I’m sure you have all seen the Exec blogs by our President Josh and Vice Presidents Coco, Alysia, Jordan and Mike.

But did you know there are also 24 part-time councillors representing students. This is made up of seven School Reps, five Open Place Reps and 12 Portfolio Reps.

These Portfolio Reps are there to give a voice to LGBT, BME and International students as well other groups.

For the last two years I have been lucky enough to be elected as a Portfolio Rep. Last year I was the Mature Students Rep and now, having graduated, I am the Postgraduate Research Rep.

I want to use this blog to encourage all students to consider standing in the upcoming elections and to explain what being a part-time councillor is like.

You might think that as a part-time councillor who just contributes in their spare time you wouldn’t be able to achieve much. You are probably wondering what I mean when I say ‘spare time’. Does that even exist?

But I know that a lot of policies that have helped students have come from part-time councillors’ ideas and initiatives. For example, scrapping card charges in the SU shop on purchases under a fiver was a motion by an Open Place Rep. 

Peer Mentoring

Today I want to tell you about a policy that I have been working on that shows what can be achieved and how Council works.At the first meeting this year I put forward a motion to introduce a peer mentoring scheme for mature students.

The research I did showed that such schemes worked really well in helping mature students stay in education and to achieve their full potential. Council were very supportive but several councillors suggested that the scheme should be for all students, not just mature ones.

Well, I couldn’t argue with that. So a steering committee of councillors was set up to look at how to introduce it and what would be the best type of scheme.

I received lots of help and support from other councillors and I want to say big thanks to: Students with Disabilities Rep, Christina Shevill, Human and Health Sciences School Rep, Nadine Rooney and especially Art, Design and Architecture Rep, Tevin Nyansimera.

With help and support of Students’ Union staff and Vice President for Education, Mike McGougan, we were able to research what was already happening in different schools and get an idea of the University’s position from Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning and Teaching, Tim Thornton.

At the most recent Union Council meeting I reintroduced a revised motion for a peer mentoring scheme for all students and this was passed unanimously!

We hope that the scheme can be implemented by the next academic year and that it will be considered as a fundamental part of the Student Leadership Awards, which recognises student contributions to university life.

There is still a lot of work to do but thankfully we have our full-time Executive Officers and SU staff to work on details and implementation. 

I hope that this blog shows that, even as just a part-time Councillor, you can get involved and obtain ‘wins’ for students. I would highly recommend to anyone thinking of standing for a part-time position to GO FOR IT and to stand in the Students’ Union Elections.

Nominations open today, make sure that you apply. 

Steve Howe

Postgraduate Research Rep