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Liverpool Hope Students’ Union

Course Rep

Handbook

• Course Rep Training

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First of all a huge congratulations on being elected. The decision you have

made to become a Course Rep is something that will be a great experience for

you. By becoming a Course Rep, you have joint the system of LHSU officers and

you will be making a difference at Liverpool Hope University both for yourself,

your course-mates and future students.

Your role is vital to Liverpool Hope, as you will become the point of contact

between students and academic staff with regards to how the course is run.

Not only are you adding to your CV, but you are a catalyst for change in your

department; which all adds to making your time at Liverpool Hope much more

fufilling. Course Reps also have a far wider effect on the university by feeding

back to the Students’ Union, enabling the elected officers to respond directly

to the issues that matter to students to develop relevant policies or lobby on

their behalf.

The Course Rep System enabels you and other students to enhance the quality

of your course by identifying good practice and areas for improvement. As a

Course Rep you’re there to make sure that the University takes into account

the needs of students ensuring that they receive the best possible education.

A Course Rep system that works well is of a massive benefit to everyone

involved. From the individual student on a course who is able to feedback to

the University and have this acted upon, by course leaders, departments and

Faculties to Professor Pilay, the Vice Chancellor.

This handbook will provide you with the advice and information on your new

role. If at any point in the coming year you need future support or guidance

the Students’ Union is here to help.

If you have any issues, questions or would like to speak to someone about your

role do not hesitate to contact us at vpresed@hope.ac.uk or

courserepofficer@hope.ac.uk

We hope you have a great year and enjoy your time as a Course Rep.

WELCOME

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The Benefits of being a Course Rep

Course Rep Awards

As part of Liverpool Hope Students’ Union’s Student-Led Teaching Awards

Course reps have the opportunity to be nominated for a Course Rep of the

Year award. Look out for the opportunity to make your nomination in February

2014

What am I expected to do?

As a Course Rep your role is to express the collective view of the students on

your course and ensure these views is heard by those in a position to make

change.

Sometimes you may be asked to represent a view which differs from your own,

if it is the view of other students on your course and then it is your

responsibility to do this to the best of your abilities.

By being a Course Rep:

Help to improve the quality and delivery of education on your course

Develop a greater understand of how the University works

Get to know other students and staff better

Enhance your CV by taking on different responsibilities and acquiring

new transferrable skills such as:

1. Communication & negotiation skills

2. Self confidence

3. Time management & organisation skills

4. Team working

5. Leadership.

BENEFITS

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The role of a Course rep is an important one for both Liverpool Hope Students’

Union and the University expect you to embrace a certain level of personal

responsibility towards the role.

As a Course Rep you should:

1. Make yourself known to the students you represent

This way students who want to raise an issue will know who you are and

how to contact you. Let other students know about your role and how to

contact you by:

Sending a group email

Asking your lecturer if they will give you five minutes at either the

beginning or the end of a lecturer to introduce yourself

Getting a Course Rep notice board, so you can post information

and set up a suggestion box in the same area,

Setting up a Facebook or similar group to help communicate

2. Attend training provided by the Students’ Union

These sessions run throughout the academic year and provide an

important overview of the role and the opportunity to meet fellow reps.

3. Be Proactive

Talk to your fellow students to find out what they think of the course,

not just what needs changing but also what works well and can be built

upon. Consult widely so that you find out the opinions of all the students

on your course.

4. Takes student concerns to staff members

Some issues are best dealt with by talking to the relevant tutor, course

leader or even Head of Department. Try to raise issues as soon as

possible- the longer things are left the worst they can become. Where

you take the issues depends on who is in the best position is resolve the

situation.

5. Maintain Confidentiality

Always check whether or not a course mate who has raised an issue is

happy for their name to be mentioned when you take the issue forward.

6. Raise student concerns at the Student Staff Liaison Committee

SSLC are the main meetings course reps are required to attend. At these

meetings you will be expected to put forward the view of the students

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you represent. Your department should have the details of when these

meetings will take place.

7. Report back to other students on the outcomes of the meeting

It is important that you feedback the outcome of meetings to the

students you represent. If an issue is taking a while to resolve, keep

everyone informed what progress is being made. This completes the

feedback loop.

8. Signpost students with individual problems to the Students’ Union or

Student Services.

9. Keep a record of what you do

Keep a folder of relevant papers, emails and research. This can then be

passed on to the next year’s rep so they have a wealth of information

what they take on the role.

10. Tell us what you have achieved

We want to know what issues you are dealing and your success stories-

no matter how big or small. Email us with your stories to

vpresed@hope.ac.uk

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Sometimes students will come to you with matters of a personal nature. It is

very important that you do not become involved with these individual issues; it

is not in your interests or those of the student concerned, but instead refer the

student on to someone who is professionally trained and will be able to help

them.

For individual complaints and formal procedures

Advise the student to contact the Students’ Union

Name: Shauna Fivey

Email: vpresed@hope.ac.uk

Tel: 0151 291 3651

For welfare problems

Advise the student to contact the Students’ Union

Name: Peter Downey

Email:vpreswelfare@hope.ac.uk

Tel: 0151 291 3663

BOUNDARIES

You are not expected to deal with:

Disputes between individual students and academic staff (eg.

Harassment, bullying, discrimination and victimisation)

Formal procedures such as academic appeals, individual

complaints, academic misconduct or disciplinary meetings

Welfare problems- Health or personal issues, financial and funding

queries.

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What Kind of Issues can I deal with?

A wide variety of issues may be raised with you in your role as a Course Rep.

Below are some of the key areas that may arise and which you should discuss

further with your course mates

Course Content and Structure

Is the course the same as it states in the prospectus? If not, why not? Are the

optional elements suitable? Is the workload too high or disproportionate

between elements? Are all your deadlines on the same day? IS the timetable

appropriate?

