Course Rep Guide
INTRODUCTION
We’re Rose and Gwion and we’re your Vice President for Education and Llywydd UMCB at Undeb Bangor.
As new or returning course reps, we would like to thank you for your commitment to making sure that student voices are heard. We are excited to work with you and we’re looking forward to hearing your ideas for the next academic year. Together, we hope we can continue to make positive changes for all students and make sure that no one is left behind.
We have created this handbook to give you some extra information about the Course Rep System this year and to outline some key dates. Please feel free to get in touch, otherwise, we look forward to seeing you all at the next meeting.
Contacts
George Representation Coordinator
coursereps@undebbangor.com
Gwion Rowlands
Llwydd UMCB
Rose Pugh VP Education
WHAT IS UNDEB BANGOR?
Undeb Bangor is your Students Union., Undeb means union in Welsh. Our purpose is to represent, empower and support students and to make sure that your student experience is the best it can be.
We are run by a team of dedicated Sabbatical Officers, elected by you, the students, who work on campaigns and ensure that your voice is heard and that the kind of activities that are needed are being developed.
We run the sports clubs, societies, volunteering projects, UMCB (Welsh Union), course reps and our student council. Plus, we offer a confidential academic advice service.
For more information on what we do, visit our website www.undebbangor.com You can find us in Pontio on the 4th Floor.
WHAT IS A COURSE REP?
As a student rep, you’ll be one of around 300 volunteers working to represent students on academic matters. You’ll listen to students’ views and work closely with staff in your school, the VP Education, Llwydd UMCB if you become a Welsh Medium rep and Undeb Bangor, to implement positive changes and make sure that students can always have their say on their academic experience.
Why do we have course reps?
Course reps provide a vital link between the student body, the University, and the Students Union. They ensure that students can have a direct say on their academic experience and make positive change to their courses. The course rep structure allows schools, colleges, and the University to identify any issues and react quickly.
COURSE REP STRUCTURE
Our course rep structure has been made to ensure that all student voices are heard. Have a look at the role descriptions below for more information.
It is important that you make sure that the wider student body is aware of which roles you cover and what they can come to you for. It is also important that while you promote yourself to other students, that you get to know the other course reps too so you can work together when issues arise.
What roles are available?
Foundation Year Student Reps
These Course Reps are responsible for representing those students who are completing a foundation year of their studies, with any academic issues they may encounter.
Undergraduate Students Reps
There are Undergraduate Student Reps for each stage of study who are responsible for representing students on their course with academic issues and any barriers that they may encounter.
Postgraduate Taught Students Rep
Postgraduate Taught Student Reps represent the students on their course with academic issues and any barriers that they may encounter during their studies.
Postgraduate Research Students Rep
Postgraduate Research Students have to do things a bit differently as they don’t have a clear cohort of students like other courses. They represent other students on postgraduate research courses and any academic issues they may encounter
Joint Honours Students Rep
Joint Honours Students Reps represent any students who are doing a joint honours degree and any issues they may encounter whilst studying across more than one school.
Welsh Medium Students Rep
Any Welsh speaking students who sign up to be a course rep will be given the option to also become a Welsh Course Rep. They are responsible for representing the views of Welsh speaking students and discuss topics relating to the Welsh Language provision at Bangor University with Llwydd UMCB at council.
Placement Students
For students who complete placements as part of their professional qualifications, we understand that for large parts of the year, you will be away from campus in between study, making it difficult to come to Undeb Bangor’s Course Rep meetings and events.
It is still really important that you sign up to be a course rep, represent your cohort’s views and come along to events when you are able, but we don’t want you to feel pressured if you are away on placement. Following feedback from previous course reps, we have introduced a feedback form which means that you are able to provide feedback remotely, continuing to make an impact on your school.
Please find more information about this on page 12.
SENIOR REPS
One Senior Rep is elected per school.
Senior Reps have additional responsibilities including co-chairing SSLiC meeting, running engagement sessions and activities with students and other reps. They also receive one-to-one support from the Student Voice Team to assist them with their work.
In completing these additional tasks, Senior Reps are eligible for a £300 bursary.
