain academic standards for the Pathways assigned to the Programme To recommend action relating to the effective organisation and management of the programme, including resources To discuss issues raised by the Student Representatives and consider ways of resolving them Rep membership: At the discretion of the Programme Leader. Ideally there should be at least one Rep from each year group of every Pathway in the Programme. Usually, all Reps are invited. When are they? Usually there is one each semester in about week 7 or 8. The actual date should be sent to you by your Programme Leader. If you have trouble finding out when it is, ask your Programme administrator, another rep on your Programme or your SRC. Your Programme Leader should send you the agenda and any paperwork for the meeting at least a week in advance. If you do not receive the paperwork, please tell your SRC. The SRCs do not normally prepare you for your Programme Committee but if you have any queries or concerns contact your SRC.
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The SRCs cannot attend all Programme Committees, but they try to go to as many as possible. If you have particular concerns and would like your SRC to accompany you to a meeting, please ask and give as much notice as possible. Pre reg Nursing Student Rep Meetings In the Faculty of Health and Social Care, Pre Registration Programme Committees rotate between the Chelmsford, Cambridge (or Fulbourn) and Peterborough campuses and additional Student Representative Meetings take place to ensure that site specific issues can be raised and resolved without waiting for the next Programme Committee on that campus (which may be up to a year away). Your SRC will attend these meetings if possible. Faculty Learning and Teaching Committees (Faculty Board sub committee) Chaired by: Deputy Dean Responsibilities: To promote the development of learning, teaching and assessment within the Faculty To develop a strategic framework for continuous improvement of learning, teaching and assessment. Rep membership: 2 Representatives Your SRC will invite you to these meetings. You will only attend meetings for your own Faculty. With the exception of ALSS, these alternate between Cambridge and Chelmsford, although Science & Technology and the Business School are experimenting with video conference meetings. The SRCs attend these meetings as Designated Observers.
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Meetings Faculty Boards (Senate sub committee) Chaired by: Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean Responsibilities: To formulate strategic plans for curriculum development within the Faculty, including consideration of proposals for the development and location of new and existing pathways within the Faculty’s remit Overseeing the implementation of the University’s policies and procedures for assuring academic standards throughout the Faculty To discuss issues raised by the Student Representatives and consider ways of resolving them. Rep membership: 2 Representatives With the exception of ALSS, Faculty Boards alternate between campuses. About 6 weeks before a meeting on your campus (you will not be asked to travel between campuses), the SRC will email you, and tell you what to do if you would like to attend. When you agree to attend a Faculty Board, the SRC will pass your name and contact details to the Faculty Board Clerk. Your SRC will send you preparation notes and invite you to a briefing session to go through the agenda and answer any questions. You will also meet the Sabbatical Officer who attends your Faculty Board. The papers for the meeting should be available for you to collect from the SU office about a week before the meeting: it is a good idea for you to read these, together with the prep notes, before the briefing. If you are a part time student, we may be able to post the papers out to you.
