SLT Priority Areas Update
Since the last meeting in October, the following activities have been highlights:
Under the Student Wellbeing priority area:
Under the Academic Experience priority area:
Finally, under the Neurodivergent Experience priority area:
SLT Approvals
Best Practice in Academic Experience document, vote needed – October 2025
Best Practice in Curriculum Withdrawals document (AKA Protecting the Curriculum Priority Project), vote needed – November 2025
Proposed Change to SLT Election (and Student Rep) Eligibility Rules, vote needed – November 2025
Ad-hoc SLT Position Statements, vote needed – December 2025
Best Practice in Student Support document, vote needed – January 2026
SLT Statements
Student Concerns
Students have raised the following concerns directly with members of the SLT...
1. Academic Matters & Support
STEM students raised concerns about internships and research bursaries. The STEM Faculty Representative has shared this feedback with the Associate Dean of Student Experience.
Concerns relating to the use of ProctorU were raised. Students were advised to submit feedback to the STEM Associate Dean or Academic Committee.
Several students reported delays in tutor allocation. Following investigation, the WELS Representative confirmed allocations were completed within one day of module start despite unexpectedly high student numbers.
Students contacted the FBL Representative regarding the new LLM (law masters) programme. The Representative liaised with the Law School’s Teaching Director and provided responses to student queries.
2. Accessibility
Students expressed interest in online graduation options. This feedback has been shared with the University and Open SU.
A student contacted the Disabled Students representative and reported accessibility challenges at graduation. The representative provided guidance on raising the issue formally and signposted relevant support teams.
The International student representative was contacted regarding a student losing access to the OU website, after moving to a new country. The International Representative escalated this to senior staff, who resolved the issue.
We Need You!
We really want to know about the issues affecting you, as OU Students! Use our Student Issues reporting tool to submit your issues, comment on the issues of others, and up/down vote the issues important to you!
Other News & Ongoing Projects
Deputy President:
The Deputy President has been working with the MarComms team to support The Hoot for Students in Secure Environments, helping ensure articles from the website can reach students without internet access. They have also contributed to the ongoing rebrand of The Hoot, with a new logo and updated design to be launched soon.
The Deputy President, together with the Volunteer Manager, has launched the Volunteering Strategy Steering Group. This group is exploring how Open SU can reimagine volunteering, identify new opportunities, and develop initiatives that strengthen and support the overall volunteering strategy.
Faculty Representatives:
STEM:
The STEM Faculty Representative works with Katrina Bray to promote STEM student events, supporting engagement and community building.
WELS:
The WELS Representative chaired the Student Voice Week Planning Group and represented Open SU at the Manchester Graduation ceremony.
FBL:
In January 2026, the FBL Representative served on the judging panel for the Law School Student Voices Evening.
FASS:
The FASS Representative contributed to the new Arts and Humanities newsletter and the new FASS Faculty Magazine. They also continue to host FASS Connect, a monthly meet‑up for students across the faculty.
LGBTQIA+ Representative:
LGBTQIA+ History Month 2026 will include student‑led talks, articles in The Hoot, and a workshop on archiving personal queer history.
The LGBTQIA+ Representative has launched monthly LGBTQIA+ Student Voice Drop‑Ins to support community connection and student feedback.
Area Representatives:
Wales:
The Wales Representative chairs the Wales Student Panel, enabling students across Wales to share experiences and discuss relevant issues. They are also hosting weekly “Study Together” sessions and promoting the Wales Club’s monthly events.
International:
Two dedicated Student Voice Week sessions were held for international students in November 2025, addressing challenges such as time‑zone barriers, word‑count expectations, and limited international student networking opportunities.
The International Students Newsletter published its eighth edition in autumn 2025.
Membership of the International Students Club has grown significantly since its 2025 launch. Students who would like to join the Club can do so on OU Students Connect.
Sustainability Representative:
Twelve new Sustainability Volunteers have joined the working group, taking on roles across campaigns, hedgehog‑friendly initiatives, events, and impact.
Open SU contributed to the OU’s improved People and Planet ranking, placing 39th in the University League table.
Planning continues for the Sustainability Impact Award, enabling students to bid for £500 for sustainability‑focused projects.
Two sustainability‑themed Welcome Week sessions are planned in partnership with the OU Environmental Sustainability Society.