STEVE MILLS PRESIDENT (EDUCATION AND WELFARE)
END OF YEAR REPORT STRATEGIC THEMES: 1. REPRESENTATION 2. COMMUNITY 3. ENGAGEMENT 4. SUPPORT 5. UNION DEVELOPMENT
REPRESENTATION • Reformed the Academic Representation structure at RGU by enhancing the Faculty Officer and Student Class Rep system. • Supported the Student Partnership Agreement project and led on two themes: Representation: Faculty officers (SFO’s) and Assessment and Feedback. • Worked with the FHSC SFO’s to collect over 730 surveys around Assessment and Feedback and worked with DELTA to collate and analyse the data. Also highlighted feedback on Assessment and Feedback policy and am campaigning for a stricter return back policy. • Advertised, interviewed and appointed 7 SFO’s across all Faculties’ including for the first time ever a Distance Learner SFO from Texas. • Introduced a new DELTA Student Liaison Officer and DSSSS Student Liaison Officer. • Developed a SFO training programme and provided them with their own email accounts and hoodies. • Qualified as a SPARQS Associate trainer and trained 200+ class reps with a 99% satisfaction rating. • Set up a RGU REP Facebook group and sent out a monthly ‘update’ for reps. • Launched ‘I Love RGU Week’ to gather the ‘positive’ feedback also sets up the launching the nominations for ‘I Love My Lecturer’. • Refreshed and re-launched the ‘I Love My Lecturer’ awards by having a new nomination list, new awards, having a bigger and more rewarding ceremony on campus. • Sat on the Academic Misconduct Appeals committees. • Worked towards 24/7 Library using the survey which was successful. • Supported class rep issues including challenging RGU on behalf of a post-grad class being taught in the Belmont Cinema. • Spoke at 3 Parent open evenings about Student life. • Hosted three Student Affairs Forum and Co-Chaired one Student Affairs & Union and Societies forum. • Attended the following University committees to represent the student voice: Academic Council, QAEC, LISC, TLASC, FQESC. • Sat on the Board of Governors as the Undergraduate Governor representing students. • Wrote 20+ nominations for ‘Student Involvement & Contribution Awards’ and presented the awards at the Student Achievement Ball.
•
NSS - Supported promotion of this and used my class reps to bring the overall response rate from 37% to 52%.
COMMUNITY • Help coordinate the #SayNoToFirst campaign. Had meeting with Duncan Cameron, GM of First Bus and then attended a Publicity event for Student Carnie Ticket. Bus Pull Race with Fresher’s Team. • Established partnerships with Local groups: o Shelter o Rape Abuse Support Service (RAS) o Drug Action o Helping Hand (Student Guarantor agency) o Samaritans o Breathing Space o Stonewall o Police Scotland • Supported RGU: Union RAG with various events and activities such as BBQ Tour, Abseil challenge, Torcher Parade • Accommodation Allocation working group and planning strategy for allocating rooms for 2014/ 2015. • Organised Shelter drop in sessions on campus to support students finding accommodation. • Working with Careers and Employability Centre, Lorraine and Will. Made a video for them about how to access the service and my own experience, for their careers toolkit on moodle. Promoted the MyCareers Toolkit • Been working with Irina on the Extra Curricular Award. Have easily had over 100% increases in signups with 40% of overall registered being class reps. • Received National Publicity for #EndRevengePorn campaign.
ENGAGEMENT • Set up a President Facebook profile and supervised the RGU Freshers 13/14 FB group. • Attended class inductions with President CD to promote the Union. • Huge involvement in Freshers week. Organised more day events such as Scottish Welcome and RGU In The Park, Paul and Steve Bus Tours part 2, and introduced Freshers Team Challenges. • Underwent Mini-Bus driving lessons, passed and provided Airport pick-ups during Welcome week. • Organised ‘Give It A Go’ week with Paul and Edward. • Started Gender Equality In Action (Feminist) society. • Helped organise ‘Mental Health Society’ (40 members). • Attended a meeting with Terry Knight, Edward Pollock and AUSA reps (Deena also involved), to host a Aberdeen Student Wide ‘International Event’ on St Andrews Day, November 23rd.
