Creating a Student Guild Cal Courtney Director, Centre for Student Engagement, Wellbeing and Success Delon Jones Student President

Student Representation

The Expectation Arrangements exist for the effective representation of the collective student voice at all organisational levels, and these arrangements provide opportunities for all students to be heard. QAA, Quality Code, Section B5

What we had The situation in place before the foundation of the Guild was characterised as follows: Each group elected a STAR (Student Academic Representative) and a Deputy STAR. STARs and Deputy STARs elected a Lead STAR. STARs or Deputy STARs attended Course Committees, the Student Staff Consultative Forum and Academic Committee. STARs had continuous access to professional services staff and two drop-in sessions took place each week where STARs could chat to staff over tea and biscuits. So, in many ways the expectations of the Quality Code were being met. LSBM, Independent HE Conference 2017

So, what happened. In 2015 LSBM hosted a HE Review, and the student leadership who had been elected the previous year really engaged with the whole process and enjoyed it. LSBM used this experience to start a conversation about expanding the system of student representation and here are some of the key stepping stones along the way. LSBM, Independent HE Conference 2017

Stepping Stones The Lead STAR became the Student President. There was no constitution in place. We just started calling him the Student President. The Student President raised the idea of founding a Guild during the Student Staff Consultative Forum (SSCF) in October 2015. During the months that followed a small group of interested students continued the conversation during the twice weekly drop-ins and on their own. We made some key decisions at the spring 2016 SSCF, most notably the decision to elect a Student President, which raised the profile of the system of student representation. LSBM staff worked on drafting a constitution which was handed to the Student President in September 2016. LSBM, Independent HE Conference 2017

Stepping Stones - Delon I was elected as a Student Representative in September 2016 and that’s when I became part of the conversation. As we worked on developing the constitution we became mindful of the characteristics of the student body at LSBM. Many students juggle family life and work commitments with their studies. For this reason we decided on not following the traditional student union model of sabbatical officers because this would exclude many from leadership positions. We decided on the name Guild as opposed to Union because we were inspired by workers in ancient London who also combined learning with work. LSBM, Independent HE Conference 2017

What the Guild looks like today Student Societies Business & Enterprise; Law, Accounting and Finance; LGBT; Football. Guild Manager President Elected each April by the student body and has the opportunity to work at Guild from each summer Academic Committee; Course Committees; Board of Directors; Equality Diversity and Inclusion Team; QAEC Peer Advisors LSBM contracts out a signposting service to the Guild. The Guild trains Peer Advisors who run a Student Hub, signposting students who need assistance. Student Staff Liaison Manager LSBM, Independent HE Conference 2017

The School of Athens. Raphael, 1507-1511 Apostolic Palace, Rome.

Our Modern Paideia Allies on the road to transformation.

Any Questions?