As a Rep you’re the ear to the ground. You can gather feedback on anything related to your programme or academic experience, good or bad, that students are telling you. You can ask students about their experiences with their teaching and learning, if they have access to sufficient library resources, if the teaching is challenging, how supported they feel through assessments and how helpful they find personal tutoring. 

The more you promote yourself as a Rep to your peers, the more naturally they’ll give you feedback, but there are times where you will need to gather feedback yourself.

How do you do that? 

• Lecture shoutouts (ask your lecturer first)
• Use social media
• Send emails and surveys
• Message online group chats
• Organise focus groups
• Pop up stalls in your Faculty.

There’re loads of different ways to collect feedback, with different methods working in different Faculties, the best way is to speak to students. If you’d like any support with gathering feedback, speak to your Faculty Engagement Assistant, their details are at the end of this handbook. 

You don’t have to wait until a SSLC to gather feedback, you should be keeping your ear to the ground and gathering feedback all year. You can work with your Faculty Engagement Assistants to make positive changes outside of your SSLCs.

You’re not a caseworker or a counsellor, you’re not expected to respond to concerns around mental health, student complaints, housing, finance, or appeals. If you’re ever unsure, get in touch with the Academic Representation Team, s.u.reps@mmu.ac.uk  

Your wellbeing has to come first as a Rep, the Student Wellbeing team are available if you need any further support. 

SSLCs are the main meetings you’re expected to attend as a Course Rep. Here you’ll meet with staff and fellow Reps on your programme to discuss feedback and negotiate enhancements to the academic experience.

This meeting might be called a ‘forum’, a ‘town hall meeting’ or a ‘consultation’. Whatever it’s called, your role is to represent the student voice and present the feedback you’ve gathered from your peers.

When presenting feedback there’re a few things to remember:

• Keep any personal student feedback anonymous
• Be thoughtful in the way you present feedback – you’re a critical friend of the University, providing potential solutions may help
• Speak to as many students as possible to ensure your feedback is representative
• Present feedback using the ABCD method (accurate, balanced, constructive, depersonalised)

Being a Rep isn’t representing your own views, it’s representing those of others and it’s important that your language reflects this. Instead of ‘I think..’ or ‘from my experience,’ you should try and say ‘the students I’ve spoken to have said’ or ‘from the quick survey I did of students on this module, 70% said…’ it’s far more impactful.

Your SSLCs should take place between teaching week’s 6-8 each semester.