Wednesday 25-10-2023 - 13:45

 

 

This year, we are relaunching the Postgraduate Board (PG Board) as the recognised college representatives for members of Graduate College. This will sit alongside the existing Postgraduate & Mature Students' Forum which represents the interests of postgraduate and/or mature students across the wider University. In this article, Harrison talks you through the steps we've taken to get here, what the PG Board will look like and how you can get involved. 

 

 

What is PG Board?

 

The Postgraduate Board is the elected representative body for all members of the Graduate College. This student committee is made up of various roles aimed to ensure that PG students have the best experience possible, by giving students a high-level voice within both the Union and the University, and through running campaigns, wellbeing, sporting and social events.

 

Why is it back?

 

Colleges are one of the most amazing things about Lancaster. Everyone deserves to be represented at the college level, be you an undergraduate or a postgraduate. We recognise this and made it an early priority for us to tackle the flaws in the previous PG Board, and ensure that a new model was introduced that could better represent Graduate College members and improve the student experience of the membership overall.

 

Why is an active student community for postgraduate students so important? 

 

Around a third of LUSU members are registered on a postgraduate taught (e.g. MSc) programme or postgraduate research (e.g. PhD) programme. Having a strong community help build a sense of belonging, meet people, and participate in share interests and activities is an important part of everyone’s wellbeing. Nevertheless, the context of postgraduate study can mean feelings of social isolation are accentuated.

For our postgraduate taught students, most of whom are with us for only 1 year; it is important that students can arrive, build strong internationalised networks, and gather as many experiences and skills as possible during their limited tenure at Lancaster.

For our postgraduate research students, many of whom also teach undergraduates or may be conducting their research around the world; it is vital that they can socialise and network with their peers. The highly specialised nature of research, some students' physical distance from campus, and complexities for some involved in teaching, means opportunities to meet others and make friends in the University are harder to come by.

 

How did we select the positions for the reinvigorated PG Board? 

 

After plenty of internal LUSU conversations, we consulted Graduate College experts from the University and had some fantastic chats about the specific needs of Grad as opposed to the other 8 undergraduate colleges. The Graduate College Management team gave us some amazing recommendations and pointed out particular things to consider, such as the need to represent international students and students with caring responsibilities, of which are so much more prominent in Grad.

In its new state, the PG Board is a relatively small team. The beauty of this is that there is so much scope to expand and flourish further in the future. Whilst it may be small in its infancy, the future seems bright and expansion inevitable.

 

PG Board Roles for 2023/2024

 

1. President 

The President has ultimate responsibility of PG Board activity and the co-ordination of PG Board Officers. They are the lead representative of members of Graduate College and will represent the college in appropriate meetings with both the Union and the University. The President will be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the college and thus can be held ultimately accountable by the college population.

 

2. Vice President

The Vice President supports the President’s function and assumes the role of President in their absence. They are also responsible for maintaining all democratic procedures within PG Board, ensuring proper Union procedure is followed during PG Board elections.

 

3. Treasurer

The Treasurer is responsible for maintaining all financial procedures within PG Board; they are in charge of the budget and shall assist other officers in the budgeting and procurement associated with PG Board events.

 

4. International Officer

The International Officer must be an international student and shall celebrate the diversity of Graduate College and ensure that all international students within the college are represented by the PG Board. They shall, alongside the Events Officer, facilitate events for the international population of the college and, alongside the Welfare Officer, support the wellbeing of those students too.

 

5. Wellbeing Officer

The Wellbeing Officer will support the positive mental wellbeing of the Graduate College membership. They will promote positive mental wellbeing, be it through specific college events or wider campaigns. The Wellbeing Officer will pay particular attention to distance students and students with caring responsibility, of which are so prevalent within Graduate College.

 

6. Events Officer 

The Events Officer will be responsible for the organisation of a broad range of social events that cater to all members of Graduate College. Through strong liaison with the Graduate College Community Assistants, they will celebrate the diversity of Graduate College and facilitate events that attract various groups from the college membership. They shall also look to collaborate with various student groups across the Union such as other College Executives and Societies.

 

7. Sports Officer

The Sports Officer will support the positive physical wellbeing of the Graduate College membership and promote sporting life within the College by encouraging player and spectator participation in inter-collegiate sport such as the college Netball, Football and Bar Sports leagues. They shall maintain strong liaison with Graduate College Club Executives and represent them within PG Board.

 

If you like the sound of any of the roles above, all you need to do is nominate yourself. Go to www.lusu.co.uk/nominate and submit your nomination before 6pm on Friday 10th November.