How to Enhance Your HEAR 6.1
What is the HEAR?
The Higher Education Achievement Report is an online transcript that all Keele Undergraduates graduating from July 2014 onwards will receive on completing their degree. It is a new scheme that is being rolled out nationally, giving students something to present to future employers or education institutions, alongside their degree transcript.
Besides listing academic achievements, section 6.1 will show some of the co-curricular activities students have participated in, giving them recognition for the extra work and skills they have learnt. However, don't worry if your activity is not HEAR recordable you will still be benefitting from these experiences.
Your academic and co-curricular achievements will be recorded automatically by the University and KeeleSU, so you don't have to do anything but get involved in lots of different things. However, if for any reason you don’t want something to be recorded, you can opt out by contacting the Activities team.
This guide will give you more information about what is recordable, the criteria required and what information is visible on the HEAR. If you require any further information, contact the Activities Team on su.activities@keele.ac.uk.
Why enhance your HEAR?
There are lots of reasons to improve your HEAR:
· It will provide a permanent record of your co-curricular activities helping to remind you of all the different activities you participated in during your time at Keele.
· It will show employers and education institutions the different things you were involved with at university, helping to determine your suitability for different roles.
· It allows you to control how you are presented to others on leaving Keele.
· It will help you to stand out from your competitors.
· It allows you to make the most of activities that you do for fun.
· It helps to remind you of the skills you have developed and different ways to articulate these to employers and education institutions.
· It doesn't require you to do anything, your HEAR is produced by Keele University and the Students’ Union and you are not required to do anything, except opt out if you don’t want something to appear.
Societies, StARs and Student Representatives
Elected Position in a Student Society
If you have been a committee member for a society, for example, a Secretary, Treasurer or President, this is HEAR recordable provided you fulfil the following criteria:
1. The position was elected through a democratic process into a registered KeeleSU Society.
2. You have held the position for at least one semester.
3. The end of year ‘Society Exec Statement’ has been sent over to V.P Finance & Activities.
4. You have completed the mandatory society training programme.
If you have met these criteria, the following statement will appear on your HEAR:
“Active group leader for a Keele University Student Society (SOCIETY NAME HERE), working as part of a team and developing numerous skills related to their individual role as ROLE NAME HERE.”
Elected Position as a Student Academic Representative (StAR)
If you have volunteered as a StAR this is HEAR recordable provided you fulfil the following criteria:
1. The position was elected through a democratic process as outlined by the department.
2. You have held the position for at least one semester.
3. You have attended the mandatory StAR training programme.
4. You have attended (or sent formal apologies) to a minimum of one SSLC.
5. You have sent an annual review to the VP Education.
If you have met these criteria, the following statement will appear on your HEAR:
“Acting as a voice for peers on their course, planning, negotiating change and practising public speaking with staff and students.”
Elected Position as a Member of Student Council
If you have been a member of the student council, this is HEAR recordable provided you fulfil the following criteria:
1. The position was elected through a democratic process.
2. You have held the position for at least one semester.
3. You have attended the mandatory officer training programme.
4. You have submitted council reports, at least one of which must be formal.
If you have met these criteria, a statement relevant to your role will appear on your HEAR.
KeeleSU Awards and Volunteer Awards
KeeleSU Awards
Some KeeleSU individual awards will be shown on the HEAR. To receive an award, students must be nominated and chosen by a panel based on their contribution over the year. These awards are then given out at the annual KeeleSU Awards. The following KeeleSU awards are HEAR recordable:
Above and Beyond
Member of the Year
Committee Member of the Year
Societies Lifetime Contribution Award
Student Academic Representative (StAR) of the Year
If you have received an award, a statement relevant to the award will appear on the HEAR.
Volunteer Awards
Volunteer Awards will also appear on the HEAR. To receive a Volunteer Award students must complete a specified number of hours, a logbook and a presentation. The following Volunteer Awards are HEAR recordable:
Bronze Award: 25 hours
Silver Award: 50 hours
Gold Award: 100 hours
Platinum Award: 200 hours
Platinum Plus Award: 350 hours
If you have met these criteria, the following statement will appear on your HEAR:
“Completing (INSERT AWARD SPECIFIC HOURS) of voluntary work that benefits others in some way, whether that be locally, nationally or internationally and reviewing the experience and acquired skills.”
Elected Officers
If you are either a full time or part time elected officer for KeeleSU, this is HEAR recordable provided you fulfil the following criteria:
1. The position was elected through a democratic process.
2. You have held the position for at least one semester.
3. You have attended training.
4. You have submitted at least one report.
The following elected positions are HEAR recordable. If the criteria are fulfilled a statement appropriate to the role will appear on the HEAR:
Full time
Union Development & Democracy Officer
Education Officer
Welfare & Internationalisation Officer
Activities & Community Officer
Athletic Union & Sport Officer
Part time
Racial Diversity Representative
Disabled Students Representative
LGBT Representative
Women’s Representative
Men’s Representative
Mature Students’ Representative
International Students’ Representative
Health Faculty Representative
Humanities and Social Sciences Representative
Natural Sciences Representative
Postgraduate Taught Representative
Postgraduate Research Representative
Distance Learner/ Part Time Representative
Environmental Representative
On-Campus Representative
Off-Campus Representative
Hospital Campus Representative
Raising and Giving (RAG) Representative
Societies Representative
Entertainments Representative
Student Staff Representative
Volunteers’ Representative
Concourse Editor
KUBE Station Manager
Nightline Representative
Athletic Union Achievements
Elected Position in an AU Club
If you have been a committee member for an AU Club, for example a Secretary, Treasurer or President, this is HEAR recordable provided you fulfil the following criteria:
1. The position was elected through a democratic process.
2. You have held the position for at least one semester.
3. You have attended the mandatory training programme.
4. An annual statement from the committee has been submitted.
If you have met these criteria, the following statement will appear on your HEAR:
“Actively involved in the running of Keele University Athletic Union’s CLUB NAME HERE club, working as a team and developing numerous skills related to their role as ROLE NAME HERE.”