SUPPORT • Launched the RGU Mental Health Partnership Agreement along with Paddy. • Supported Mental Health and hosted a ‘Mental Health Week’ with a MH Fayre and various activities on such as Zorbing. • Qualified in SMHFA training and ASIST training
• • •
• • • • • • • •
Got RGU to consider Sexual health and set up the Sexual Health Action Group (SHAG) to now make sexual health a strategic priority. Hosted a Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance (SHAG) Week. Week of events, published a SHAG guide and went on a halls tour to deliver SHAG packs to student flats on Valentine’s day. Supported the Widening access department by being part of the ‘contextual admissions group’ and hosting campaigns for disadvantages students like Pledge2Listen – Managed to get lots of pledge cards signed, reportedly 1/3 of the total in Scotland. Currently awaiting results from the Buttle UK accreditation award. Student cases – Dealing with ‘lots’ individual student issues. Supported the LGBT+ Charter of Human Rights and aim to launch 2014/15. Supported Care Leavers by launching the #Pledge2Listen WhoCares Scotland campaign, obtaining 1/3 of the total pledges in Scotland. Supported RGU’s accreditation with the Buttle UK Award Provided an exam destresser, handed out free water, played music and displayed lots of positive good luck messages around University street. Qualified as a mini-bus driver and organised Airport pick-ups during Welcome week and Fresher’s week Wrote a ‘Welfairy Guide’ and ‘Dear Welfairy’ pieces for RGU: RADAR Involved and supported the ‘Healthy University’ strategy and ‘Fit For The Future’ initiative helping with their FFTF Fayre, Munroe Challenge, Mindfulness and helping promote all their projects. I featured in a video for them talking about student involvement and Healthy Body, Healthy Mind.
UNION DEVELOPMENT • SET UP RGU: NIGHTLINE o Wrote the policies (Constitution, Equal opps, Your Rights, Confidentiaility, Nightline Policies etc). o Secured a venue as the Nightline hub o Secured University backing and will provide the training and counselling. o Secured Sponsorship from Keycom/ Keysurf. o Managing the project • Set up RGU Leadership Programme. Proposal, plan, created working group and reviewing work so far. Still in progress but have the ‘Bronze’ stage almost finished. • Established the Equality champion’s role (first time RGU: Union have had liberation officers) and interviewed and appointed ambassadors for the year as well as supporting their events and initiatives (LGBT+ Week, One RGU Many Nations). • Wrote and finalised the RGU: Union Equal Opportunities policy, • Worked with Paul and Paddy on the Union Constitution and passed it at the AGM • Attended the 2nd AGM. I encouraged all Student Reps to go as part of their role, which turned out to be the majority of those attended. Introduced the Constitution through a very inspirational speech which obviously passed. Answered question put forward to the Sabbaticals. • Worked with Union team on SUEI and accredited with Bronze award • Attended various conferences such as #Welcom13, #EdRep13, #Gathering13, #NUSScotCon14 #NUSUKConf14 and various SPARQS and Enhancement theme conferences. • Was successful in my application as a QAA Student Reviewer along with Paul and attended the training event. • Attended and worked at Carnegie Philanthropy event with Paul in Edinburgh. • Submitted nomination for NUS Scotland awards. Shortlisted for 7: Union of the year, Officer team of the Year, Equality and Diversity, Society of the year, Sports Club of the Year, Academic Representation and Staff member of the Year. Won Lifetime
•
Achievement Award (Audrey Bainbridge), Equality and Diversity and Officer team of the Year. Launched the #SaveRGUUnion campaign with Paul and kept RGU: Union Schoolhill open for another year.