Thursday 02-04-2020 - 13:19

What does being a course rep really entail? We ask Wrexham Glyndwr psychology student Jodie Wright, who has been a course rep since her foundation degree!

 

Why did you decide to become a rep?

I became a course rep when I started my foundation year, no-one in my class wanted the role, and I had built up a good rapport with my class so they all volunteered me. I agreed to represent my cohort and it quickly became obvious that I was good at the role. I felt like I could really make a difference and make sure my cohort's voice was heard. For my second year as rep, I volunteered and my class agreed. 

What is involved with being a rep?

Not only does being a rep mean you are the voice of your cohort, it also means you attend two Student Voice Forums (SVFs) a year (for psychology anyways, maybe more for other courses). These SVFs involve sitting with the programme team and giving your cohort's feedback, whether it be good, bad, big, or small. Before these meetings you need to make sure you speak with all of the students in your class. This can sometimes be challenging so being a rep definitely helps with your people skills :). Then there's the course rep conference, a full day of meeting staff and students, learning about how to be a better rep, FREE lunch (everyone is happy with that) and a generally lovely day of making connections and gaining valuable information to feed back to your cohort. You also need to be good at signposting; there's a misconception that being a course rep means you have to solve everyone's problems, this is not true, you just need to be savvy on where to send them for maximum help with their issue.

Tell us about any opportunities you have had as a result of being a rep...

Being a rep allows you to gain great connections within the Students' Union, with faculty heads and other students from different courses across WGU. It also looks great on your CV. My duties as rep have also given me confidence as a person and helped me grow. From being in contact with the Students' Union, being a rep has led me to many other roles (student ambassador, mature students officer, psychology society president) which I believe I wouldn't have dreamed of doing if I hadn't had this role first. 

How much time do you have to dedicate to the role?

It depends on how involved you are as to how much time this role takes up. As the SVFs are only twice a year at one hour each, and the rep conference is only one day, the expected role does not take up much time at all, and is easily doable alongside your studies.

 

Overall, being a course rep has given me the confidence and the knowledge to be able to represent the student voice in many different ways. This role is amazing for anyone who wants to make a difference :) 

 

Edited by Elissa Baxter, Digital, Design and Communications Coordinator and Lauren Hole, Digital Marketing Assistant

 

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