ALSS Student Rep Meetings Unlike the other Faculties with students on both main campuses, ALSS do not rotate their Faculty Boards and Faculty Learning & Teaching Committees between Cambridge and Chelmsford. This means that ALSS students based in Chelmsford cannot be represented at these meetings. The Faculty has agreed to hold Student Rep Meetings in Chelmsford each semester, attended by the Deputy Dean: the notes from this meeting are presented at the Faculty Board and Faculty Learning & Teaching Committee Learning, Teaching & Assessment Committee (Senate sub committee) Chaired by: Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Prof Lesley Dobree Responsibilities: To develop a strategic framework for the continuous improvement of learning within the University and to monitor the effectiveness of the support provided for the implementation of Learning, Teaching & Assessment strategies. Rep membership: 4 Representatives: 2 undergraduate, 2 taught postgraduate This Committee is held alternately in Cambridge and Chelmsford. The SRCs will invite undergraduate and postgraduate Reps to this meeting at least one month in advance. The names and contact details of the Reps who are attending will be passed to the Clerk, who will send out the Agenda and associated papers. A briefing session will be organised by the SRC for the campus, who attends the meeting as a Designated Observer. Dates for 2010/11 12 Oct 10 27 Jan 11 4 May 11
1pm 1pm 1pm
Cambridge Chelmsford Cambridge
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Meetings Student Experience Committee (Senate sub committee) Chaired by: Deputy Vice Chancellor, Advanced Systems, Prof Helen Valentine Responsibilities: To monitor and review the quality of the Anglia Ruskin student experience locally, regionally and internationally by developing, implementing, monitoring and reviewing appropriate mechanisms to achieve this purpose. Rep membership: 6 Representatives: 2 undergraduate, 2 postgraduate, 2 research This Committee is held alternately in Cambridge and Chelmsford. The SRCs will invite Representatives to this meeting at least one month in advance. If the available spaces in each category cannot be filled, they will be opened to all Reps. The names and contact details of the Reps who are attending will be passed to the Clerk, who will send out the Agenda and supporting papers. A briefing session will be organised by the SRC for the campus, who will accompany you to the meeting. Dates for 2010/11 3 Nov 10 3 Feb 11 11 May 11
1 pm 1 pm 1 pm
Cambridge Chelmsford Cambridge
Feedback After each meeting you must feed back to the students that you represent. The SU Designated Observer will write feedback notes for circulation within the SU and you may use these as the basis for your own feedback. If you go to a Programme Committee and your SRC is not able to attend, please send a copy of your feedback to her. As part of our QA process, the Designated Observer will send you a form for you to give feedback on the preparation that you received: we would be grateful if you would complete this and send it back as we use this information to improve the briefing sessions we provide.
Academic Appeals and Disciplinary Hearings
Student Representatives are part of the Academic Appeals and Disciplinary Processes, as detailed in the Academic Regulations. These state that Preliminary Review Panels, Appeals Panels and Disciplinary Hearings should include a ‘student nominated by the President of the Students’ Union’. In practice this will be a Student Representative. You are not permitted to attend a Panel or Hearing for a student from your own Faculty or for a student who is known to you. Preliminary Review Panel (PRP) This is the first stage of the academic appeals process. A PRP is convened to consider appeals received from students relating to assessment. The Academic Appeals Unit gives the SRC the date when a Panel will be held and the SRC emails Representatives asking for volunteers. You will be a full member of the panel to offer a student’s viewpoint. If you attend a PRP, you will be briefed prior to the meeting by University staff. Appeals Panel This is the second stage of the academic appeals process. Representatives are invited to attend in the same way as above and, again, you will be briefed prior to the meeting by University staff. The President of the SU or other full time elected officer will also be invited to attend as an Observer. They are there to ensure that procedure is followed. At the request of the student concerned, an Adviser from the SU Advice Service may attend to offer support and/ or representation, subject to availability. Disciplinary/Assessment Offences Hearings These are held when a student is accused of serious misconduct or there is an allegation of an assessment offence (i.e. cheating in an examination, plagiarism or collusion in assessment). Representatives are invited to attend in the same way as above and, again, you will be briefed prior to the meeting by University staff. The President of the SU or other full time elected officer will also be invited to attend as an Observer. They are there to ensure that procedure is followed. At the request of the student concerned, an Adviser from the SU Advice Service may attend to offer support and/or representation, subject to availability.
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Appendix 1: The SU Advice Service Here when you need us “The Students’ Union Advice Service offers free, confidential, independent and impartial advice, information and representation to all registered students of the University.”
What is the SU Advice Service?
It is a free service that is completely independent from the University. The people who work there are employed by the Students’ Union, not Anglia Ruskin University. The service has a quality mark awarded by the Legal Services Commission, which means that we have a code of practice, ensuring that you receive a high standard of guidance.
Who are the Advisers?
They are permanent members of Students’ Union staff who have been specifically trained to advise Anglia Ruskin University students. All of the Advisers have worked previously in an advisory capacity and have a wealth of knowledge and experience.
