What we will look at today
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The role of the School Representative
Being a Chairperson
Academic Board
Students’ Union Council
What is expected of you
What support you will receive
Icebreaker
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What is your name?
What is your course & School?
Why did you stand to be a School Rep?
Tell us one thing that you’d like to change
or improve about your School
Overview of
Student Representation
Staff Student Consultative
Committees (SSCCs)
SSCCs are the platform for students and staff in the School
to sit down to discuss and resolve academic and School
related issues which arise.
Quality Assurance & Enhancement
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SSCC stands for Staff Student Consultative Committee
It should meet ideally twice per semester
There’s at least one in each School
A student should chair the meeting
The Format of SSCCs
Members include:
Chair (ideally a student), Secretary (member of staff / a student who takes minutes),
Course Reps, relevant members of staff and other invited guests (such as School
Societies).
Before the meeting:
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Send any issues that you wish to be on the agenda
Prepare for any issues that you wish to raise
Read the minutes from the last meeting
Receive the agenda and ensure you attend in good time.
During the meeting:
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The Chair will announce apologies from those who can’t attend
The Chair will ask if everything was ok with the minutes from the last meeting
The SSCC will discuss issues on agenda
Any other business will be discussed (any issues that have come up at the last
minute)
The SSCC will confirm an action list for issues raised during the meeting
The Chair will confirm the time and place of the next meeting
The Role of Chairperson
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Promote and support the aims and objectives of the Committee.
Plan meetings and agendas, in collaboration with the Committee Secretary.
Attend all meetings.
Maintain an ongoing awareness of committee work between meetings.
Chair the meetings fairly and impartially.
Introduce agenda items.
Do not dominate discussions and do not allow others to dominate discussions.
Draw discussions to a clear and timely conclusion on each agenda item.
Report to Committee members on developments and decisions.
Help Committee members to participate.
Read over and approve the agenda, minutes and other papers before these are sent
out.
Approve urgent and non-controversial matters on the Committee’s behalf between
meetings.
What Makes A Good Chairperson?
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You will be a good listener.
You will have good communication skills.
You will be willing to listen to ways in which meetings can be improved.
You will be impartial and have a reputation for fairness.
You will be focused upon achieving the aims of the meeting.
You will be able to summarise discussions fairly, clearly and succinctly.
You will be able to politely shut down unproductive dispute and discussion.
You will be willing to exert your authority when needed, but in a proper
manner.
You will be tenacious in ensuring that agreed actions are followed up and
completed.
Academic Board
• This is essentially a University-wide SSCC.
• Meetings:
– 18th Nov, 2.15pm, Training Room 2, Graduate School
– 10th Feb, 1.00pm, Club Rms 3&4, Students’ Union
– 4th May, 1.00pm, Club Rms 3&4, Students’ Union
• See the Terms of Reference
• Discussions issues that
– cannot be resolved at SSCC level
– are relevant to the university as a whole
Students’ Union Council
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Meets on a monthly basis throughout the academic year
Information sessions are provided for all new members of the Council.
The Council is the democratic governing body of the Students’ Union – its
role includes decision making and policy creation.
The Council is a debating forum – proposals for policy are brought
forward, discussed and voted upon.
The Council is essentially the ‘boss’ of the elected student officers.
The Council oversees and analyses the work of the student officers.
The Council should also help, support and motivate the student officers.
The Council approves all applications to create new Clubs and Societies.
All questions / inquiries regarding Council, contact Dominic Doherty (Clerk
of Council) at D.T.Doherty@qub.ac.uk
School Reps and the
VP Education
• Important relationship (mostly for me )
• 5 timetabled meetings in the academic year:
– Wed 25th November 2015
– Mon 14th December 2015 (followed by Christmas Dinner
in the Speakeasy)
– Thurs 4th February 2016
– Wed 16th March 2016
– Tues 3rd May 2016 (followed by farewell drinks in the
Speakeasy)
– All in the Anne Maguire Room
• Collating information
School Reps and
Course Reps
• Another important relationship (mostly for you )
• Communicate
– Have a pre-meet before SSCC meetings (SU Club
Rooms are available)
– Set up a Facebook page
– Send out a group email
• Collaborate to create a newsletter
– A form of feedback to students
– Forward newsletter to VP Education
Some activities to
take part in…
• Teaching Awards
• Student Experience Surveys
– E.g. NSS, 1st and 2nd year experience survey, PGT
and PGR experience survey
• Higher Education Review
• Library Working Group
• QUBSU Education Awards
Queen’s Students’ Union
Education Awards 2015/16
‘Rewards staff and students for working together to
make sure the quality of education at QUB is the best it
can be’
• 5 student awards – faculty Course Reps of the year, School Rep of the year
and Peer Mentor of the Year
• 5 staff awards – awards for Most Inspiring/Motivating, Personal Tutor of
the Year, Feedback, Most Involved and Employability Champion
• 2 school awards – Enterprise Champion and Best SSCC
Summary of Duties
• Attend:
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SSCC meetings – dates specified by Schools
Training Sessions (details on next slide)
Academic Board
Students’ Union Council
Meetings with the VP Education
Other relevant committees in Schools (e.g. Education Committee)
• Produce newsletter by collaborating with Course Reps
– Disseminate to students and forward to VP Education
• Engage with Course Reps and students
• Work to cultivate an atmosphere and culture of
collaboration in your school.
Training and Support
• School Rep Training 27th October
• Introductory Training 2nd/4th November
– Encourage Course Reps to go to this
• Group meetings with VP Education - Hannah Niblock
• Ongoing support – email Hannah Niblock with any issues or
queries: su.vpeducation@qub.ac.uk
• Online Resources – www.qubsu.org – school rep section
Benefits
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Learn new skills
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CV material
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Networking opportunities
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Background for future Representational roles
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Good experience for future employment
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Can be validated through ‘Degree Plus’ – Route A for School Reps
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Can be validated through Millennium Volunteers (aged between 14-25) or
Prestige Volunteers (26+) with Volunteer SU
– email Lucia Kearney l.kearney@qub.ac.uk
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Inspiring Leaders with Volunteer SU – apply at beginning of Semester 2
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Make a difference!