Elected position in AU Committee
If you have been a committee member for the AU Committee, for example a Secretary, Treasurer or President, this is HEAR recordable provided you fulfil the following criteria:
1. The position was elected through a democratic process.
2. You have held the position for at least one semester.
3. You have attended the mandatory training programme.
4. An annual statement from the committee has been submitted.
If you have met these criteria, the following statement will appear on your HEAR:
“Responsibility for coordinating the running of the Athletic Union, working as a team and developing numerous skills related to their role as ROLE NAME HERE.”
KeeleSU Referee or Coach
If you have been a referee or coach for an AU club, this is HEAR recordable provided you fulfil the following criteria:
1. You have undertaken the role.
2. An annual declaration signed by the committee to confirm participation has been completed.
If you have met these criteria, the following statement will appear on your HEAR:
“Contributing to sport at Keele in a coaching and/or refereeing capacity.”
AU Colours
Full, half and merit colours awarded by the AU are all HEAR recordable.
If you have received an award, a relevant statement will appear on the HEAR.
AU Cups and Shields
The AU Cups and Shields will be shown on the HEAR. The following AU awards are HEAR recordable:
Geoff Walker Cup.
Brian Fender Award.
Sheila Walton Trophy.
Sandra Alderton Cup.
Sportsman of the Year.
Sportswoman of the Year.
If you have received an award, a statement relevant to the award will appear on the HEAR.
Elite Athlete Programme
If a student is involved in the Elite Athlete Programme, this is HEAR recordable.
If you have completed this programme the following statement will appear on your HEAR:
“In recognition of the individual being identified as an athlete at a standard considered to be working towards national representation.”
National Governing Body Ambassador
If a student is appointed as a National Governing Body Ambassador, this is HEAR recordable.
If you have completed this the following statement will appear on your HEAR:
“Promoting and running events, often in conjunction with sports clubs, to increase participation in a specific sport through the national governing body’s projects.”
Keele Ambassadors
The following awards are organised and marketed through Keele University.
Student Ambassadors
If you have been appointed as an ambassador, this is HEAR recordable provided you fulfil the following criteria:
1. The student was appointed.
2. You have held the position for at least one semester.
3. You have attended training.
If you have met these criteria, the following statement will appear on your HEAR:
“Student Ambassadors are current students at Keele University who are selected as representatives of the institution. Once they have successfully completed the training programme they may be deployed to work in a wide range of roles at Keele, and/or within schools and colleges in the community.”
Student Leader
If you have been appointed as a student leader to a team of ambassadors, this is HEAR recordable provided you fulfil the following criteria:
1. The student was appointed.
2. You have held the position for at least one semester.
3. You have attended training.
If you have met these criteria, the following statement will appear on your HEAR:
“Keele Student Leaders are experienced and responsible individuals that lead teams of Student Ambassadors, prioritise and delegate tasks and take responsibility for ensuring activities/events/work packages run successfully.”
Mentors
E-mentor
If you have volunteered as an e-mentor, this is HEAR recordable provided you fulfil the following criteria:
1. The student was appointed.
2. You have held the position for at least one semester.
3. You have attended training.
4. You have completed a reflective statement.
If you have met these criteria, the following statement will appear on your HEAR:
“Voluntary e-mentors build mentoring relationships with young people; listening to their concerns and needs, talking about their experience of university, university applications, the options available to the students, and offer revision and student support, advice and guidance.”
For more information contact Kate Mayer– k.mayer@keele.ac.uk
Keele Peer Mentor
If you have volunteered as a peer mentor, this is HEAR recordable provided you fulfil the following criteria:
1. The student was appointed.
2. You have held the position for at least one semester.
3. You have attended training.
4. You have completed a reflective statement.
If you have met these criteria, the following statement will appear on your HEAR:
“Peer Mentors provide general practical information, advice, guidance and support using their own experiences and knowledge acquired through being a current Keele student. Peer Mentors have email contact with new pre arrival students in the summer responding to any queries the students may have about studying and living at Keele. They then meet up with their Mentees in the first week of term and continue this contact until the support is no longer required, therefore aiding the transition of new students into Keele.”
Give it a GO
As you can see there are plenty of opportunities to get involved and make the most of your time at university. Remember to try lots of different things to find something you enjoy and don't worry if it is not HEAR recordable, you can still tell future employers and education institutions about it and the skills you have gained.
The various opportunities in this guide will be advertised at different times throughout the year, but the following are good places to start to get some more information:
· Visit KeeleSU Volunteer Fair during October.
· Visit KeeleSU Society Sign Up during Freshers and Re-Freshers Week.
· Contact your academic school.
· Contact Student Support and Development Services (Water Moberly Building).
· Contact the elected officers on the top floor of the Union.
· Contact the AU.
· And finally…….Contact the KeeleSU Activities Team!
Whatever you do enjoy it and GIVE IT A GO!
If you’re sure what to get involved in, then make sure you take a look at our monthly ‘Give it a Go’ calendars. These include society and sport taster sessions and ‘Make a Difference Days’ which are one-off volunteering events. These calendars will give you a good idea of what co-curricular activities are available and in the case of ‘Make a Difference’ Days will also count towards your logged volunteer hours, moving you a step closer to achieving your Volunteer Awards!