Introductions…
Shwmae! I’m Emma and I’m your Academic Affairs Officer for 2017/18. It’s my job to ensure that the student voice is heard loud and clear and to promote your academic interests. A few of my main priorities for this year are:
- Working closely with the Careers Service to work on employability and ensuring that students leave Aber as confident and well-prepared young professionals. I’ll be working to make sure we have a Part Time Jobs Fair every semester, developing more skills workshops and also working with Alumni to bring you more opportunities that are relevant to you, such as work experience, internships and e-tutors.
- Looking at making the Special Circumstances system easier to access by working with Personal Tutors and Student Support Services.
- Opening up BlackBoard during module-selection periods so you can see current module material and make more informed decisions on the modules you’ll be studying for the next year.
- Campaigning against fee rises and making sure your voice is heard on all things fees, including ensuring that students who undertake Industrial Years and Erasmus schemes are not disadvantaged.
Since starting in July, the first few months have been super busy but great fun. The highlight has definitely been NUS SU17 and Y Talwrn conferences, where we got to meet other Officers from around the UK, and learn about all the issues that affect students specifically in Wales, in the whole of the UK and further afield.
If you want to contact me you can do so by popping into the SU, by email (suacademic@aber.ac.uk) or by finding me on social media. You can follow me on Twitter: @AAAberSU to keep up to date with what I’m doing on a daily basis, and also see when I publish my monthly updates. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page too: www.facebook.com/TimUMAberSU to get regular updates from me and the other Officers.
The time has flown by since my first Freshers 3 years ago, but I still remember it like it was yesterday. This year is my fourth Freshers and I’m really looking forward to meeting and getting to know a new set of faces, and to the Friday night Quiz. My biggest advice for new students is to throw yourself into every opportunity! You don’t have to stick with everything you try, but you might be surprised with what new activities you find, and what could end up being the start of something bigger. When I first ran to be an Academic Rep 3 years ago, I never imagined I’d be here today as your Academic Affairs Officer!
Make sure you enjoy every second of your new adventure and get stuck in! Croeso i Aberystwyth!