Short Month, Demanding Schedule
Although February is the shortest month of
the year, it has by far not been the least busy. Jam packed with elections,
LGBT History Month, union visioning and strategy, NUS nominations, report
deadlines and all the usual democratic principles. I’ve written a little about
some of the main things that have happened this month below. If you’d like to
know what else I’ve been working on/would like to ask a question then please do
not hesitate to contact...
#Elections
Having reverted back to the usual time-frame,
elections seem to have jumped upon us this year. With cuts in Union staff
having affected our 
abilities to publicise the elections, our sabbatical team
have stepped up and tried their upmost to get the word out there. We’ve been
posting on social media, disseminating posters across all campuses and have
even ran an information roadshow on each campus to educate both potential
nominees and voters. Campaigning is currently underway with candidates running
from all regions for varied positions. It comes as a pleasant surprise to see a
record number of candidates running at the Cardiff region, having more officers
running than that of the other two. To view the candidates manifestos/question
and answer sessions, see the links below:
Manifestos...
http://www.uswsu.com/news/index.php?page=article&news_id=384625
Questions...
http://www.uswsu.com/news/index.php?page=article&news_id=384795
Be Sure to Vote for your favourites via
Unilife/Moodle come the 3rd – 6th March 2014!
#NUSGlobalResearchExchangeArgentina
We’ve finally written and submitted our
report from our Research Exchange to Argentina. The report will be available on
the USWSU website shortly so keep your eyes peeled :D!
#LGBTHistoryMonth
After obtaining funding from the South
Wales Police and ordering materials for all our campuses, this month our
regional LGBT officers has lead their regional events. We’ve hosted movie
nights, event nights, held workshops, ran campaigns, held drop in sessions and
even filmed some LGBT related videos (will be available on USWSU Youtube
shortly). I’ve also managed to obtain a further £100 to go towards next year’s
History Month :D!.
#SALT’s
Don’t recognise the term SALT? Don’t worry
because it’s new! Formerly known as the Student Lead Teaching Awards/Student
Experience awards, The SALT awards (Students and Academics in Learning and Teaching)
are the newly named USWSU awards for academics and student representatives. I’ve
been working hard with members of staff, our change agents and regional VP’s to
arrange and organise the awards. It’s been decided that there will be regional
awards held in May amongst the faculties of each region. The awards themselves
have yet to be finalised but information will be published soon along with the
request for nominations so keep your eyes peeled! I’ve also been working
tirelessly with our Change Agents, who are undertaking research on different
topics. They are currently in the Data Collection Phase of the research :D!
#NSS
The National Student Survey has been
running for two months now and the number of responses are streaming in. I’ve
been working hard with our SVR’s and University Staff to promote the filling in
of the surveys. It’s extremely important that 3rd year students fill
the survey in as it gives both the University and prospective students feedback
relating student courses. Those that score poorly are identified to the
University and procedures are put in place to improve the courses, equally
those that score well are looked at to see how that can continue and be
disseminated to other courses. There is also a possible financial benefit to
those filling in the survey with 5 lucky participants winning £100 just for
filling it in!
#EndOfYearEvent
#StudentAffairs
I was asked at the last Student Affairs Committee meeting to provide information on the sort of issues students were raising and how I was progressing with my manifesto aims. I provided information on how I have been adhering to my manifesto but noted that I would give an update on student issues following the regional course rep councils. I attended each regional course rep councils and took notes on the main issues of each. I collated these and sent in three separate reports – one for each region on the main issues being discussed. I also mentioned that both SVR’s and Course Reps would be highlighting these to various departments but the University has mandated members of staff to chase the issues up to ensure that they are being resolved.
#NationalStudentMoneyWeek
I’ve been doing a number of things for
National Student Money week :D. I organised a Supermarket sweep which was held
in Tesco. Our Vice President for Cardiff went up against one of our women’s
rugby team members, whilst our VP Pontypridd had the role of chief trolley
pusher. You can find the video below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg5TpDecVDE
I also created a video for each day of
National Student Money week on how to cook various recipes...
Enchiladas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVCxwFyLPt0
Pasta Bake:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMwhvg-GGuM
Pancakes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS5SUEoVZk0
Chilli and Coconut Chicken Curry:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YotqSTVlMY
Omelette:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz2rv-muHnw
Keep your eyes peeled for the bonus Home
Made Banana Milkshake video...
#CampusDevelopments
#Caerleon
I’ve been tirelessly chasing the CashPoint
issue with the finance department of the University. At current as the previous
contract for the cash machine has been lost and we as a Union are currently
contracted for a further 3-4 years, there are difficulties in processes to get
it up and running again. The University are currently looking into cash filling
services for the short term but are having difficulties finding a provider that
will just fill the machine. I’ve pressed this as an urgent matter and they have
promised to return to me with information as soon as there are further
developments. We are awaiting responses from the cash machine companies to be
able to proceed.
