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You wrote it, we heard it!
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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:
- Represent the academic interests of the class at a faculty level
- Advocate on behalf of the class at a faculty level
- 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:
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- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- Rotations need to be organised by the respective module chairs.
- Class Representatives are not expected to make weekly schedules for their class.
- 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.
