If you want to make a difference to the student experience in your department, want to improve your employability prospects and meet lots of new people, then being an Academic Rep is the role for you!
Academic Reps are crucial to the student voice and ensuring that students get the most out of their time at university, as well as making sure that all students are kept up to date with the exciting changes that happen surrounding their education. As a Rep, your main role is collecting feedback from fellow students and sharing this at departmental SSCCs (Student-Staff Consultative Committees). These happen on average 3-4 times per year and are a great opportunity to start real change within departments and across the university. As an Academic Rep, you also attend the SU Academic Zone, which helps influence SU academic policy, and you are also able to vote at our Union Council meetings. You play a key role in the Union’s campaigns and can help instigate real, positive change.
Becoming a Rep is a fantastic opportunity to get to know your fellow students and staff and become a partner within your department. You also gain a whole host of skills which are in high demand by employers, including organisation, leadership and negotiation. Some of our Reps even chair their SSCCs, providing them with fantastic experience which helps them stand out from the crowd when applying for jobs.
The Students’ Union is also here to support you through every step of being an Academic Rep, from standing as a candidate to initial training and beyond. We offer all Reps an initial training session at the beginning of your role to introduce you to your role and explain everything, as well as getting to meet other Reps. Throughout the year we also offer other opportunities and further training, including public speaking training and meeting skills – which all prove invaluable for when you leave Aberystwyth. All your hard work can be logged on your individual Volunteer Log on our website for personal recognition, and your position will also be recognised on your HEAR record when you leave University. There is also the opportunity to be involved in our student led Teaching Awards (AberSU Celebrates: Teaching) in April, and we even have an award for Academic Rep of the Year!
This year, standing is open from Friday 22nd September until Monday 9th October, with voting taking place online 18th - 22nd October.
To stand, visit our website: www.abersu.co.uk/elections
Being an Academic Rep is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference during your time at Aberystwyth University. If you have any further questions, do pop in to the SU or send me an email on suacademic@aber.ac.uk.