All these roles provide an essential link between students, their modules, and the wider institution as well as the Students Association. Without a representation structure, communication between these bodies would be almost impossible. These roles are important and can really improve your own and others' university experience. Both the Students Association and the University expect you to embrace a certain level of personal responsibility towards the role. These responsibilities include identifying students’ needs and interests which means working together with the wider team so that you can relay information and views.
To be effective and successful within your role, you should be speaking to the wider Student Voice team rather than just volunteers in the same role as you. For us all to be communicating effectively about the challenges and successes OU students face, we need to be interacting with each other. Social media, OU forums and face-to face-events are perfect platforms to do this.
We will provide you with opportunities throughout the year to get to know each other, whether that be at workshops or training events. There will also be opportunities for you to observe OU committee meetings, as well as attending the SLT weekend as an observer.
We will advertise these opportunities throughout the year, so make sure you are signed up to the volunteer newsletter through our website, make use of our volunteer Slack channels and keep up to date with the student voice forums too.
Signposting students
Sometimes students will come to you with matters of a personal nature. As a representative, it is not part of your role to become involved with these individual issues; it is not in your interest or those of the student concerned. Instead, when presented with a difficult problem, signpost the student to someone who is professionally trained and will be able to help them.
You are not expected to deal with:
- Disputes between individual students and academic staff (e.g. complaints, bullying, discrimination),
- Academic appeals, academic misconduct, or disciplinary meetings
- Welfare problems – health or personal issues, financial and funding queries.
- For individual complaints and formal procedures such as academic misconduct and appeals, advise the student to contact the OU Student Support teams or their tutor. Remember – you are a student as well, so be careful not to take on too much work or put yourself under too much pressure.
Other Signposting - The Association’s Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Student Welfare team
Our Association’s Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Student Welfare team is dedicated to working alongside the Association's VP Student Support and VP Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion to support students who are experiencing difficulties that can affect their ability to study successfully. Their aim is to complement the support offered by the OU's Student Support teams to ensure that everyone has the best student experience possible. The Disabled Students Group, OU Pride (LGBTQI+) and our BAME students' groups are student run and they welcome questions, queries, and new members at any time. You can find out more information about these groups via the Student Support pages on our website.
Other Signposting - Student Societies
Joining an OU Students Association affiliated Society is a great way to meet new people and expand your interests. The Students Association can also support you to form a new society that will then go forward run autonomously by members. Some societies are linked to specific OU subjects and some are based on a specific interest or hobby. All were started by small groups of student enthusiasts wanting to share their passion with others. If you would like to join or form a society or for further information, please visit the Get Involved pages of our website or email the Student Community team.
Using student forums