Academic Representatives are students, chosen by their fellow students, on their course and on the same year, to raise student issues at department and University-wide level. Participating in Academic Representative Elections gives you an excellent opportunity to make your voice heard! Among the first in the UK, our students union will hold these elections online.
Katie Mabery, Vice President Education: “Academic reps play a really important role both within their departments and in Academic Council. Being an academic rep is a fantastic opportunity to represent your students on your course and help to make your degree better.”
Why become a rep?
- Make your voice heard.
- Influence university policy and learn how decisions are being reached in the "business world".
- Improve communication, negotiation and problem solving skills.
- Receive training through SORTED.
- Free lunches at Academic Council.
- Get your academic rep hooded sweatshirt.
- Enhance your CV.
Academic reps take part of the departmental Student Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC) meetings to raise students’ issues on a departmental level. Additionally they take part of the Academic Council meetings which are co-ordinated by Katie Mabery, the Students’ Union Vice President Education and receive support and training from the Students’ Union.
- Actively seek to find out if there are any issues that are affecting your studies or student experience.
- Make sure you have your say about your course and how it is run.
- Raise your concerns and contribute your ideas.
- Get involved in the development of your course.
- Let the people who make decisions know how your course could be improved and raise issues and ideas.
What else are Academic reps sometimes called?
- Student Academic Representatives (STARs)
- Programme Representatives
- Course Reps
- SSLC Members
The Bath University Students' Union (BUSU) operates the Academic Representatives scheme in partnership with the University. Academic Reps have a massive remit and are not expected to deal with issues all on their own. BUSU provides training sessions and handbooks to help, guide and train Academic Representatives. Academic Council meetings, also hosted by BUSU, act as a forum, by bringing Academic Reps from across the university together.
Essentially, the purpose of the Students' Union is to improve the student experience and to do this, it needs you! Reps provide an important link between the Students, Students' Union and Departments, helping ensure a productive and effective working relationship.
All issues are discussed either at SSLC meetings, Academic Council or where necessary at University committees to bring positive changes. Departmental issues tend to be handled at SSLC meetings whereas issues of wider concern are discussed at Academic Council. Most problems are resolved at the SSLC meetings with positive actions being taken by those present. At the next meeting, feedback is given on any actions that were taken.
Reps are there to represent you! Should you have some academic issues, ideas or concerns, your rep could be among the first people to contact. It is therefore important that your rep would be approachable, motivated and concerned about your issues.
This year, for the first time, the Students' Union is running the election of Academic Reps through bathstudent.com. If you would like to become an Academic Rep for your programme you can nominate yourself for election from 12:00 noon on the 6th October until 16:00 on the 10th October. Then you can vote for the candidates running in the election for your programme and year from 12:00 noon on the 13th October until 16:00 on the 17th October. If you would like more information on how to stand as a candidate for election as an Academic Rep or to find out how to vote click
here