If you’re interested in this role, please visit https://www.undebbangor.com/becoming-a-senior-course-rep
The Senior Rep Bursary
The £300 bursary available is split into 2, £150 each term and to access the money, you are expected to submit a report (either written or video) detailing what you have carried out during each term.
In addition to the usual Course Rep expectations (including attending training, attending course rep councils, gathering student feedback) Senior Reps will be expected to complete the following bursary requirements (please note that these are split between the two semesters):
• Attend Senior Rep Training in Semester 1 which will also include training on the content they will be required to deliver at Course Rep Training.
• Update the school’s area of on Undeb Bangor’s website. We’ll go over this at Senior Rep Training. You can then use this area to advertise any events you run as well as make other students aware that they can use this area to feedback to their school directly.
• Deliver required content to their schools at the relevant Course Rep Training Day in Semester 1.
• Coordinate with the Student Voice Team and Director of Student Engagement on the Feedback Form for the school, raising awareness to other students of how this can be utilised and using this to feed into SSLiCs and Undeb meetings.
• Attend and co-chair all their schools SSLiC’s (Staff Student Committee Meetings) each term
• Run one focus group per term with students from their school. Additional funding available to run focus sessions. Creativity welcome. Could be developed into a social event with insight element.
• Attend and chair the discussion with other reps in your school at Course Rep Council in each semester and feedback to the Voice Team.
• Sit on panel to decide Student Leader / SLTA winners in Semester 2.
• Be a member of the Senior Rep Team which works with the VP Education on projects and campaigns throughout the year.
• Be a representative on the Student Forum in each semester to ensure that the academic interests of students are represented in decision making.
• Produce an end of term report and submit this by the deadline specified by Voice Team.
• Support other course reps if they have questions throughout the year and coordinate catch ups when needed.
NB
– Though Senior Reps are not 'in charge' of other course reps and should not try to direct their work, they will be responsible for coordinating catch ups with the course reps in their school and feeding back to the Student Voice team/VP Education any themes occurring.
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?
As a course rep, you are expected to:
• Attend training to better understand the role build on skills needed to be a rep
• Promote your role as a course rep to students on your course
• Gather feedback (both positive and negative~)
• Attend and represent the views of students at Student Staff Committee Meetings and Course Rep Council.
• Update students on outcomes of meetings
• Work with the SU to bring issues to our attention
Don’t worry if this sounds a bit daunting – we’re here to support you. We can answer any questions or concerns, help you to engage with students and help you raise an issue if you’re not sure how.
Course Rep Role Agreement
When you sign up to be a course rep, you will be asked to agree/disagree to the Course Rep Role Agreement. Please find a copy of that below: By signing up to become a Course Rep, you agree to the following:
• Attend training to better understand the role build on skills needed to be a rep.
• Promote your role as a course rep to students on your course and at a school level if you choose a secondary position.
• Gather feedback (both positive and negative)
• Attend and represent the views of students at Student Staff Committee Meetings and Course Rep Council
• Update students of outcomes of meetings
• Work with the SU to bring issues to our attention.
• Agree to conduct yourself in accordance with the University’s Student Charter
By signing up to become a Course Rep, you can expect the following from Undeb Bangor:
• Full training is provided to become a Course Rep
• We want to encourage course reps from a diverse range of backgrounds, to represent a diverse student body. We understand that students have other commitments and differing circumstances, so we're here to support you to take part in whatever way we can. Please get in touch with us on coursereps@undebbangor.com
• We also have a dedicated staff member to support course reps, so if you have any questions, a situation you don't know how to deal with, or if you're struggling with the role, you can come and speak to us, and we'll work with you to find a solution.
• You will be invited to attend the Student Led Teaching Awards at the end of the year to celebrate the work of the Course Reps, with an Outstanding Achievement Award with a £1000 prize.
TRAINING
You will attend a training session with the other course reps who have signed up from your school.
It is an afternoon of getting a better understanding of the course rep role, getting to know one another, and helping to build a community in your school. It will include presentations from Undeb Bangor staff and trainers, role play sessions and team building exercises.
