STUDENT INFORMATION

Student Representation on Committees

Role of a Student Representative

Student representation and feedback is vital to the continued development of the Division.  Because Continuing Professional Development students are practitioners often in full or part time employment, and attend university on a part time basis, we are very aware of the demands on your time. For this reason, you are invited to submit in writing or by email to the Programme Director at any time, your views or opinions on any aspect of the programme, and this will be presented at the appropriate committee.

Essentially, the role of a student representative is to represent the views of students on a particular course to the academic staff at various meetings of the Division. This ensures that students can exert a measure of control over their own learning experience.

Responsibilities include:

  • Identifying student issues and needs. When necessary referring them on to the relevant people who can assist them.
  • Providing another layer of support for new and existing students.
  • Attending and participating in various meetings held at the University.
  • Consulting, involving and reporting to students.
  • When arranged, attending Student Representative training sessions.
  • Providing a link between the staff and students at the Division.
  • Keeping yourself informed of developments within your programme of study.
  • Promoting equal opportunities.
  • Contributing to the growth and development of the Student Council by providing ideas and suggestions.
  • Helping to organise and run the ‘Freshers’ Fair’ for new students at the main May and September intakes.
  • Helping to organise, run and promote social events such as ‘Freshers Welcome’ parties and ‘End of Unit’ parties.

Benefits of Being a Student Representative:

For your commitment, time and effort you will reap many benefits and develop transferable skills. These include:

  • Increased involvement in your educational experience at the Division. It gives other students a feeling of ownership over their education and the reassurance that their views and concerns are being heard within the Division.
  • Knowing that you are making a positive impact on the lives of present and future students.
  • Extra-curricular activity.
  • The opportunity to meet other students across the Division.
  • Representation and advocacy skills.
  • Listening and communication skills.
  • Meeting skills.
  • Organisation and time management skills.
  • Negotiation skills.
  • A certificate and letter of commendation that can go into your Portfolio, from the Division. This would recognise your commitment to the Council after six months of being a student representative, attending no less than three combined ‘Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, Student/Staff Liaison and Student Council Meetings’.
  • Active involvement in the council’s various activities.

The Division also benefits, as it is seen to:

  • Consult with students.
  • Have the opportunity to improve the quality of its courses and student satisfaction.
  • Enable students to understand the system and educate others.
  • Promote an increased sense of belonging to the Division amongst students.
  • Have an active staff-student dialogue outside of the realms of teaching.

Meetings to Attend

All representatives will be required to regularly attend the previously mentioned Staff Student Liaison Committee which discusses cross-programme issues and is held five times per academic year.

Provision has also been made for students to be represented at Programme Committee, a forum to meet with University staff and Programme Directors to discuss programme specific academic issues.

Although you will receive an authorised letter of exemption (from lectures and clinical areas) to attend them, it is understood that as students you cannot attend all meetings. Therefore, your apologies can be emailed a week in advance of the meeting, including any issues, ideas/suggestions that can be read to the meeting on your behalf.

Communication

You may have already gathered that due to our varying locations, timetables and sessions spent at the University, email is the main mode of communication between students and University staff. As a student representative it is important that you check your University email account regularly in order to be kept in the loop and keep the Chair informed of any contact detail changes.

Committee Involvement / Commitment

Student representation and feedback is vital to the continued development of the Division.

It can be difficult for students to find the time to contribute to all of the committees and working parties. For this reason, the Head of the Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work is willing to write letters of support for students to facilitate attendance.

How to become a Student Representative

Student representatives are elected at the beginning of the academic year for each programme and each year, within a programme. Their role is to represent the views of students on a particular course to the academic staff at various meetings of the Division. This ensures that students have a voice and are participating in developing learning and teaching within the Division.

 Staff Student Liaison committee

Student representatives are required to regularly attend the Staff Student Liaison Committee, held five times per academic year. The Staff Student Liaison Committee addresses issues of common concern across programmes.