What problems do students take to the Advice Service?
Advisers are trained to help students with a whole range of issues; from helping to resolve a grievance relating to their educational experience, assisting if things go wrong in University accommodation, advising on an academic appeal, providing guidance on the University’s regulations, accompanying students to meetings and hearings, to just providing a listening ear.
Who do the Advisers work with?
Advisers have access to other departments and agencies both within the University and externally. When appropriate, and with the student’s permission, they are able to liaise with the Student Advisers allocated to faculties, who help students with faculty-specific issues, and with Student Services Advisers, who provide learning support, counselling, financial assistance and careers guidance. Often a student has a whole raft of issues and the Advisers will give them time to sift through these so that the appropriate help may be accessed.
What other help is available from the Advice Service?
The Advice Service produces a range of leaflets. The ‘academic’ leaflets aim to interpret the rules and regulations of the University in a user-friendly way and the ‘welfare’ leaflets aim to provide basic help – a full list is shown below. Information is also available on our website www.angliastudent.com.
How do students arrange to see an Adviser?
Students may telephone, write to, e-mail or visit the Advice Service in person. Contact details are shown below. Advisers respond to students promptly – over the nine month period of the 2009-10 academic year, 98% of requests for appointments received a reply within one working day. Students from Fulbourn and Peterborough are assisted by the Cambridge campus Advisers and appointments via telephone and email are routinely provided although students may also have a face to face appointment at the Cambridge campus if they prefer. Students from the University’s UK and International partner colleges may seek assistance relating to academic issues and this is provided via the Cambridge campus Advice Service.
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Cambridge, Fulbourn & Peterborough students: SU Advice Service, Cambridge Campus, 1st floor Helmore 01223 460008 cambridge.advice@angliastudent.com Senior Adviser: Tessa Byars Adviser: Edna Johnston Chelmsford students: SU Advice Service, Chelmsford Campus, 1st floor Tindal 01245 258178 Chelmsford.advice@angliastudent.com Adviser: Caroline Tranter Adviser: Laura Wakefield
Our leaflets:
Advice Service Code of Practice Academic Regulations Alleged Assessment Offences Appealing Complaints Discipline How is my written work marked? Extensions & Mitigation Thinking of leaving What happens if I fail? Dignity at Study Disabled Students Employment Rights House Hunting Checklist Housing Advice Living in University-managed accommodation Living with your co-tenants Choosing a Nursing Union Choosing a Teaching Union Men’s Health Women’s Health
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Appendix 2:
Student Representative Job Description Responsible to: Students in Pathway
Tasks and Responsibilities: Identifying student issues and needs by consulting, involving and reporting back to students
Representing the views of all the students in your Programme, whether or not you agree with views expressed
Attending, participating in, and raising student issues at, Programme Committees, Faculty Learning, Teaching & Assessment committees, Faculty Boards, Learning, Teaching and Assessment committees and Student Experience committees
Giving feedback to students and the Students’ Union on the matters that were discussed at meetings
Attending Preliminary Review Panels, Appeals Hearings and Disciplinary/Assessment Offence Hearings as required (these are part of the University’s regulatory processes and you will be separately briefed before each one)
Attending training and Student Rep Forums
Seeking to draw attention to and minimise the impact of change on students and ensuring the student perspective is considered in all decisions
Liaising with other Student Representatives and Students’ Union staff and Officers on issues affecting your Pathway and Programme
Providing a link between staff and students
Motivating the students you represent by encouraging their involvement and action in the decision making process
Complying with the University’s Rules and Regulations for Students
Promoting Equal Opportunities
Preparing a report to be handed on to the succeeding Student Representative
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Appendix 3:
Service Standards and Key Performance Indicators
