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Q&A WITH ALEX RESTONQ. What Course did you study at Newman?
A. Working with Children, Young People, and Families. Q. What made you want to become President of the SU? A. I'm really passionate about making the student experience as positive as possible. Q. Tell us an interesting or random fact about you... A. Q. How can we get in touch with you? A. I am usually in the SU Office opposite Starbucks in the Atrium, but you can also catch me on my professional Facebook profile page, my email or by phoning the office on 0121 483 2225. |
MY PROMISES/PLEDGES TO STUDENTS
All elected Officers create a number of Promises that they make to students. Their reports to Student Forum are based on these promises.
PROMISE 1: 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.
• 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.
PROMISE 2: 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.
• 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.
PROMISE 3: 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.
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.
PRESIDENT TERMS OF REFERENCE (JOB ROLE)
General Duties
All Officers are responsible for the day to day running and management of the Union as an organisation, including but not limited to: ensuring it complies with the law and relevant acts, in particular the Education and Charity Acts, funding and budget monitoring, compliance with Health and Safety legislation, ensuring Union Policies and Procedures are adhered to and representing students. All Officers are also required to be actively involved in collective work and be willing to accept work at the request of an appropriate body.
President (Sabbatical role)
The Newman Students' Union President represents 2800 students from a variety of backgrounds with a diverse range of needs. The President is responsible for leading the Executive team, challenging, motivating and encouraging them to achieve the best results in all work. They will also be expected to take the lead with organising and training Course Reps and running the election process. They are the direct link between the SU and the University and sit on many Boards and Committees to ensure there is student representation at decision-making bodies within the Universirty. They are also Chair of the Board of Trustees and work directly with the General Manager to lead the organisation.
A full job description can be found in the Newman Students' Union Constitution - Bye Law A
All Officers are responsible for the day to day running and management of the Union as an organisation, including but not limited to: ensuring it complies with the law and relevant acts, in particular the Education and Charity Acts, funding and budget monitoring, compliance with Health and Safety legislation, ensuring Union Policies and Procedures are adhered to and representing students. All Officers are also required to be actively involved in collective work and be willing to accept work at the request of an appropriate body.
President (Sabbatical role)
The Newman Students' Union President represents 2800 students from a variety of backgrounds with a diverse range of needs. The President is responsible for leading the Executive team, challenging, motivating and encouraging them to achieve the best results in all work. They will also be expected to take the lead with organising and training Course Reps and running the election process. They are the direct link between the SU and the University and sit on many Boards and Committees to ensure there is student representation at decision-making bodies within the Universirty. They are also Chair of the Board of Trustees and work directly with the General Manager to lead the organisation.
A full job description can be found in the Newman Students' Union Constitution - Bye Law A
