refurbished the SU space at City campus to enhance the space for students.
achieved the AQS (Advice Quality Standard) status. We are 1 of only 15 Students’ Union advice centres to have this status.
retained our silver Green Impact status.
achieved 24/7 library access over important assessment periods.
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OUR STUDENTS’ UNION
4 5 6
President’s Message Vision + Mission and Core Aims Our Values
STUDENT VOICE & DEMOCRACY
7 8 9
STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Student Voice in Numbers Howl Out to the Student Voice Achievements Case Studies
10 11 12 13 14
STUDENT SUCCESS
Societies in Numbers Volunteering in Figures We’re Bettering the Student Experience Our Societies Make a Difference Benefiting Others Benefits You
15
Advice and Support in Numbers
16,17
Need Some Advice? Just ASC
18 19 20,21
Case Studies SU Awards Student Success
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I am especially pleased to be presenting this report to you all this year, as I was honoured to be part of the Officer team of 2015/16 (as your VP Academic) and worked with fellow students and staff to deliver another successful year here at the SU. Our previous years Officer team consisted of Yaz Aboubakar (President) Kulmiye Tifow (Student Experience Vice President) and Afftar Ali (Welfare Vice President) and my thanks for their hard work and dedication on behalf of the student body. As you will read the student voice has had a great impact on a number of issues, (not all of them can be recorded in this report), and that is testament to the healthy and productive relationship we have with the University. They have been again very supportive in listening to concerns and issues and working with us to address them where possible. Our ambitions for the coming year are tall but we feel they are achievable with the dynamic and enthusiastic team we have here. Our staff team are consistently supportive and experts in facilitating an enhanced student experience for all those who come in contact with us – my continued thanks and admiration to all of them! This year we have a new (nearly I’m still here!) team Nicole Berroa (Academic Vice President) Racheal Healey (Student Experience Vice President) and Issic Romel (Welfare Vice President) we will dedicate our time and energies in getting out across the campuses to meet with you, listen to your issues, concerns and provide the support and resources to achieve what we really feel is core for you, a great student experience, and an opportunity to have your voice heard (whatever the issue), in all levels of the Institution and finally to ensure that you are confident and successful in achieving your ambitions for the future. Please read our ambitions for the coming 12 months and come and see us here to learn more, and more importantly join us in delivering them!
Habiba Amjad President 2016/17
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Our Vision University of Wolverhampton Students’ Union - Student Experience at its best!
Our Mission Working with students and stakeholders to ensure the Student Voice is heard and the Student Experience is enhanced, leading to Student Success
To enhance the Student Voice across the University
To maximise the Student Experience for all
To promote & support Student Success
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Be Fair By being inclusive and offering opportunities for our all students to grow.
Be Responsible We understand the impact of our actions and actively seek ways to eliminate negative consequences.
Be Honest
We are there to listen and support, but like a true friend tell students what they need to know and be honest by giving the right information.
Be Respectful
Our approach is to listen, to connect and welcome all individuals into our community.
Be Compassionate
We are passionate about our students and we will support them throughout their time at University.
Be Ambitious
We are innovative and visionary; we want to push the boundaries of what is possible. We are not afraid to try and we are not afraid to fail.
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Over
40%
of our course representatives completed course rep training which is an 6% increase on last year.
This year has seen over
700
course representatives ensuring that the student opinion was listened to.
121
Course Representatives gained a Bronze Level Student Voice Academy Certificate.
In one of the most closely contested spring elections, we saw
1,905 6,645
students casting
votes.
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Key achievements for the Student Voice Academy include 100% of Faculty Rep’s completing their training for their role, with 6 out of 11 Faculty Reps gaining Gold level Student Voice Academy certificates. One notable achievement by the Faculty of Arts Rep, Adam Riglar, was the implementation of employability weeks for all performing arts courses. A ‘Course Rep Finder’ was implemented on the website to allow for students to easily access their rep details and help to get issues resolved at a lower level within the University. The awards success continued with the Student Engagement Support team consisting of Josh Killion, Anisah Khalid and Adam Riglar winning the award for Above and Beyond on Campus. This is the third year in a row this award has been won by the team! Over the next twelve months we plan to restructure our democratic system while increasing student involvement to ensure students are at the heart of all our decision making processes.
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Gemma Gessey, Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing Faculty Rep “I didn’t think that I could help influence decisions. However, the SU showed how united we all can be and how powerful we actually are. I am talking to the Head of Adult Nursing discussing a new module to be included into the degree to benefit fellow nursing students. I’ve even met my local MP Emma Reynolds to discuss issues that have/will affect students. She would also like me to be an active young party member! [It is] something I had never even dreamed of doing, but the SU has aided me in directions I had not even thought of”.