It will also be your chance to learn more about the Senior Course Rep role, whether you want to put yourself forward or get to know those who might be interested. When you sign up to become a Course Rep, you will also receive some reading to do in advance of the training that will really help you during the sessions.
If you are unable to make the designated date for your school’s training session, please email coursereps@undebbangor.com and we’ll see what we can do!
PROMOTE YOURSELF TO STUDENTS
The first step to gathering feedback is to make yourself known to students. Here are some ideas:
• Introduce yourself in your course WhatsApp chat or Facebook group. If you don’t have one, why not set one up?
• Ask staff to put your name, rep role and contact details and what they can talk to you about on Blackboard
• Use the resource pack and get some posters printed to include your contact details and what students can talk to you about. Ask staff if you can put copies up on School noticeboards and common rooms.
• Join a relevant Student Network. There are 12 networks you can get involved in which can help to find a community of students
• If you’re a Postgraduate Research Student Rep, be aware that you won’t have a cohort in the same way other students do. As well as joining the PGR Student network there are other things to get involved in like PGTea.
Lecture Shout Outs
Ask your lecturers if you can have 5 minutes at the beginning or end of a lecture to introduce yourself. Let your class know how to get in touch with you, what your role is and the sort of things they can speak to you about.
If you don’t feel comfortable speaking in front of an audience, you could prepare a PowerPoint slide instead and ask lecturers to include it in their presentation.
Undeb Bangor’s Website
We have a dedicated section of our website for course reps, including a handy ‘Find your Rep’ tool so that students can look up their course rep. make sure you upload a photo to your account, and we’ll do the rest.
WAYS TO GATHER FEEDBACK
These are just a few ways you can gather feedback. If you’re struggling to engage with students, please get in contact and we can help.
Course Rep Feedback Form
We have developed a feedback form for each school following feedback from previous Course Reps.
Students can access this form from the Undeb Bangor website and your school’s Blackboard.
The form will be accessed by Senior Reps, Undeb Bangor Staff and the Director of Student Engagement and it can then feed into meeting discussions.
Please use this to input any feedback you receive and also encourage all students to fill out this form when they have feedback.
Talk to Students
The most effective way to get feedback from students is to talk to them directly. This can be anything from an informal chat with a couple of students while you’re waiting for a lecture to organising a meeting to gather feedback on specific topics. Remember you can hold meetings online too using Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
Surveys
Surveys can be a great way to get an answer to a specific question, or to collect data to back up your case in Staff Student Committee Meetings. Both Microsoft Forms and Google Forms allow anonymous responses.
It’s a good idea to not send too many surveys as students get lots from other places and they may stop responding if you send too many.
Feedback Boxes
You can get together with other reps in your school to put a feedback box in a common room or ask staff if there’s somewhere in your school you an put one. Remember to check the box regularly.
Organise an Event
This is a great way to get your cohort together and can also be a chance to ask a few questions or give an update on something you’ve been working on and helping to build a community in the process.
Social Media
Social media can be a great way to ask students questions and gather feedback but remember to set boundaries. Let students know when they can contact you and that they will not always be available. It may be a good idea to mute the group or conversation when you want time to yourself.
STAFF STUDENT LIAISON COMMITTEE
MEETINGS
You will be invited to the SSLiC meetings by your school. It is important that you prepare for your SSLiC Meetings and do your best to attend them when you are invited.
We will go over in training how to prepare for the SSLiCs, how to present feedback and also what to expect from these meetings.
COURSE REP AND WELSH COURSE
REP
COUNCIL
Course Rep Council is held once a semester by Undeb Bangor This is our chance to all come together once a semester, Undeb Bangor give updates on what we have been working on based on your previous feedback and we look at broader topics that impact the wider University community that we can continue to work on, on your behalf.
These are interactive sessions where course reps have the chance to catch up with Undeb Bangor, listen to speakers from across the University as well as feedback on a number of different topics.
The council meetings give you an opportunity to work with other student reps, listen to issues that other students are encountering, plan events to build a sense of community within your schools and hear about upcoming activities that you may want to get involved in.
