(English) Class Representative Feedback

Thank you for your Feedback!

You wrote it, we heard it!
Who provided feedback?
0
MBChB students
0
Dietetics students
0
Physiotherapy students
0
Postgraduates students
0
Nursing and Midwifery students
0
Speech-Language and Hearing Therapy students
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Occupational Therapy students

An overarching definition of a Class Representative

A student, or students in the case of co-representatives, elected by the members of their class to:

  1. Represent the academic interests of the class at a faculty level
  2. Advocate on behalf of the class at a faculty level
  3. Provide a means of communication with the class for academic faculty members.

The respective roles of a Class Representative as set out by the TAAC:

    • Relaying information between the faculty and the class and vice versa
    • Relaying information from the TAAC to the class and vice versa
    • Replying to class concerns promptly – within 24 hours (However not within class time)
    • Relaying issues to the programme representative (While respecting the chain of command and referral systems in place)
    • Communication regarding conflict or urgent issues between the lecturers and the class (Regarding academic matters)
    • Relaying concerns regarding lecture schedules with the lecturer and class (Including concerns about the timetable itself and scheduling)
    •  If faculty wants to communicate via WhatsApp, the message should be typed
      out as is and the class representative can forward to the class.
    • Representing/considering the class in everything relating to the academic affairs of the class.
    • It is the class representatives’ responsibility to advocate for the class, and the
      programme representatives’ responsibility to advocate for all years.
    • Proactively and reactively acting on behalf of the class to discuss academic problems with the lecturers, module coordinators or programme coordinator (With class consensus having been obtained).
    • Obtaining class feedback via Microsoft forms (Polls, general feedback etc.) 
    • Ensuring all classmates are on the respective mailing lists
    • Assisting in lecture halls with technology (Only for assistance, IT is primarily responsible)
    • If the class requests an extra lesson – the class representative will help coordinate
    • Class representatives will assist in an emergency situation regarding venue clashes for lectures.
    • Any challenges the class experiences as a whole with regards to accommodation
      and/or transport for placements (SUNLOC primarily responsible)

       

Feedback from students:

„Provide resources and general organisation of the module.“

„Everything because I can’t do half of what they do.“

„Organise our rotations and solve problems regarding admin.“

„Make a weekly schedule.“

„Communicate with module heads.“

Why this does not fall under the role of a Class Representative:

  1. Class Representatives are not expected to provide their class with resources. This may be applicable in case of emergency, where a lecturer is experiencing difficulty uploading module content for the upcoming lecture.
  2. Class Representatives are also students with the same academic responsibilities as their class. Therefore, they are not able to ‚everything‘ with relation to the organisation of a module. 
  3. Rotations need to be organised by the respective module chairs.
  4. Class Representatives are not expected to make  weekly schedules for their class. 
  5. When issues arise the Class Representative will relay the information to the Program Representative that will meet with the programme coordinator to resolve the issue/concern at hand at Faculty level.

How can we improve moving forward?

We will focus on the following in next year’s training:

  • Better communication skills: How to communicate with students, committee members and faculty.
  • Promptness: With regards to raising issues with Program Representatives and relaying feedback to classmates.
  • How to respond adequately to students‘ requests and concerns.
  • Maintain transparent communication between all channels of communication.