Academic support and guidance

Are students able to contact your tutors and academic staff at times

appropriate to their needs? Are course materials and lecture notes available

on Moodle?

Teaching Methods

Are they interesting, varied and appropriate? Do they allow you to reach your

learning objectives? Should there be more lecturers, labs or tutorials?

Assessment methods and feedback

Do you understand the criteria for assessment and methods used? Are there

any opportunities for peer assessment? Is the feedback provided to students

by staff useful and delivered in a meaningful way that allows them to improve

the quality of their assessed work?

Study Resources

Are library and computing facilities adequate? Up to date? Are the relevant

books and journals available? Is the software you are using industry standard?

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Placements

Are there problems with particular placements? Does the University provide

adequate support during placements?

Remember: You are a student as well! Be careful not to take on too much work or put yourself under too much pressure. If in doubt ask for help.

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The SSLC

The SSLC stands for “Student Staff Liaison Committee” This is basically a

meeting between senior staff and student representatives to discuss what’s

going on in that department. Every Course rep is automatically a member of

their Department’s SSLC. SSLCs work differently in different departments but

they will all have Course Reps, course co-ordinators (who organise the

different modules), lecturers and other members of staff on them. The SSLC

will usually be held twice a semester. Make sure you do attend, as this is the

most important way for you to communicate directly with senior staff and to

raise issues and concerns. The SSLC will discuss all and any aspects of academic

life within their Department. More information can be found in the SSLC Guide

Book under the Course Rep Section on www.hopesu.com.

SSLC

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Conduct in meetings

It can be intimidating walking into a room full of your lecturers, supervisors and people who you respect and who are widely respected in their field. You must remember though, that you know something that they don’t and cannot. You know the real student perspective on how the department is run, and the real student experience. They rely on you for this. However, for a good student rep, the actual meeting is not the first step in making changes…

Find out when your meetings are.

Ensure that at least an oral report from

you is a standing item on the agenda.

Let your students know that a

meeting is coming up and make sure

you have researched whether there

is anything that you should bring up.

Mention some points that you

intend to bring up, which may

generate more feedback than just an

open question.

Arrange a meeting with your

other student reps to discuss any

issues that you’d like to bring up,

if you know you have each

other’s’ support before the

meeting you will feel far more

confident.

Remain professional and focused, never

shout or target a particular member of

staff. Sometimes you may disagree with

the majority of your cohort but you

must still raise the issue as if you felt as

strongly as they did about it.

Find out when your meetings are.

Ensure that at least an oral report

from you is a standing item on the

agenda.

Before any meeting ask yourself two

questions.

1. What do I hope to be able to

contribute to the meeting?

2. What do I hope to be able to get

out of this meeting?

Always be polite, positive,

constructive and assertive

Be prompt, even early and

take your papers with you.

Arriving early is an excellent

way of having informal chats

with people, getting settled in

and making yourself

comfortable Avoid interrupting others to

make your contribution and

don’t let people interrupt you. If

someone does, point out that

you would like to finish your

comments before people give

their suggestions.

Support other speakers, if

someone’s argument seems

unclear, try to rephrase their

point but try not to be

patronising.

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National Student Survey

The Nation Student Survey (NSS) is an annual survey of final year students that

takes place between January and April. The NSS is a great opportunity for

students to feedback on their course and academic experience at University. It

carries a lot of weight within the University.

Every year the University analyses the NSS results and highlights areas that are

in need of attention. The results are broken down by course.

You can use the NSS to see how last year’s students viewed your course and

use this information to support your case when bringing up recurring issues.

The Main heading in the National Student Survey are:

Teaching & Learning;

Assessment & Feedback;

Academic Support;

Organisation & management of courses;

Learning resources;

Personal development;

Overall satisfaction

When you raise an issue if you can relate it to one of the NSS headings this will

help your case further since the University takes the National Student Survey

very seriously.

NSS

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What do I do when an issue is raised?

Research

When an issue is brought to your attention you will want to do some research

and establish the facts before deciding what action to take.

Consult with other students and gather opinions- does everyone hold the same

view or do opinions differ? Is this an issue just affecting your course or are

other years/courses affected- maybe it would be beneficial to work with other

Course Reps?

Find out what constructive solutions your course mates are suggesting. To

ensure you are taken seriously it is important to be able to give an educated

opinion, so do some research into the facts. Useful information can often be

found in your Course Handbooks, University regulations and in previous years

NSS results.

Consider the most appropriate way to take the issue forward

If an issue needs dealing with quickly, you should arrange to meet with an

appropriate staff member to discuss the situation. They may not realise there

is an issue and an informal approach such as this will be able to quickly resolve

the situation.

It is usually not appropriate to bring up a sensitive issue about a member of

staff in a public forum- including meetings or online methods.

Course Leader Your Course leader will be able to discuss issues with you that

concern aspects of the Course Programme

Head of Department If issues have not been resolved by discussion with your

course leader, it may be appropriate to take your issue to your Head of

Department.

ISSUES

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SSLC If an issue can wait and is a more formal issue that would benefit from a

discussion with a larger group then raise the issue at your next Staff/Student

Liaison committee

Seek Advice Please contact the Students’ Union if you would like to discuss the

issue before deciding how to proceed, please email: vpresed@hope.ac.uk

How do I know what my class mates think?

Before you go to a meeting as a course rep, you need to gather as wide a range

of opinions as you can. Remember, you are there to represent the views of the

whole group whether or not you agree with them all. There are several

different ways of communicating with the students you are representing;

Facebook Email

Survey Monkey Twitter

Notice Board Focus Groups

Talk to your

classmates

Blogs/Wordpress

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www.hopesu.com

#wearethehope