Anisah Khalid, Course Representative “Being a part of the SU has given me the confidence to enter the world of work knowing that I have gained and developed valuable skills, through volunteering as a Course Rep, Bestmates and Vice President of the Student Law Society. The SU has always been a friendly place and I have always been welcomed with open arms. The staff always have a smile on their face and if they are unable to answer your question, they will always direct you to someone who has the answer. It’s the tireless and hard work of all the staff that makes the SU what it is, with each member off staff bringing something different to the organisation. Thank you for providing me with so many opportunities”.
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187
ÂŁ4,778.06
students signed up to committee roles to aid society development which is an increase from 156 students last year.
fundraised by societies for a variety of causes special to them.
69
applications to the Society Support Fund approved with grants totalling ÂŁ5,900.20 being given to aid society projects.
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2,369
students worked with.
448
volunteering opportunities.
180
provider organisations.
66,582
volunteering hours. Using the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings from the Office of National Statistics, the financial value of these hours is estimated at approximately ÂŁ950,000.
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Over the last twelve months we have seen the number of societies almost double from 35 to 60 and 1466 students have joined a society this year, an increase of 366 students from the previous year. Over the next twelve months our aim is to develop the quality of societies so all students involved have a fantastic experience, whether they are committee members, member or a guest attending an event for the first time. To raise the quality we will be offering a high standard of training, guidance and support to our society committee members and being extremely proactive with our student body. Following its launch in the 2014/15 academic year, Volunteer Central consolidated in 2015/16 by supporting an increasing number of students to access a wider range of volunteering opportunities both within the local community and through Students’ Union led projects. We have worked with 2369 students, including students volunteering as part of their module, and have increased the number of opportunities available to 448 with 180 different organisations. We will be increasing our provision at Walsall and Telford campuses and engaging more students through outreach work, our updated website and social media so that we can find out what students want from volunteering and how Volunteer Central can further tailor experiences to suit individual needs.
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Paul Whitehouse, Chairperson for IET OnCampus Engineering Student Group. “I have developed my skill-set way beyond that of my course content, which should prove invaluable when applying for jobs, the effort I put in has been paying back ever since”.
Mohammed Akhtar, Chairperson of the ISOC (University of Wolverhampton Islamic Society). “I have been a member for a few years now, and my reason for joining was to meet new people, help improve skills which I believe are transferable to work and general life. I believe the SU is a fantastic place to build lifelong skills such as effective communication, having the confidence to speak to people, how to approach people and so on… If I am to apply my experience here, I have learnt how to organise events and manage events also I have learnt how to work in a set role and all this has been possible with the help of the Wolverhampton Students’ Union staff, these guys have really helped me and the ISOC a lot”.
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Faculty of Social Sciences student Annika Nisbett, received her Volunteering
a person through my
Excellence Award in May
volunteering. I am more
2016 and was nominated
confident. I feel better in
for a Volunteer of the Year
myself as I am helping
Award, recognising her
others. Volunteering has
fabulous commitment to
definitely helped my
volunteering with schools,
employability. It has made
the Brownies and a number
my CV very full and it has
of charities supporting
helped me decide the path
people with deafness and
I want to take in life, which
hearing impairments.
is very different to when I
Annika is now a volunteer
first started university. I have
director for a community
gained communication,
charity for hearing children
public speaking, leadership
of deaf parents. She says,
and teamwork skills whilst
“Volunteering has given
volunteering…it has been a
me so many amazing
lot more fun learning them
experiences… I have
whilst being a volunteer”.
absolutely changed as
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1,616 Individual issues recorded.
72
Year 12 UTC pupils took part in our pre-application finance, budgeting and study skills workshops.
87%
of cases successfully closed due to no further action required/ the student being satisfied with the advice.
198
prospective students and their families spoken to at Open Days.
ÂŁ67,336 additional funds gained for students through advice, appeals and hardship fund referral.
93%
of service users responding to our feedback survey would recommend us to a friend.
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ASC CASEWORK
all being a factor of a complex
During the academic year
finance case. Tuition Fee liability/
2015 - 2016, academic issues
eligibility and Tuition Fee debt to
comprised the majority of all
the University dominated Finance
advice work in ASC having
issues this year.
overtaken Finance enquiries by the end of the year. Issues around Academic Appeals, Complaints, Progression and Academic Misconduct comprised the main queries being recorded during this time. The fewer Finance queries overall is due to successful pre-emptive work (mainly in the areas of maintenance support and hardship), which also had the knock-on effect of reducing the number of “multiple” issues being recorded – rent, extenuating circumstances, wellbeing – often
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CONTINUED COLLABORATIVE WORKING WITH UNIVERSITY
FORGING LINKS WITH UNIVERSITY TECHNICAL COLLEGES
ASC continues to work closely
This academic year, ASC has, for
in collaboration with University
the first time, made links with a UTC
Admissions and Student Gateway
(Health Futures in West Bromwich)
to facilitate finance and budgeting
to bring finance, budgeting and
workshops to all those offered
study skills to Year 12 students
a place at UoW each year. 118
who are about to their UCAS
places were booked during
applications.
