Postgraduate Course Rep Handbook 2014/15

A Guide for

Course Reps EDUCATION NETWORK 2014/15

Education Office r

R e p s Postgradua Postgraduate

education

te Officer

CONTENTS 4.

Introduction from the Postgraduate Officer

5.

Foreword

6.

Your Postgraduate Officer

7.

The Education Network

8.

The four steps

10. Help & Support 12. Training 13. Recognition 14. Useful Contacts

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POSTGRADUATE OFFICER

THE INTRODUCTION

Firstly, welcome to the Education Network! I hope you will enjoy your year as a Course Rep and the valuable contribution you can make to shaping your education.

The Education Network is designed to ensure that academic issues (both negative and positive!) are effectively communicated to the right people so they can be properly resolved or celebrated.

As Course Reps you’ll be attending Learning Community Forum meetings with School/Department staff and discussing the academic issues you’ve gathered from your course mates.

Postgrad Education Reps- you’ll also be attending some Learning Community Forum meetings, with the added role of gathering widely felt issues from your Course Reps and working with me (the Postgraduate Officer) to resolve them. You’ll also attend some facultylevel University meetings.

As Postgrad Officer, I represent you on postgraduate issues to the Students’ Union Officer team and the senior University management.

However, I can only do this if I know what issues students have and this is where your role as a Course Rep is key in letting me know!

Please do feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns or ideas that you might have about your role as a Course Rep, or even how you’d like to improve the postgraduate experience here at Nottingham. I’m all ears!

Good luck in your role and I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible over the coming year!

Anas Elhag Postgraduate Officer

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FOREWORD I am delighted to accept the invitation to write a few words of introduction in this handbook. to Course Representatives play a key role in the University being able enhance, whenever possible, our enviable record for providing a student has experience of Higher Education of the highest quality. This record genuine through but not been achieved by staff working in isolation, partnership between students and staff over many years. matters As with any human organisation, there are occasions when we get will wrong. The University’s commitment is that when this happens we This it. from learn will we and it, correct acknowledge it, we will work to ctively constru g workin approach requires confidence in each other: by e and together and communicating effectively, problems can be overcom the University’s provision can be continuously improved. In this regard, I believe that the Education Network developed by the Students’ Union the is important in making student communication more effective and ive. dialogue between the University and students even more product The University appreciates the commitment that Course Representatives give and be assured that your efforts influence the conduct of the University at all levels, right up to that of Council, the University’s in governing body. Moreover, the experience that you gain is an asset your CV and is valuable in many careers.

Thank you for all of your efforts.

With best wishes, Alan Professor Alan Ford Pro-Vice-Chancellor – Teaching and Learning

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Anas Elhag Postgraduate Officer

The Postgraduate Officer is responsible for providing a top standard academic representation system through the use of the Course Rep Network. They also represent postgraduate students on a number of committee meetings throughout the University, ensuring Nottingham postgrads get the best experience when it comes to their teaching & learning. They also participate on a number of national campaigns and are the first point of call for the Students’ Union in terms of Postgraduate Higher Education policy.

Objectives/ Manifesto points: • A more postgraduate orientated Students’ Union and University Services • A more vibrant and connected postgraduate community • A better selection process and conditions for postgraduates who teach • Continue to fight for improved access to funding

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The Education Network 2014/2015

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WHAT ARE MY DUTIES? Here’s a handy step-by-step guide to some of the duties you’ll have as a Course Rep and if you’re ever not sure you can always ask your Postgraduate Education Rep

STEP

1

COLLECT STUDENT OPINION

STEP

2

SORT THROUGH THE ISSUES •

•

•

Learning Community Forums (LCFs) are regular meetings with your School/Department where all student questions and feedback can be raised.

Find more information on your LCF by visiting workspace.nottingham.ac.uk/display/ LCForum Make sure your course mates know who you are and how to contact you

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STEP

3

TAKE IT TO THE LCF

STEP

4

FEEDBACK UPDATES & CHANGES •

•

•

•

Check out the Moodle module for ideas on researching student opinion Decide whether student feedback should be dealt with informally (Relevant Staff Member) or formally (LCF).

