PRESDIENT CANDIDATES
ALEX RESTON
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My main priority is to build and create a student’s union the truly represents its membership. I will do this by talking to students and involving them in the process of creating a more inclusive and diverse SU, something which previously the SU has poor at. |
WHAT ARE MY PRIORITIES/PLEDGES/PROMISES?
Pledge one: a more inclusive SU
• I will conduct a study to ask students what they want the SU to offer them and use this information to review what the SU should be doing to better represent Newman students. It’s time to include students in the decision process when it comes to offers that directly impact them!
• I will ensure I stay on campus for one-two evenings a week so that postgraduate students can access the SU when they have their lectures.
• Complete a review of the officer roles within the SU to ensure that students aren’t overworked and can achieve their full potential. This will require drawing up role profiles before the next election to ensure that what the role requires is achievable for students. I would also look into having this review done by an external person, so it isn’t bias.
Pledge two: making education more inclusive, fair and accessible
• I aim to review the course rep system. To do this I will introduce a course feedback page on Moodle for each course where students can confidentially upload issues they have with their modules etc. It will then be the job of the course reps to ensure students have had their concerns listened to by staff, as well as to raise things with staff in the event a student feels the issue has not been dealt with properly.
• To evolve the learning development plan by opening spaces for current undergrad students, post-grad student and Newman alumni to run courses using their experience(s) allowing other student to benefit from it!
• I will lobby the university to ensure the dissertation process is fairer for all students with a set timeline for supervisors to be appointed by. This will also include guidance on dissertations being given at the end of second year
Pledge three: right student, right course, right university
• I plan to introduce a ‘wobble window’ for students within the first two-three weeks of the semester where they sit down with a staff member on their course and talk! This will allow staff to get to know their students better, ensure they are on the correct course at the correct level and the department can better support the students they have!
This can extend to second and third year where students can sit down to talk about their modules to ensure that there isn’t a different module that would be more beneficial for them.
During these conversations, lecturers can also refer students to support in the university, such as peer mentors or student support services, that they may not be aware of.
• I will create a document for lecturers outlining what a personal tutor should look like, what role are encompassed in it and set out expectations for all departments on how personal tutors should communicate with students.
• I aim to introduce a week of summer school towards the end of summer. This would enable second- and third-year students to come onto campus, reflect on their past year, chat with a lecturer about what went well and what didn’t go so well and get back into university life easily
Pledge one: a more inclusive SU
• I will conduct a study to ask students what they want the SU to offer them and use this information to review what the SU should be doing to better represent Newman students. It’s time to include students in the decision process when it comes to offers that directly impact them!
• I will ensure I stay on campus for one-two evenings a week so that postgraduate students can access the SU when they have their lectures.
• Complete a review of the officer roles within the SU to ensure that students aren’t overworked and can achieve their full potential. This will require drawing up role profiles before the next election to ensure that what the role requires is achievable for students. I would also look into having this review done by an external person, so it isn’t bias.
Pledge two: making education more inclusive, fair and accessible
• I aim to review the course rep system. To do this I will introduce a course feedback page on Moodle for each course where students can confidentially upload issues they have with their modules etc. It will then be the job of the course reps to ensure students have had their concerns listened to by staff, as well as to raise things with staff in the event a student feels the issue has not been dealt with properly.
• To evolve the learning development plan by opening spaces for current undergrad students, post-grad student and Newman alumni to run courses using their experience(s) allowing other student to benefit from it!
• I will lobby the university to ensure the dissertation process is fairer for all students with a set timeline for supervisors to be appointed by. This will also include guidance on dissertations being given at the end of second year
Pledge three: right student, right course, right university
• I plan to introduce a ‘wobble window’ for students within the first two-three weeks of the semester where they sit down with a staff member on their course and talk! This will allow staff to get to know their students better, ensure they are on the correct course at the correct level and the department can better support the students they have!
This can extend to second and third year where students can sit down to talk about their modules to ensure that there isn’t a different module that would be more beneficial for them.
During these conversations, lecturers can also refer students to support in the university, such as peer mentors or student support services, that they may not be aware of.
• I will create a document for lecturers outlining what a personal tutor should look like, what role are encompassed in it and set out expectations for all departments on how personal tutors should communicate with students.
• I aim to introduce a week of summer school towards the end of summer. This would enable second- and third-year students to come onto campus, reflect on their past year, chat with a lecturer about what went well and what didn’t go so well and get back into university life easily
KIRSTY HANSON
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My biggest priority is for anyone to ask any student if they think their voice matters and for the student to reply with yes. |
WHAT ARE MY PRIORITIES/PLEDGES/PROMISES?
Pledge One: Using the power of the student voice
Pledge Two: Student mental health is paramount
Pledge Three: Leading Newman students to success
HOW WILL I ACHEIVE MY PRIORITIES/PLEDGES/PROMISES?
As the president I want every student to feel like they have a voice. I want students to tell me what is good or bad about their course, assignments, the university, the students union, anything and everything. This has come from me thinking I wanted to make mine and my psychology class’ third year good even though we are in a pandemic so I became a course Representative. As I did my job as a course representative, I started to think what if I could make the student experience better for everyone. Which brought me to wanting to run for president and making the power of the student voice heard my first priority. I, if elected president will make sure to be open and welcoming to every students, I will strengthen the course representative and STARs system and I will engage with as many students as possible. Making sure that everyone knows they have a voice and with that I could do something about it as president.