Putting You First Student Representative Co-ordinators Service Standards 2010-2011 The following service standards were agreed by the Student Representative Co-ordinators and Advice & Representation Manager on 20 April 2009. Staff and officers should ensure that these items can be monitored and measured annually. 1. The SRCs will respond to email and telephone enquiries from Student Reps within three working days, during teaching weeks. 2. The SRCs will place an out of office message on emails if they will be away from the office for more than two working days, giving an alternative contact. 3. The SRCs will send an update to Student Reps twice each semester. Key Performance Indicators Targets for 2010-2011 1. Number of student reps attending ‘Meet the VC Event’: Target: 30 at each event (2009-10: Cambridge 19, Chelmsford 10) 2. Number of training sessions attended by student reps: Target: Cambridge: 85 (2009-10: 75, 2008-09: 77, 2007-08: 46) Chelmsford: 65 (2009-10: 58, 2008-09: 50, 2007-08: 11) 3. Number of student reps attending University meetings: Target: 65% (2009-10: 59%, 2008-09: 48.9%, 2007-08: 57.6%)
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Appendix 3:
Service Standards and Key Performance Indicators
Anglia Ruskin University / Students’ Union STUDENT REPRESENTATION Service Standards 2010-11
Putting You First
The following service standards were agreed by Anglia Ruskin University and the Students’ Union on 25 June 2009. Programme Leaders 1. Programme Committee dates will be arranged, dates emailed to the Student Representative Coordinators (SRCs) and published on my.anglia by Week 1. 2. Student Representatives (Reps) will be elected and given information about their role (provided by the SRCs) no later than Week 5. 3. Reps’ details will be emailed to the SRCs no later than Week 6 (and identified on SITS when field made available). 4. Programme Administrators will email to Reps and the SRCs the minutes of Programme Committee meetings within 10 working days. 5. Programme Leaders will advertise and promote training dates (provided by SRCs in liaison with Faculty Business Managers). Students’ Union 1. SRCs will provide Programme Leader and Rep Handbooks by Week 3. 2. SRCs will provide training sessions for Reps during Semesters 1 and 2 and will confirm the dates to Programme Leaders (dates to be arranged in liaison with Faculty Business Managers). 3. SRCs will provide ongoing support and information for Programme Leaders and Reps. 4. SRCs will identify Reps for, prepare them in advance, and accompany them to, the following meetings: Learning, Teaching and Assessment Committee, Student Experience Committee, Faculty Boards and Faculty Learning & Teaching Committees. 5. SRCs will endeavour to attend as many Programme Committees as possible, prioritising those where the Reps have asked them to attend, those where there are known to be issues and those where the Programme Leader has requested them to attend. Some Programme Committees will be attended in rotation.
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Appendix 4: Jargon Buster AIBS
Ashcroft International Business School
ALSS
(Faculty of) Arts, Law and Social Sciences
APL/APEL
Accredited Prior Learning/Accredited Prior Experiential Learning
ASQRC
Academic Standards, Quality & Regulations Committee (often pronounced Asquark)
BIS
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills: government department responsible for Universities
CEO
Chief Executive Officer
CMT
Corporate Management Team (comprising the Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellors, Deans and Directors of the University).
CoWA
College of West Anglia
CPD/E/S
Continuing Professional Development/Education/Studies
CRC
Cambridge Regional College
CRIC
Cambridge Ruskin International College: offers access to international (non EU) students via foundation courses with a view to progressing to Anglia Ruskin University degree pathways.
CTF
Cambridge Theological Federation
DAP
Departmental Assessment Panel
DCSF
Department for Children, Schools and Families: the former name for the Department for Education
DDA
Disability Discrimination Act
Dean
Your Dean is the person who runs your Faculty. The full title is Dean and Pro Vice Chancellor
DfE
Department for Education
DNG
Discipline Network Group: a regular meeting of academic staff from the University and partner colleges, teaching in related pathways
DVC
Deputy Vice Chancellor: a senior member of the University’s management team, usually responsible for a specific area: for example, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research Scholarship and Development)
E vision
web enabled version of Anglia Ruskin’s Student Admin System (sometimes referred to as SITS)
ECDL
European Computer Driving Licence
EEDA
East of England Development Agency
ESF
European Social Fund
ESRC
Economic and Social Research Council
Faculty
One of 5 academic divisions of the University, made up from Programmes in similar subject areas. Also a term used collectively for all the academic staff within a Faculty or the University.
