Course Rep Training

1. Roles and Responsibilities1. Roles and Responsibilities

Hi everyone! I’m Richard, your Education Officer for 2012-13.

Being a Course Rep was one of my most worthwhile experiences as a student. This training aims to give you the knowledge and skills you need in order to do the best job you can. See the Course Rep briefings for evidence which will help support your arguments when you bring up issues at meetings. There will be a short quiz at the end of each training module, and you’ll get a certificate at the end of each module which you can print off.

Good luck!

JOB TITLE:Course Representative

JOB PURPOSE:The role of a Course Rep is to improve students’

education, through representing what students on your course want to University staff.

You’ll do this by speaking to students on your course about issues with their education, and attending Student

Staff Committees (SSCs) in your department to communicate these issues to staff.

Course Reps aim to make change on the behalf of other students.

Get involved in campaigning to improve students’ educationGet involved in campaigning to improve students’ education

Provide information to students on your course about relevant Students’ Union services

Provide information to students on your course about relevant Students’ Union services

Inform the Students’ Union about any education issues in your department, and any significant decisions which are made

Inform the Students’ Union about any education issues in your department, and any significant decisions which are made

Raise awareness among students on your course of national issues affecting education

Raise awareness among students on your course of national issues affecting education

Complete Course Rep trainingComplete Course Rep training Tell the students in your department what decisions were made at meetings

Tell the students in your department what decisions were made at meetings

Go to SSCs to raise the views of the students you represent.Go to SSCs to raise the views of the students you represent.

Find out what students on your course think about their education

Find out what students on your course think about their education

What are my responsibilities?

What you’ll get out of being a Course Rep

•The unique opportunity to improve your course•Chance to meet students in your department •A chance to be more involved with the best Students’

Union in the country!•Credit towards your Sheffield Graduate Award•A full training programme •Opportunity to expand your skills•In depth understanding of your department and

University

Each month, Course Reps who have done exceptional work will be nominated by other reps and students as ‘Course Rep

of the Month’.

There’s also the possibility that you will be nominated as ‘Course Rep of the Year’ at the Academic Awards and the

NUS Awards.

Last year’s winner said:

Aysha Musa,

2nd Year Course Rep from Biblical

Studies

“Winning the award was really exciting and important to me as it reminded me that my commitment was appreciated, and that I helped put some positive changes into effect. I also felt a lot of pride knowing that my fellow students recognised my efforts.”

A quick task… In order to get you to think about what you’ll do in

your role as a Course Rep, take a couple of minutes to grab a pen and paper and write a

couple of lines answering the following questions.

There are no right or wrong answers!

Why did you want

to be a Course Rep?

Why did you want

to be a Course Rep?

What do you want

to achieve in your

role?

What do you want

to achieve in your

role?

Your Students’ UnionAs Course Reps, you are important members of

the Students’ Union community.

Sheffield Students' Union exists to provide support, representation, advice and activities to students studying at the University of Sheffield.

According to the recent National Student Survey, 95% of students at Sheffield were satisfied with

their Students’ Union, making us the best Students’ Union in the country!

Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home

What we do for studentsThe Students' Union offers the opportunity for

students to get involved as representatives, Union Councillors and as campaigners.

We want to help students make their issues and suggestions heard, and give them the skills they need to make changes to the world around them.

We also provide services such as cafes, shops and bars, as well as opportunities to get involved with

activities and sports.

In your role you may encounter a student who has a problem which is specific to them.

You should direct students in this situation to the Student Advice Centre at 285 Glossop Road, where students can access independent and confidential

advice on a range of issues.

Student Advice and Support

For more on this, check out the Students’ Union Course Rep Handbook

Your role as a Course Rep is to find out any issues which affect students on your

course, as a group. You will then work with staff in your department to resolve

these issues.

Students’ Union CampaignsThe Students’ Union is also a campaigning organisation,

with a history of student-led campaigns. You can see evidence of past campaigns at Sheffield

Students’ Union by checking out our completed Facebook Timeline!

(https://www.facebook.com/sheffieldstudentsunion)

In 2010 Course Reps were involved in a high profile campaign against the Government's decision to increase

tuition fees for UK undergraduate students.

We also campaigned against proposed changes to visa regulations that would have severely affected non-EU students.

Every year, the Students’ Union organises a priority campaign on what students feel is the biggest issue facing them. Last year, over 3,500 students voted for ‘Protect our Education’. This years Officer team felt that the issue hadn’t been won, but had changed, so we’re continuing to Reclaim your Education

There’s no universal funding for Postgraduate study, International students are slandered in the press, and cuts to Higher Education funding have lumbered students with private debts for their education, which is a public good.

But this is your campaign, so get involved! Tell students in your department about the campaign, give us your ideas and join Course Reps from across the country in London on the 22nd November. Find out more at:

RECLAIMRECLAIM YOURYOUR EDUCATIONEDUCATION

www.sheffieldsu.com/campaignwww.sheffieldsu.com/campaign

Sheffield Students’ Union is a registered charity which uses the money it makes to invest in services for its members- students.

The Students’ Union is run for students by students, with eight Students' Union Officers elected annually to direct it and represent its students.

Your Student Officers

(From left to right)

Top- Abdi Suleiman- President, Amy Masson- Women’s Officer, Tom Dixon- Activities Officer

Bottom- Jon Gleek- Welfare Officer, Luke Macwilliam- Sports Officer, Sara Moon- SU Development Officer, Fadi Dakkak- International Students’ Officer, Richard Alderman- Education Officer

Your Education Officer

Richard is your Education Officer for 2012-13.

The Education Officer is a full-time elected student officer who represents students’ education issues to the University.

This officer is responsible for all educational matters affecting students, both undergraduate and postgraduate. They support student representation within the University, and works to keep students informed of, and campaign on, academic issues.

Students (around 24,000)

Course Reps (around 2 per year for each course)

Faculty Reps (2 per department)

Union Councillors(46 departmental and 8 representative

councillors)

Officers(8 roles)

Students’ Union Representation

So how are Course Reps part of Sheffield Students’ Union?

The mission of Sheffield Students’ Union is to be exciting, dynamic and student led.

Our purpose is to represent, support and enhance the lives of University of Sheffield students.

Course Reps help our Student Officers know what education issues there are in departments, so they are more informed when they lobby the University

to make improvements.

Support for Course Reps in the Students’ Union

There is a dedicated member of staff who supports course reps and provides advice and guidance for

you throughout the academic year.

This is Rachel Handforth, who works in the Representation and Democracy department. A long

time ago she was once a Course Rep herself! She can help you if you have any questions or

concerns regarding your role. Contact her at Rachel.Handforth@sheffield.ac.uk.

End of Module One!Hopefully now you have a better idea of the role of

Course Rep and the responsibilities it entails.

There’s a short test now, in which you have to get 80% of the answers right in order to pass the module.Don’t worry, you can take the test again if you don’t

pass the first time!

The next module is Etiquette for Meetings, good luck!

Remember, in order to be eligible to record being a Course Rep on your HEAR, you have to complete the

full training programme.