What we will look at today 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 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

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 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 Staff Student Consultative Committees (SSCCs)

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: 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: 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 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? 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: – 18 th Nov, 2.15pm, Training Room 2, Graduate School – 10 th Feb, 1.00pm, Club Rms 3&4, Students’ Union – 4 th 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 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

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 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, 1 st and 2 nd 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: – 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 27 th October Introductory Training 2 nd /4 th November – Encourage Course Reps to go to this Group meetings with VP Education - Hannah Niblock Ongoing support – Hannah Niblock with any issues or queries: Online Resources – – school rep sectionwww.qubsu.org

Benefits Learn new skills CV material Networking opportunities Background for future Representational roles Good experience for future employment Can be validated through ‘Degree Plus’ – Route A for School Reps Can be validated through Millennium Volunteers (aged between 14-25) or Prestige Volunteers (26+) with Volunteer SU – Lucia Kearney Inspiring Leaders with Volunteer SU – apply at beginning of Semester 2 Make a difference!