-1-
Student Representation Service The Advice and Support Centre offers a representation service for any student who needs it. For example, if you have a meeting with university staff as a consequence of submitting an appeal, or if you have been accused of academic misconduct, you may like a Students’ Union representative to come along with you to ensure you get a fair hearing. In fact, whatever the situation, you can ask for a Students’ Union representative to accompany you if you would like support. Students are normally given the option to take a representative to any formal meeting with the university. The representative can be a friend, a fellow student, a relative or a Students’ Union officer / adviser. Only one representative is allowed to attend.
What are the benefits of having representation? The benefits of being represented by a Students’ Union representative are: • A representative can act as an independent witness to events • A representative is trained to ensure you get a fair hearing • All representatives are experienced and can advise you on the University’s procedures • Having somebody ‘on your side’ can ensure as far as possible that meetings contain a representative balance of university staff and students. • In certain cases (e.g. in appeal/complaint meetings) a representative can take minutes (not verbatim) and formulate action plans to ensure that parties carry out any agreed action. The above support can, of course, be carried out by a friend, relative or fellow student, but elected officers and Student Union advisers are trained to represent students and have extensive experience of university/student meetings. However, some students do prefer to take someone who is close to them or even attend on their own. It’s your choice.
What a representative cannot do A Students’ Union representative, and indeed any other representative, is not required to act like a solicitor for the student.