Summer 2016, with an averaging group of 5 per session. Further
It is our belief that engagement
sessions will also take place for
in this pilot project will result in
those coming through Clearing,
even more prospective students
during September.
being better equipped with the information and support they need
Zoey Lowe - Assistant Principal
to equip them for University, much
Pastoral Care at Health Futures
earlier in the process than ever
UTC, West Bromwich
before.
“Your presentations and support, as always, were very well received by the students – they really got a lot from it”.
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Claire Beaumont is about to go into Level 6 (Final Year) of a Fashion and Textiles degree – “Coming straight into Uni at Level 5 was scary and without support I panic – knowing there is someone with a friendly face I can go to in the Advice and Support Centre has helped me so much this year”.
Hector Makuyah is a Public Health student currently considering going on to Postgraduate study “The Advice and Support Centre has been the backbone of my achievements here at the University of Wolverhampton. Without the help of ASC, my studies, financial matters and personal issues would have definitely had a negative impact on my future prospects. Their support has helped me to overcome, and enabled me to accomplish my studies”.
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Our 5th annual student-led awards took place in the beautiful Grand Station, commending staff and students for great work and commitment towards the student experience. We received 335 nominations over the staff and student categories and this did not make for an easy decision by our student panel! On the night there was fabulous entertainment from our very own Wolves Bhangra society, the performing arts student cast of ‘Pippin’ and a violin performance from student Yill Law.
THE WINNERS WERE: Cutting Edge Teaching Award - Rosie Miles Dr Nicholas Musgrove Award for Exceptional Support Staff - Clare Dickens Inspirational Lecturer Award - Rachel Morgan-Guthrie Outstanding Personal Tutor Award - Marina Kendrick Placement Support Award - Mark Williams Students as Partners Award - Richard Medcalf Course Rep of the Year Award - Amanda Ross Faculty Rep of the Year Award - Theresa Summerfield - Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing Emerging Society of the Year Award - History Society Peer Support Award - Lucy Williams - Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing Student Staff Member of the Year Award - Anisah Khalid - Faculty of Social Sciences Society Committee Member of the Year Award - Paul Whitehouse - Faculty of Science and Engineering Society of the Year Award - SSAGO Union Rep of the Year Award - Anastasia Vryza - Faculty of Social Sciences Student Voice Faculty of the Year Award - Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing Deputy Vice Chancellor Award - Sarah Browne
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FEHW (IoS) students were dissatisfied that modules clash with sports fixtures on a Wednesday. The Academic Board agreed a new timetabling policy in Jan 2016 that confirmed that Wednesday afternoons would be kept free wherever possible.
Students from FSE commented that there is not enough ‘calculation’ practice within their course. The course leaders have taken this on board and advise that there will now be an improved level of support for developing skills in numeracy when performing pharmacy calculations.
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Comments from FSE students stated that the Uni intersite bus (esp to and from Telford Campus) was overcrowded and therefore unsafe. Now the University is trialling its first double decker buses in 2016-17.
A significant number of students from FEHW (IoHP) commented on the introduction of anonymous marking and how they feel it has disadvantaged them. The Faculty has now addressed this and guidance has been issued to students and staff, explaining clearly what anonymous marking is and how it should be used.
The library services at Walsall and City Campus became 24/7 over an extended period from Nov to March. This allows students to access the library services at times most convenient to them over the important exam season.
•
Students raised concerns that their semester one teaching did not finish until after Christmas. Students’ Union representatives worked closely with the University resulting in the academic calendar being moved back by one week to allow teaching to finish before Christmas.
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62%
of students said they were concerned about their academic achievement at University, particularly getting a good degree classification.
Almost half of students told us they were concerned about their physical health.
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Almost half of students surveyed said they were concerned about their mental health.
62%
of students said that they were concerned about their money. In particular they were concerned about not having enough and budgeting effectively.
36%
of students reported being concerned about their personal safety.
Almost half of students think that the University campus is a good place to catch up with friends and socialise.
provide social, cultural and recreational activities and forums for discussions and debate for the personal development of its students.
address key concerns coming out of our 15/16 SU surveys around students’ concerns for their health and well being.
improve the democratic accountability of the Students’ Union, gathering input and views from the wider student body and revising the structure to ensure inclusion and equality of the voice system.
develop our outreach provision through the deployment and activities of our officer and staff team. We will gain a better understanding of the needs and issues affecting our students’ and raising the profile of the SU for all our students’ and the wider university community.
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City Campus MD Building Wulfruna Street Wolverhampton WV1 1LY
Walsall Campus WS Building Gorway Road Walsall WS1 3BD
Telford Campus SA Building Shifnal Road Priorslee Telford TF2 9NT
Tel: 01902 322021 Fax: 01902 322020 E-mail: info@wolvesunion.org Website: www.wolvesunion.org
d
DE
ED BY sasha wo N G o SI
student staff designer @ U WS U