Making student mental health paramount was a must when thinking of my priorities as it is near and dear to my heart. Through my three years at university, I have personally and seen my friends go through every emotion. I have seen the stress of training teachers’ placements and I’ve experienced the isolation of living in student accommodation. In my second year, I was diagnosed with depression and ended up getting in contact with the mental health adviser. A whole department that I hadn’t seen or heard for the whole of the previous year. It is an asset to all students to know of the disability and mental health services at Newman. If elected president I will work to challenge the stigma on mental health, I will make sure there is support with those who feel they have mental health issues and I will continue the work of our previous president in making sure every officer in the Student Union is mental health first aid trained.
When thinking of my last priority my last year at Newman university mirrors it perfectly. I realised at the start of the year that I had nothing to go on my HEAR- Higher Education Achievement Report. If I did nothing in my last year, I’d be leaving with just my degree. I wouldn’t have anything that made me stand out so in my third priority I want Newman students to have what they need to be successful while at Newman and after Newman. I will enhance the leadership and development programme. I will challenge the curriculum to make sure the students are learning what they were expecting when choosing Newman University. I will give students opportunities that will make them stand out. I will make sure that all students when leaving Newman university, know what they want to do next.
WHY ARE MY PRIORITIES/PLEDGES/PROMISES IMPORTANT TO ME?
These priorities/promises are important to me as I am truly passionate about all three of them. I didn’t rush any one, I thought of my time at Newman of almost 3 years and over time I thought of all three of my priorities and developed them into what they are today. They are such a passion because I have drawn from my own experiences and thought about what I would want in a president and I will be that. I also care, sometimes too much. I care about the SU, I care about Newman and I care about the staff that has taught me so much in a few days and I hope I get the chance to work with Sue, Marie, Scarlet and Ryan. I care about the students that missed so much because of the pandemic; I care about the students that didn’t get the graduation they wanted. My promises are important to me because I want to be the positive role model and the positive change in Newman. I want lead where Chris left off and welcome the new and returning students as their president of the SU and help them achieve all that they can.
Pledge One: Using the power of the student voice
Pledge Two: Student mental health is paramount
Pledge Three: Leading Newman students to success
HOW WILL I ACHEIVE MY PRIORITIES/PLEDGES/PROMISES?
As the president I want every student to feel like they have a voice. I want students to tell me what is good or bad about their course, assignments, the university, the students union, anything and everything. This has come from me thinking I wanted to make mine and my psychology class’ third year good even though we are in a pandemic so I became a course Representative. As I did my job as a course representative, I started to think what if I could make the student experience better for everyone. Which brought me to wanting to run for president and making the power of the student voice heard my first priority. I, if elected president will make sure to be open and welcoming to every students, I will strengthen the course representative and STARs system and I will engage with as many students as possible. Making sure that everyone knows they have a voice and with that I could do something about it as president.
Making student mental health paramount was a must when thinking of my priorities as it is near and dear to my heart. Through my three years at university, I have personally and seen my friends go through every emotion. I have seen the stress of training teachers’ placements and I’ve experienced the isolation of living in student accommodation. In my second year, I was diagnosed with depression and ended up getting in contact with the mental health adviser. A whole department that I hadn’t seen or heard for the whole of the previous year. It is an asset to all students to know of the disability and mental health services at Newman. If elected president I will work to challenge the stigma on mental health, I will make sure there is support with those who feel they have mental health issues and I will continue the work of our previous president in making sure every officer in the Student Union is mental health first aid trained.
When thinking of my last priority my last year at Newman university mirrors it perfectly. I realised at the start of the year that I had nothing to go on my HEAR- Higher Education Achievement Report. If I did nothing in my last year, I’d be leaving with just my degree. I wouldn’t have anything that made me stand out so in my third priority I want Newman students to have what they need to be successful while at Newman and after Newman. I will enhance the leadership and development programme. I will challenge the curriculum to make sure the students are learning what they were expecting when choosing Newman University. I will give students opportunities that will make them stand out. I will make sure that all students when leaving Newman university, know what they want to do next.
WHY ARE MY PRIORITIES/PLEDGES/PROMISES IMPORTANT TO ME?
These priorities/promises are important to me as I am truly passionate about all three of them. I didn’t rush any one, I thought of my time at Newman of almost 3 years and over time I thought of all three of my priorities and developed them into what they are today. They are such a passion because I have drawn from my own experiences and thought about what I would want in a president and I will be that. I also care, sometimes too much. I care about the SU, I care about Newman and I care about the staff that has taught me so much in a few days and I hope I get the chance to work with Sue, Marie, Scarlet and Ryan. I care about the students that missed so much because of the pandemic; I care about the students that didn’t get the graduation they wanted. My promises are important to me because I want to be the positive role model and the positive change in Newman. I want lead where Chris left off and welcome the new and returning students as their president of the SU and help them achieve all that they can.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