The VP Education and Llwydd UMCB will be present at these meetings and leading the conversations with you. Llwydd UMCB will break off for a discussion with any reps who have opted to be a Welsh Course Rep too to discuss any topics specific to the Welsh Language and the Welsh Language provision at Bangor University.
GET INVOLVED
We have a number of events going on throughout the year. Keep an eye on your emails and our website for details of all our events. Here’s a list of Undeb Bangor’s key dates that you need to be aware of as a Course Rep:
Please note that you will also be invited to SSLiC meetings from your school and other meetings that the Director of Student Engagement and other university staff may feel would benefit from student representation being present.
Name of Event When? Where? Who is it for? Description
Senior Rep Training 3rd September 2024 1-3pm
Room of Requirement, Undeb Bangor, 4th Floor Pontio
Course Rep Training 2nd October 2024 10am-2pm Wrexham Campus
For all elected Senior Reps for the 24-25 academic year.
Course Rep Training 9th October 2024
TBC
Course Rep Training 16th October 2024
TBC
Training to better understand the Senior Rep role, meet the VP Education and hear their plans for the cabinet for the year.
For all Course Reps studying in Wrexham In person training to meet other course reps, get a better understanding of the role and responsibilities
For students in the College of Science and Engineering and the College of Medicine and Health In person training to meet other course reps, get a better understanding of the role and responsibilities
For students in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences In person training to meet other course reps, get a better understanding of the role and responsibilities
Course Rep Council Meeting 13th November 2024 1-4pm
Course Rep Council Meeting 26th February 2025
TBC
Student Led Teaching Awards TBC May 2025
TBC
For Course Reps
PJ Hall
For Course Reps
A meeting for all course reps to come together, hear what other schools are up to, discuss feedback and best practice and also hear about what Undeb Bangor are working on.
A meeting for all course reps to come together, hear what other schools are up to, discuss feedback and best practice and also hear about what Undeb Bangor are working on.
Course Reps, Staff An evening to celebrate the achievements of the year
Throughout the year, we work with the Employability Service who put on workshops as our way of thanking you for your work as a rep and helping you to develop yourselves further. Please get in touch with us on coursereps@undebbangor.com if you have any suggestions for topics you would like to see.
Please note that we will invite you to all of our events through your University Email address and calendar. It is important that you regularly check your emails so you don’t miss out on updates from us.
When you receive a calendar invite, it is important that you respond to it, whether you are able to attend or not. This way, the organiser knows how many people to expect.
THE STUDENT LED TEACHING AWARDS
Every year we host an awards night to celebrate the work of the best course reps and staff. There are 5 Student Leader Awards up for grabs: Student Choice, Staff Choice, Welsh Medium Course Rep, The VP Education Award, and an Outstanding Achievement Award (with £1000 prize). All reps are invited to attend this awards night and each rep will be formally recognised for the work that they’ve done with a certificate.
PERSONAL ISSUES
As course reps you are there to deal with academic issues and represent the views of students. You do not have to deal with personal issues of students, or with an individual academic issues, such as disciplinaries or personal complaints. However, as a familiar face that students know and trust, you may find students coming to you for help.
The best thing to do if this happens is to listen to the student and then signpost them to the correct service. There are a whole range of student services available in the University to advise students on everything from housing to mental health. Visit undebbangor.com/coursereps to download our signposting guide.
If you don’t know who can help, ask the student to get in touch with us as studentvoice@undebbangor.com and we can put them in touch with the right service.
ACADEMIC ADVICE
Undeb Bangor offers a professional and confidential academic advice service to all Bangor University Students.
We can advise you regarding the various procedures, comment on your appeal and complaint submissions and help you to prepare for disciplinary hearings or university meetings. We can event attend them with you or on your behalf. We will help you present yourself in the best way possible regarding your case and ensure you follow the correct University procedures.
Make sure to use the service yourself or signpost a fellow student when required. www.undebbangor.com/advice
http://www.undebbangor.com/academicadvice
Tara Hine Academic Advice and Welfare Project Coordinator
Visit www.undebangor.com/coursereps or email coursereps@undebbangor.com
