1. Academic representative training
Lead. Improve. Represent.

2. What we will cover: What are academic reps?
1. WHAT IS MY ROLE
What are academic reps?
What are your responsibilities?
The structure of academic representation at Sheffield.
2. HOW DO I LEAD & CREATE CHANGE
What and how can I change my department?
Communication Skills
What does it mean to be representative?
3. MEETINGS AND REPORTING CHANGES/IDEAS
What even are Staff Student Committees? (SSC’s)
How to prepare for meetings
What issues might come up?
What to do after a meeting

3. What is an academic rep?

4. You will…
Find out what students think about their course/department/faculty.
Ensure views of students are heard and their opinions shared with the University.
Inform students of changes, ideas and decisions.
Run and lead Student Staff Committee (SSC) meetings .
Raise awareness amongst others of national education issues affecting students.

5. Academic Structure at the University:

6. hOW DOES THE ACADEMIC REP STRUCUTURE WORK?
Education Officer (Student Union)
Education Committee
Faculty Reps
Department Reps/Committee Chair
Academic Society Rep
Course Reps
Academic Staff SSC Coordinators

7. su officers
The Students Union is run for students by students. These 8 Student Union Officer are elected annually to direct it and ensure students are represented. You have a MASSIVE say on the direction that their work takes.

8. ACTIVITY! STOP! CHANGE CARRY ON!
In small groups, chat about things in your department you want to STOP, CHANGEand CARRY ON.
How could you work with other parts of the academic structure to see change?

9. leadership and communication: Why what you do is important how to lead & create change
“It’s not what you do, it’s why you do it.”

10. Communicating with students
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Communicating with students
How we can make sure that student questions, feedback & ideas are
heard by our department?
Social Media s
Notice boards
Office Hours
Department s
Students’ Union website
Other Reps!

11. communicating WITH STAFF – WHAT CAN YOU ACHIEVE?
How might staff communication be different?
Why is it essential to have strong staff contacts?
SSC Meetings
Drop-in session
Through SU contacts
Understand the key challenges.
Understand how department works.
Know who to contact, how and when.
So that we know who to hold to account.
To have a positive relationship for projects!

12. Representing your cohort
Quick question, who here likes tea and who likes coffee?
If a change in a department only benefits 50% of your student population, it’s important the other 50% have their voice and concerns heard. What other student groups should you be aware of?

13. What it means to be representative
BME – Black & Minority Ethnic Students
Disabled
LGBT+ - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans*
International
Mature
Women’s

14. Why is it important to remember liberation issues?
BME STUDENTS:
These students are less likely to achieve a 2.1 or 1st at the end of the degree compared to their white counterparts.
This is a national problem for Home BME Students.
1.3% black woman professors, 5.8% black men professors. 60 overall in the UK.
Women Students and Barriers to 1st for Men:
Statistically, more women go to University and tend to achieve higher results.
Yet only 20.1% of all heads of institutions are women and only 21.7% of Professors are women.
Frist degree graduates, women – 55.6% men – 45.0% can departments be doing more to bridge both gaps?

15. Disabled Students:
In the UK, the mean disability pay gap was 6.0%
Research at Canterbury Christchurch University demonstrates the massive attainment gap for disabled students in written exams. There is virtually no attainment gap for the same group of students in practical work and coursework.

16. Why is this relevant to me?
You’re in the position to make sure changes in your department are accessible to and done for the benefit of ALL students!
You are a leader.
This will ensure that all students are empowered to make the most of their HE experience.

17. sTAFF sTUDENT COMMITTEE MEETINGS (SSC’S)
How they can feel…

18. How SSC’S SHOULD BE…

19. How to have successful meetings
Remember: DEPARMENTS USE SSC’S AS THEIR PRIMARY WAY TO BE HELD TO ACCOUNT BY STUDENTS. They want to hear The Student Voice
Think about the agenda. Issues usually come under:
Learning and Teaching
Assessment and Feedback
Academic Support
Organisation
Resources
Personal and Professional Development
Any other Student Business
Any other Staff Business
What sorts of issues might come under each heading?
(This will vary at Department/Faculty level)

20. Once you know the agenda think about next steps!
Talk to those you represent – Use those communication techniques.
Do your research – Ask to see dept. papers, use NSS etc…
Ask questions – Ask the SSC co-ordinator? What does ‘x’ & ‘y’ mean?
Talk to other reps – You are a team! Consult other years, past experience.

21. ssc mEETING Over: what now?
Feedback to students:
- Notice boards, social media, etc…
- Specific responses to any student questions.
Feedback to the SU:
- Allow the SU to support you in follow up work.
- Keeps the education officer up to speed and support throughout the year.
- So we can keep track of trends and repeating issues.
- For UG’s you will need to fill in a google feedback form to gain HEAR accreditation.
KEEP A NOTE OF ANY ACTIONS FROM THE MEETING

22. HEAR ACCREDITATION (undergraduates)
To Gain HEAR accreditation you must:
Attend a Academic Rep Core Training Session.
Attend 75% of your academic rep SSC meetings (or equivalent).
Provide a Staff Student Summary Form at the end of the academic year: (This will be sent to you in April so that you can inform us of your successes and challenges in the academic year.)

23. Success!
SSC’s may seem technical but you can have a massive impact:
Negative marking will be removed from quizzes and exam papers will become available - Mechatronics & Robotics Engineering
There has been an all-round improvement to basic information for first years. We have helped to improve what gets learned first and what would be most useful to know during induction week - Journalism Studies
Our course is too small for books to be automatically classed as “in demand” by the library. Through the SSC we’ve negotiated the addition of many new course texts in the library - Orthoptics
Level 2 students on our course now have more contact time with staff - Psychology
DON’T BE QUIET ABOUT YOUR WINS LET STUDENTS/STAFF/SU KNOW!

24. Tell us about your success!
The work you do have a massive impact at the University for both Students & Staff!
Tell us what you’ve achieved by contacting:
We recognise student achievement through:
Department of the Week
Academic Awards (Summer 2017)
Trips and visits to conferences across the UK!

25. Key contacts: what else should I know?
Academic Contacts in the Students’ Union:
Ali Day – SU Education Officer
Scott Dawson – SU Academic Life Coordinator
Alex Richardson – Education Committee President
Dom Trendall – SU President
Ana Popa – SU International Officer
Serena Cavasin – Womens’ Officer
The Advice Centre – Academic Advisors

26. Events & Opportunities:
NUS National Demo in London : 19/11/16
“What is the Future of Higher Education?” SU Auditorium 6pm-8pm: 28/11/16
Education Committee events and workshops: Throughout the year.
Academic Conferences: Spring 2017
Sheffield University Academic Awards: Summer 2017
Opportunities:
Further Training: (Leadership, Faculty Reps, Promoting Diversity) 30/11/16 & 01/12/16
University of Sheffield Inside Knowledge Fellowships – Deadline 09/11/16
Join the Education Committee:
And many many more…

28. ANY QUESTIONS??