You may have heard us talking about the importance of Academic Representation and becoming a Rep - but what exactly does it all mean? Find out all you need to know and how YOU can get involved right here...
Do you have ideas to make change on your course? We're looking for passionate academic reps to speak up for students and improve their academic experience! Read more to find out if this role is right for you 😊
What is Academic Representation?
Academic Representation ensures that students' voices are heard at every level of university decision-making. Students are represented by:
- Programme Reps
- School Reps
- and the elected Vice President Education (Sabbatical Officer)
Representatives work together to collect feedback, raise issues, suggest improvements, and celebrate successes regarding students’ academic experience. Each Rep plays a vital role in making students’ academic experience better, helping to shape decisions to make student life better at Roehampton.
Programme Reps:
Programme Reps represent students at programme level. Each programme should have two reps for every year of study who listens to student feedback, raises concerns at Programme Boards, Students Voice Forums, staff-student meetings, and works with staff to improve your learning experience. We aim to have programme reps covering each year of a course and are actively recruiting for this!
School Reps:
School Reps are senior student representatives who work at the school level to support Programme Reps and represent wider student feedback. At Roehampton, each academic school has two School Reps: one for undergraduate and one for postgraduate students. They attend key university meetings such as School Boards and Education Committee and work closely with the Vice President Education and Students’ Union staff to ensure student voices influence decisions at the highest level.
The remaining School Reps positions we are looking to fill are:
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School:
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Role:
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Law
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Postgraduate School Rep
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Psychology
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Postgraduate School Rep
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LHS
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Postgraduate School Rep
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Education
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Undergraduate School Rep
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Continuing Education
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Undergraduate & Postgraduate School Reps
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CEBE
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Postgraduate School Rep
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Why should you become an Academic Rep?
Make a change: As an Academic Rep, you’ll have the power to make real improvements to student experience at Roehampton. You’ll be the link between students and staff, helping to highlight what works well and ensuring that challenges are addressed quickly. Reps have influenced everything from assessment feedback policies to wellbeing support and learning resources. It’s a chance to take ownership of your education and make your course the best it can be, not only for yourself but for future students.
Boost your CV: Being an Academic Rep is more than a volunteering position; it’s professional experience that employers value.
You’ll gain transferable skills including:
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Leadership: Representing your peers and leading positive change.
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Communication: Speaking confidently in meetings with academics and senior university staff.
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Negotiation and problem-solving: Finding solutions that meet both student needs and institutional goals.
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Teamwork: Collaborating with other reps, union officers, and university departments.
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Time management: Balancing your representative duties with your university work.
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Advocacy: Learning how to voice ideas constructively and influence decisions.
You’ll also develop a deeper understanding of how universities operate, something especially valuable if you’re interested in education, management, or public service careers. Many of our former reps have gone on to become elected officers at the Students’ Union, so becoming a rep is a great stepping stone to becoming more involved in the Union!
How do I become an Academic Rep?
If you would like to become a School or Programme Rep please email us at: StudentVoice@roehampton.ac.uk