Resources
Handbook
The SRC and Student Participation in Quality Scotland (sparqs) have worked together to produce a handbook to guide new Class Reps on what kind of tasks they might be set, roles they will be asked to play and how best to go about it.
If you attend the training you will receive a copy of the handbook, as it has space to take notes of the discussions during the training session.
You can read the handbook online or download it as a pdf if you wish. There are separate handbooks for Class Reps (undergraduate and taught postgraduate) and PGR Reps.
You need to attend Class or PGR Rep training for your term as a Representative to be recorded on your Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR). The handbook is designed to be used during the training sessions which will fill in all the gaps.
Staff & Student Liaison Committee
SSLC is just a fancy name for a departmental meeting where some senior members of staff, admin staff and lecturers get together with Class Reps to discuss any subject or School-wide issues
What points to raise
- Issues that involve the subject area or School as a whole e.g. resources, essay deadlines.
- Issues that may be of interest to other students in the university, main library opening hours, computer / web access.
What not to take...
- Specific individual concerns – These can be dealt with by lecturers/ class tutors / supervisors
- Problems with lecturers – SSLC is no place to rant about a lecturer. Speak constructively and diplomatically to the lecturer concerned first, then if there is no resolution you can go to the head of subject or School.
- Personal complaints of students – These need to be dealt with on an individual basis, if in doubt speak to the College/School Conveners or contact the VP (Learning & Development) for assistance. Remember that the SRC runs an Advice Centre where students can go for help with appeals, complaints and all manner of other personal issues.
SSLC Survival tips
- Don’t get bored. Ask the students you represent before the meeting if they have any issues you should raise
- Be confident! Remember that student opinion matters
- Minutes are taken, but keep your own notes, so you remember details of the discussions that are important to you and your classmates
Report back...
- Show your class that student representation is alive and kicking – report back to them on the SSLC discussions – make good use of the new Student Voice website to flag issues as in progress, or completed.
- Ask that the School displays the minutes of the SSLC on Student Voice
- Contact the SRC if you feel there are important issues not being followed up.
Meeting Procedure
You may never have been in a meeting like a SSLC before, and how formal they are depends on the department. But just in case you’re worried there’s meeting jargon simplified
Agenda
This is a list of things which will be discussed in the meeting. You should receive a copy of this in advance of the meeting. If you want to put anything on the agenda, contact the Chair at least 7 days in advance
Apologies
People who can’t attend. You should notify the Chair or at least the secretary to let them know if you cannot attend.
Chair
The Chair is the person responsible for running the meeting. If you’re having difficulty getting your say, catch the Chair’s eye so they know you want to speak
Minutes
These are the official record of what happened at the meeting. Minutes are usually distributed a few days after the meeting, and at the next meeting members will decide to accept them or not.
Secretary
The secretary is responsible for recording and distributing the minutes of the meeting.
Useful Links:
- Senate Office website has a number of useful resources including a powerpoint presentation about the benefits of being a class rep, and links to the Code of Practice on Student Representation, and Guidance on the Operation of SSLCs.
- SPARQS website: http://www.sparqs.ac.uk/
- Email any questions to: classrep@src.gla.ac.uk