Remember to balance positive and negative feedback at the LCFs Any unresolved issues can be taken to your Postgraduate Education Rep

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DO I GET P L E H T A WH ALL THIS? G N I O D H WIT

Lecture Shouts & Surveys

YOUR SCHOOL

Before you do a lecture shout, please ask permission from the tutor whose lecture it is! It is rare for them to say no, but out of politeness, you should always check first.

ct Many Schools will not give you dire r thei of all of list il ema access to an students. If you ask at the School to Office, however, they will be able ents stud the of all to il send out an ema alf. beh your on se cour on your

If you want to survey your course mates, there is a really useful free tool available online at www. surveymonkey.com. This is ideal if you just want to ask a couple of questions. For larger surveys, the Education Network has a full SurveyMonkey account. If you would like to use the SurveyMonkey account, please contact the Education Network Office. You will also be asked to get your course mates to complete surveys on behalf of the Education Network throughout the year, and your help with this is appreciated.

All Schools have an online presence m. for their Learning Community Foru ils, This contains your contact deta d minutes from the meetings you atten your for rts repo iner exam and external School. Every School has a forum e feature which will enable dialogu ed tabl time ally outside of form meetings. The online presence is and referred to as the LCF Workspace : here can be accessed c.uk/ http://workspace.nottingham.a display/LCForum/Welcome

PTES AND PRES SURVEYS During the spring term postgraduates may be asked to fill in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey or the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey. These are run by the Higher Education Academy, which is an external body from the University. These

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surveys form a benchmark to which all participating UK institutions can be compared for quality and standards.

As a course rep you may want to look at the previous set of results from the relevant survey as they will contain data on what issues students are unhappy with. This will help to backup any changes you wish to make within your school/department.

COURSE REPS NEWSLETTER Every month, during term-time, you will receive by email a copy of the Course Reps newsletter. This is the primary method of communication between all of the members of the Education Network.

The newsletter will include information and opportunities which you will need to communicate to all of the students on your course. These will include details of campaigns or initiatives the Education Network is running, national opportunities within organisations

such as the NUS or Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), and events hosted by the Students’ Union. It is really important that this information is passed on to all of the students on your course, whether by email, lecture shout or some other method.

You are more than welcome to send the Education Network Office articles for inclusion in the newsletter. Past issues of the newsletter are available through the Students’ Union Reps Module on Moodle.

Education Network Off ice The Education Network Office contains dedicated full-time staff based in the Students’ Union, Portland Building. They are here to support you throughout the year, and there is no question too big or too small for them.

Want to do some research before you raise an issue at a formal meeting?

The Education Network Office will be able to provide you with all of the resources you need, including the rules on what Schools should and shouldn’t be doing for you.

They can provide a signposting service. When you know that there is probably a dedicated person or department that deals with something, but you are not too sure who or where it is, the Education Network Office will be able to point you in the right direction.

Basically the Education Network Office is a one stop shop for anything to do with your role as Course Rep. Feel free to email, ring or pop into the Education Network Office on B Floor, Portland Building, University Park Campus.

Have an issue, but not entirely sure if your Learning Community Forum is the right place to raise it? The Education Network Office will be able to advise you.

Education Network Office B Floor, Portland Building, University Park Campus Tel: (0115) 748 4469 Email: sucoursereps @nottingham.ac.uk

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ACADEMIC COMMUNITY FUND

TRAINING

We often receive feedback from postgraduate students that there isn’t a sense of ‘academic community’ in their Schools/ Departments.

All new Course Reps are required to complete an introductory training session and can sign up online through the Course Rep Moodle module, which you all should be enrolled on very soon.

Therefore, we established the ‘Academic Community Fund,’ a pot of money available for Course Reps to bid for so that they can arrange social events for their students. The only requirement is that the reps utilise the opportunity to gain feedback on the course from attendees and submit it to the Students’ Union.