#Cardiff
#City
It’s proven difficult to find a re-location solution to the City Campus SU space. Estates have assured me that access to the room has been approved and that students are now able to access the space. I’m currently working with a number of University departments to see how we can best move departments to provide a better area for the SU. As an aside I have obtained a lock in notice board for the space and we are awaiting a pool table to be placed in the area. Due to destructions to equipment and materials previously, the space and equipment put in will be monitored carefully when looking at future possibilities.
#Glyntaff
It’s pleasing to see so many people using
the Glyntaff SU Social Space, we fought so hard to obtain!! Since we obtained
the space, it’s been painted, re-furnished, re-floored and re-newed. It now
offers spaces to work, to sit comfortably and to eat. We have recently also
added a pool table!! Plans are in place for networking to go in the area and
for computers to be allocated to our bar desktop. We have also ordered pens for
our feedback wall and have ordered further comfy seating! This week both SU and
open notice boards are due to be put in so that both students and sabbs can be
made aware of what’s going on SU wise. I’m looking forward to working with the
VP for Pontypridd and campus officer to see what else we can do in addition to
the turn-around.
#Treforest
The side gate was due to be updated and
opened as a 24/7 access point at the end of February. Due to the staffing cuts
in the Estates department, the work got pushed under the radar. I have
highlighted this to both estates and the University Directorate who are looking
into it as a matter of urgency. The side gate will be transformed into a turn
style gate with card access points (much like the one in cathays). Students
will have access to the gates through their enrolment cards. Those that cause disruption
to the community will have their access revoked, which will not affect those
students who do not. This will also prevent non-student/staff members walking
onto campus at night and will reduce crime opportunities when the gates become available
24/7.
Apart from that I’ve fought a
number of student cases, replied to millions of e-mails and attended millions
of conferences, talks and events (slight exaggeration, but you get the picture).
Keep
Peeled for more developments and the next update :).
Carys Rhiannon Thomas :D xx
P.s. A list
of meetings I've attended since the last blogg...
#Representation #StickItToTheMan
February 2014
01.02.2014 Charity
Bucket Collection, Cardiff03.02.2014 Student Appeals, complaints and Conduct, Treforest
03.02.2014 Student
Success Group, Treforest
03.02.2014 Captains
meeting, Treforest
04.02.2014 Sabb
Team Meeting, Glyntaff
04.02.2014 Elections
Roadshow, Glyntaff
04.02.2014 Go
Out and Talk, Glyntaff
04.02.2014 Executive
Committee meeting, Caerleon
04.02.2014 Student
Council meeting, Caerleon
05.02.2014 FCF
meeting, Treforest
05.02.2014 Student
opportunities in marketing meeting, Treforest
05.02.2014 RAG
meeting, Treforest
05.02.2014 Student
Council meeting, Cardiff
06.02.2014 LGBT
meeting, Treforest
06.02.2014 SLTA
training, Treforest
06.02.2014 Duke
of Edinburgh meeting, Pontypridd
06.02.2014 Student
Council meeting, Newport
07.02.2014 Elections
Roadshow, Cardiff
07.02.2014 Global
Day meeting, Treforest
07.02.2014 Argentina
Research meeting, Treforest
10.02.2014 Global
Day meeting, Treforest
10.02.2014 Review
of Effectiveness of Academic board, Treforest
10.02.2014 Student
Affairs Committee, Treforest
10.02.2014 Filming
SuperMarket Sweep video, Treforest
11.02.2014 Elections
Roadshow, Caerleon
11.02.2014 Elections
Roadshow, City
11.02.2014 Global
Day meeting, City Campus
12.02.2014 SU
media, Treforest
12.02.2014 Library
tour, Treforest
13.02.2014 DISAG,
Treforest
13.02.2014 February
intake induction talk, Atrium
13.02.2014 Global
Day meeting, Atrium
13.02.2014 Equality
and Diversity Steering group meeting, Caerleon
13.02.2014 YMCA
meeting, Pontypridd
17.02.2014 End
of year fundraising opportunities meeting, Cardiff
18.02.2014 Executive
committee meeting, Treforest
18.02.2014 Elections
roadshow, Treforest
18.02.2014 Elections
roadshow, Glyntaff
18.02.2014 International
intake induction talk, Glyntaff
19.02.2014 FCF
meeting, Treforest
19.02.2014 Course
Rep Assembly, Cardiff
20.02.2014 Directorate-SU
student experience meeting, Treforest
20.02.2014 Course
Rep Assembly, Pontypridd
20.02.2014 Welcome
event for February intake, Treforest
21.02.2014 SU
developments at Glyntaff and City, Treforest
21.02.2014 GradEdge
development meeting, Treforest
24.02.2014 SLTA
Training, Treforest
25.02.2014 Course
Rep Assembly, Caerleon
26.02.2014 Score,
Treforest
27.02.2014 Reflection
and Observation of Teaching, City
27.02.2014 Welcome
buffet, Treforest
27.02.2014 Tequilla
radio fundraiser, Porters
28.02.2014 Student
opportunities in sport, Treforest
