If you have any queries about Academic Reps, or you have feedback that you’d like to pass-on regarding an issue in your department, use the form here.

We’ll make sure to pass-on your feedback to the relevant Academic Rep. Your feedback is vital in helping your Rep understand the experience of students on the ground and accurately represent it to university staff.

This is the first step in making change happen.

Academic Reps are all about representing their fellow students. They exist as a method of communication between students and the University (Departments/ Faculties/ University management) to identify good practice, make student voices heard, and work towards continuous improvements for students.

In order to achieve this, a Rep’s primary responsibility is collecting feedback from students and then feeding this back to their Department and/or Faculties. Reps also provide the Students’ Union with student feedback to inform our work representing students in higher levels of University management

• What are Department Reps?

  Department Reps are positions created in collaboration with the Students’ Union.
   

  • • Department Reps - these Reps act as a spokesperson in Faculty Forums for their department, overseeing the effective communication of departmental updates to the Students’ Union, and writing reports on their Reps’ activity.
    • Faculty Reps - these Reps attend faculty level meetings, and sit on the Students’ Union Academic Executive Committee, and the Educational Assembly. They chair all Faculty Forums but don’t directly speak into departmental issues. Two are appointed per Faculty: one Undergraduate and one Postgraduate.

       

    • Both Department and Faculty Reps are elected at the Rep induction event at the beginning of the academic year. If your Reps are appointed or registered late and miss this event, they will miss the opportunity to run for these positions.

       

• How can I become a Rep?

  Departments oversee the appointment of Academic Reps, so if you want to get involved, contact your department’s Academic Rep Coordinator.
  
  The scheme begins at the start of the academic year, which includes nominations opening around Welcome Week, with Reps to be elected shortly after. Academic Reps should then complete registration and be ready to start by Week 4 of Term 1. Sometimes if a position is unfilled or becomes vacant throughout the year, departments will re-advertise for Academic Reps and new Reps will be appointed.
  
  Students can only nominate themselves to be an Academic Rep for the department they belong to. Some departments might accept minoring students whose major department is not their own, but please ask about this in advance.

• What can Reps do?

  Reps have a few core duties that include:
   

  • • Gathering student feedback
    • Attending departmental meetings
    • Attending the Faculty Forums (discussion groups for Reps to feedback and receive updates within their faculties) organised by the Students’ Union
  • However, there are lots of additional opportunities Reps can get involved with during their time in the post which includes:
  • • Being a Lead Rep for their department
    • Being a Faculty Rep for their Faculty
    • Leading or participating in Academic / Educational campaigns run by the SU / VP Education
    • Participating in additional Student Voice activities
    • Have the opportunity to participate in complaints panels and consultation groups for the University
    • Attend additional training sessions to develop relevant and transferrable skills

   

• What have Reps done?

  Reps have done loads of things, but a few examples from the last few years include:
   

  • • Worked with FASS to implement trigger warnings for set texts
    • Developed Student Only Spaces (now called ‘Talk to your Rep’ Teams) with ISS
    • Run campaigns on Moodle best practice to improve its implementation
    • Worked with the VP Education to get the University’s online exam policy refined to reflect student demands
    • And many, many other small changes across departments that have made a big difference in students’ lives...

   

• What are the benefits of being a Rep?

  Being a Rep has so many benefits, from representing your fellow students, identifying best practice, and initiating positive change in departments and faculties that will benefit hundreds of students for year to come.
  
  From a personal perspective, being a Rep is great experience for your CV and personal development! Loads of our Reps report that their work has helped them develop better time management, public speaking, negotiating, networking and analytical skills.