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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.
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In other words, he or she is not normally expected to speak on behalf of the student. There are several reasons for this: • A university is not a court of law • All students are considered to be adults capable of expressing their own views • Students know, and should therefore be able to express, their own situation best • A representative cannot talk on behalf of the student and simultaneously carry out other duties; taking minutes or checking for a fair hearing, for example. A representative will, however, speak up if he or she believes the meeting is not being conducted fairly or if he or she needs clarification on any issue.
How do I arrange representation? If you would like representation, please contact the Students’ Union Advice and Support Centre. This should be done as soon as you receive notification that you have a meeting. This service is subject to availability. Please note that requests for representation on short notice cannot be guaranteed. advice.wolvesunion@wlv.ac.uk
Tel: 01902 322038
What happens next? You will be asked to provide your name and a contact number. Your details will then be passed on to the duty officer for the week, who will contact you a few days in advance of the meeting to arrange a time and place to meet. This is usually 10-15 minutes prior to the hearing. Please note that representatives are not available for appointments or able to provide you with academic advice. If you require specific advice / information regarding your case / issue then attend the Advice and Support Centre’s drop in service and speak to an adviser. The officer will be fully briefed by the adviser on your case, and there will be ongoing communication between the adviser and the representative to ensure your case is kept upto-date.
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Please be patient and wait for the officer to contact you. If you have not heard from an officer 24 hours prior to your meeting then please contact the Advice and Support Centre.