FB
Faculty Board
Fd
Foundation Degree (FdA – Arts; FdSc – Science)
(F)H&SC
(Faculty of) Health & Social Care
FQAO
Faculty Quality Assurance Officer
HEFCE
Higher Education Funding Council for England
HEI
Higher Education Institution
HESA
Higher Education Statistics Agency
HRC
Huntingdonshire Regional College
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Appendix 4: Jargon Buster HR(D)
Human Resources (Department)
IBL
Inquiry Based Learning
INSPIRE
University department responsible for improving teaching & learning
IR&A
Institutional Review & Audit
JISC
Joint Information Systems Committee
JV(C)
Joint Venture (company) A legal entity, created by agreement between Anglia Ruskin and another institution to deliver Anglia Ruskin degrees, on the premises of the partner institution.
KTP
Knowledge Transfer Partnership (formerly Teaching Company Scheme or TCS)
L&T
Learning & Teaching
LLUK
Lifelong Learning UK
LSA
Learning Support Assistant
LSC
Learning & Skills Council
MRes
Master of Research
MDF
Module Definition Form
NHS
National Health Service
NMC
Nursing & Midwifery Council: body responsible for registering nurses and midwives and for ensuring that nursing and midwifery courses meet professional standards.
NSS
National Student Survey – an annual survey of all final phase (yr 3 for full time and semester 5 for part time) students across the UK
NVQ
National Vocational Qualification
OU
Open University
PDP
Personal Development Portfolio
PGCE
Post Graduate Certificate of Education
PGMI
Post Graduate Medical Institute
PRC
Peterborough Regional College
ProcDoc
Procedural Document – gives the approved procedure for a specified activity within the University.
PSF
Pathway Specification Form
PVC (or ProVC)
Pro Vice Chancellor – a Dean’s full title is ‘Dean & Pro Vice Chancellor’: for definition, see Dean, above
QA
Quality Assurance
QAA
Quality Assurance Agency (Ofsted for Universities)
R&D
Research & Development
RAE
Research Assessment Exercise
RDIU
Research, Development and Inspection Unit
SCLU
Schools & Colleges Liaison Unit (within Marketing)
SCOP
Standing Committee of Principals
SCoP
Senate Code of Practice
SDS
Student Data Systems
SEEC
South East Essex College
SEEVIC
South East Essex VI Form Community College (now known as SEEVIC College)
SENDA
Special Educational Needs and Disability Act
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Appendix 4: Jargon Buster SharePoint
The Virtual Learning Environment that Anglia Ruskin uses to support both the face to face and on-line delivery of pathways and modules.
SITS
Strategic Information Technology Services: the company that supplies Anglia Ruskin’s student admin software. The software is called SITS:Vision (the bit that is accessible to students is e-vision)
TA
Teaching Assistants
TAB
Thurrock & Basildon College
TDA
Training and Development Agency: set and monitor professional standards for teacher training
TGSE
Thames Gateway South Essex
TGSP
Thames Gateway Strategic Partnership
UAG
University Administrators Group (for Faculty Admin Managers and other senior administrative staff)
UCAS
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
UCP
University Centre, Peterborough
UCWA
University Centre, West Anglia (formerly UKCL, University Centre, Kings Lynn)
UUK
Universities UK
VC
Vice Chancellor: the University’s Chief Executive. You will be able to meet and question the VC.in the late autumn.
VCG
Vice Chancellor’s Group: a group of senior management who meet regularly to make decisions on the future running of the University
VLE
Virtual Learning Environment
WebCT
Web Course Tools: The VLE that Anglia Ruskin formerly used to support the delivery of modules and pathways (to be replaced by SharePoint during 2010/11)
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