► Student Rep News October/November

Student rep training and support
The first round of student rep training has taken place, if you undertook rep training in October please collect your certificate from your campus Students Union (Dumfries students please contact src@sauws.org.uk and we’ll send them to you). Student rep training is provided by SPARQS (Student Participation in Quality Scotland) associate trainers who are students just like you. For those of you who have yet to attend training, it is designed to help prepare you for your duties as a rep. It will provide guidance on how to represent the views of your fellow students, the structure and role of various University committees and where to get additional information and support. It’s also an excellent opportunity to meet fellow student reps in a relaxed and fun environment.

The next round of rep training will take place in February, details will be confirmed in January

Academic Representation
The first round of Student Staff Liaison Groups (SSLG’s) will be held in the next couple of months, this is the place to raise programme specific concerns (and praises) of your peers. If you have any immediate/urgent issues, approach your programme leader and let them know how it is affecting those on your programme, otherwise take it to your SSLG to be discussed and acted upon. Don’t forget to feedback any outcomes to your class mates. To find out when your next SSLG will take place, please contact your programme leader.

Students Council
The first round of Students Council has taken place, at it you told us your concerns about the new Smoking ban and the Parking policy, the Students Association will raise these at the appropriate committees.

The next round of Council will take place as follows:

Hamilton – Tuesday 13th December, 12pm-1pm, room TBC

Ayr – Wednesday 14th December, 12pm-1pm, room TBC

Paisley – Thursday 15th November, 4.30pm-5.30pm, Level 1 of Union

Look out for the posters to find out what we're chatting about this month

CAMPAIGNS for 2011-12
The Students’ Association has 4 priority campaigns for this academic year, there will be opportunities throughout the year to get involved. If you would like get involved or want up to date activities, please email the relevant contact.

• Feedback – this is the second year of the feedback campaign. We know that feedback is an important part of the student experience and students’ development, this campaign aims to get all students better feedback on all assessments and this includes end of year exams. Student representatives are in a perfect position to ask for feedback if you are not getting it, you can also raise any issues with assessment feedback at your SSLG. To get involved in this campaign please email dpew@sauws.org.uk.

• RUK Fees – Students from the Rest of the UK (RUK) will be paying up to £9000 for their university course, UWS will be charging £7,250 per year. This campaign will be looking at the affects of this decision on Scottish universities and in particular our students. The campaign will also focus on the distribution of RUK fees to ensure this is fair and all our students benefit. To get involved in this campaign please email Garry Quigley on president@sauws.org.uk.

• Healthy body healthy mind – The Students Association will be working with the university on this campaign, it aims to raise awareness of the links between recreational activities and positive mental health, it will also look at the social aspect of being at university and how to balance your social and academic life. To get involved in this campaign please email Alastair Adamson on sp@sauws.org.uk.

• Affordable accommodation – This campaign was voted for by our students last year. The campaign will raise awareness of student debt and hardship and ensure you are getting a good deal on your halls and private accommodation. There is currently a petition going round halls at Ayr, Hamilton and Paisley campuses to express students concerns at the new higher price of halls, please sign it even if you don’t live in halls. To get involved with this campaign please email Daniel Copithorn on cpa@sauws.org.uk.

Volunteer Accreditation Scheme
The Volunteer Accreditation Scheme is a new joint initiative between UWS and SAUWS which has been created to make sure you are recognised for the time you give up to volunteer for the University, Students’ Association or other organisations. The scheme will reward and recognise students’ voluntary work whether it is part of coursework or curricular activities. So if you are a student who is a student rep, club or society member, or doing a voluntary placement for you course or are involved in other volunteering or campaigning activity you can become part of this new accreditation scheme.

The scheme will take account of the skills you develop while being a volunteer and will recognise this work on three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Training will be provided at each level and will enable you to develop your skill base and build your CV. To register or to find out more contact recognition@sauws.org.uk.

Transition UWS
With the weather getting colder we are out and about undertaking home energy checks helping to get homes warmer for less this winter. Do you want to help? We will be holding Energy Assessor Training events this month. Email: emily.speck@sauws.org.uk to get a place.
Also, don’t forget that we have other voluntary positions to get involved in including Research Assistant, Environmental Auditor and Press Officer. See: www.sauws.org.uk/transition for more information or email: transition@sauws.org.uk.

Student Feedback Questionnaire
In the coming weeks and months the University and the Students Association will be surveying students to gather student opinion on a wide range of issues. In order for these surveys to be successful, it is essential that as many students as possible get involved so that we can recognise the big issues affecting our students and create change.

More Information
For more information on student representation and being a student rep visit www.sauws.org.uk. You can also find us on Facebook:

Student representation activities – search for UWS Student Involvement
Students Association (cross campus) – search for University West of Scotland Students
Students Association (campus specific) – search for Paisley SAUWS, Hamilton SAUWS, Ayr SAUWS
Dumfries Students – search for Cucsa Crichton
Transition UWS activities – search for Transition UWS

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