If you are a returning Course Rep, you must complete the online refresher training and quiz, which can also be found on the Moodle module.

If you have any problems accessing the module or training, please contact sucoursereps@nottingham. ac.uk and we’ll help you figure it out.

To apply, please email sucoursereps@nottingham.ac.uk.

We’ll also be offering you opportunities to periodically complete some further online training through the Moodle module and to attend various employability sessions.

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DO I GET ANY FORMAL RECOGNITION FOR MY ROLE?

In order to say thank you for the time you give up to volunteer as a Rep, the Students’ Union issues certificates during the summer. In order to ensure that only active and engaged Course Reps receive certificates, there are minimum criteria that you must meet.

This is what your certif i cate will look like...

BRONZE (You must complete the following): • Undertake introductory or refresher training • Attend at least 1 School/Dept meeting (documented in minutes) • Have sent apologies to all unattended School/Dept meetings (documented in minutes)

EDUCATION NETWORK

GOLD

CERTIFICAT

SILVER (Complete one of the following): • Complete Bronze requirements • Attend one of the following: • Additional training session • Collaborate on additional projects with Postgraduate Officer • Participate in an Education Network Event

Successfully resea

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rched, analysed and presented the views of a Developed advo diverse group cacy and of students at university comm communication skills repre sentin ittee meetings with senior acade g students Dedicated addit mic staff ional time to Stude nts’ Union camp aigns and perso Went above and nal devel beyond the opment experience of Univ call of duty to improve the academic ersity of Notti ngham Students

Has been award

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INSERT NAME

Dasha Karzun ina Education Offi cer 2013 / 14

University of

Nottingham

Students’ Uni on

su.nottingham .ac.

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GOLD • Any reps who have been nominated as going ‘above and beyond’ the call of duty, winners are selected by the Education Network team and Postgraduate Officer.

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ONTACTS

USEFUL C

Postgraduate Off icer The Postgraduate Officer is elected annually to represent students to the University and nationally on academic issues.

Anas Elhag T (0115) 84 68773 E supgofficer@nottingham.ac.uk

SAC

STUDENT ADVICE CENTRE

EDUCATION ADVISERS The Education Advisers offer all students at the University of Nottingham advice and representation on any courserelated issues such as academic appeals, academic offences, progression etc. They are here to advise you and help you through any situation relating to your academic wellbeing.

EDUCATION NETWORK OFFICE The Education Network Office is the main point of contact for any questions and queries relating to your role, or on issues raised by the students you represent.

Education Network Office B Floor, Portland Building T (0115) 748 4764 E sucoursereps@nottingham.ac.uk

Welfare Advisers The Welfare Advisers provide a free and confidential advice an d information service on issues such as housing rights and responsibilities, mo ney and student funding, and consumer matters.

Based in the Students’ Union Advice Centre, students wishi ng to see one of the Welfare Advisers can drop-in, make an appointment to see them in person, or ring or email for adv ice.

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T E

(0115) 846 8730 student-advice-centre@nottingham.ac.uk

Counselling Service

Availability: • Portland Building: Appointments: 9.30am-12.30pm,

Monday-Friday (10am-12.30pm,

Wednesday, term-time)

Drop-in: 1pm-4pm, Monday-Friday

(1pm-5pm, Wednesday, term-time)

• Jubilee Amenities Building: 1pm- 4pm Monday (Appointment basis,

term-time)

The University Counselling Service is a free confidential service (based in the The Orchards) available to undergraduate and postgraduate students and to all members of University staff.

(0115) 951 3695 counselling.service@ nottingham.ac.uk T E

UNIVERSITY SUPPORT SERVICES

Student Services The Student Services Centre is the home for Academic Support, the Disability Policy Advisory Unit, Financial Support, the majority of the Registry’s front line services and Student Fees.

T E

(0115) 951 3710 ssc@nottingham.ac.uk

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