Activities and Community Officer – UGM March 2021 Update
Introduction
Hey everyone, it has been just over a month since our last UGM. So to avoid overlap of repeating some of the things that I’ve been continuing work on I’ve kept the report brief and only with new information so as to not clutter it up. Here is a brief summary of the things I’ve been up to.
There’s been a lot of conversations, tying up loose ends and building up substantial work pieces that will benefit the student body when I leave you all in the coming months. One thing to note I am looking to tie up from last year is increasing international student engagement with international societies. We found that in quite a few of our international student societies with students from countries with non-standard study arrangements would struggle to have a society that is up and running. So, I am attempting to meet the Associate Director of International Student Recruitment to analyse the issue to find out what is mismatching that we miss engagement from international students with international societies. That will be taking place this week and that will be one of a few things to benefit students when I’m gone.
Finally, a congratulations to the new Activities Officer Tom, who got elected and will be taking over from me in July. Without further ado here is the update.
2. General updates and meetings
February
Greg Dargue (Deputy Director of Estates and Operations) with Invisible Disabilities Society
Emergency Senate – Safety Nets
UEC 1-1s: Dan Perry (Chief Information Officer and Chief Librarian)
SU/KPA/KU Partnership meeting
SEND staff meeting(s)
Estates Management and Directorate with Invisible Disabilities Society
USVC
March
Faith in the Curriculum and Education
Data Ethics Workshop(s)
Associate Director of International Student Recruitment (arranged but yet to take place)
Senate
3. Officer work
3.1. Question to Senate for the Vice-Chancellor
During a meeting with Aysha as part of doing the BeTheBoss Campaign, we discussed that the University was going for Bronze rather than Silver for the Race Equality Charter. As such, it prompted the need to ask a question attached which has context written and is placed in our #BeBetterDoBetter monthly campaign update.
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We heard news about the University’s work on going forward for reassessment of the Race Equality Charter Bronze. The University as we knew and understood it were working towards the Silver award. We wanted to know if this change was true and if so why. Therefore, we have submitted the following question to the Vice-Chancellor at Senate:
We have submitted a question to the University Senate to be responded to by the Vice-Chancellor about the Race Equality Charter Assessment --- "The university has been working towards the REC Silver award over the past 3 years. It is rumoured to not be able fulfil the criteria to reach it and will instead be going for the Bronze re-accreditation. If this is true; what sections of the criteria does the university not feel confident to fulfil to apply and obtain the REC Silver award?"
We ideally would like to know where the university doesn’t feel it’s made enough progress as that can form the basis of what the institution needs to work on. We await the Vice-Chancellor’s response to this later on in March.
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3.2. USVC
One of the things I was keen on obtaining were answers for was for music and the music course. Although in particular, students whose societies with music and performing arts still needed answers to questions which we as a Students’ Union have not had answers for. Apart from emphasising how disappointing students felt about the consultation, I asked again the questions. These were: Would they still be able to use Lindsay Studio storage for their instruments? Would they still be able to use Lindsay Studio to rehearse and for society activities? Would they still be able to seek the support of academic professional music staff for society activities? What is the news on potential music combined honours as a result of getting rid of the pure music course? The answers I received were less than satisfactory; with no reasonable assurances that under non-COVID circumstances would be maintaining the status quo with Lindsay Studio and student use. We were told that there would be more detail in the paper that would be brought before Senate so we lie further in wait for assurances for students.
Library space and adjustments to the silent study areas were talked about at USVC. As we knew, students reacted unfavourably to the changes but do see the point in them. The stance being that it is very difficult to support reduced but dedicated social study unless the University expands additional study spaces across campus.
3.3. University Executive 1-1 catch ups - Meeting with Daniel Perry
I had a meeting scheduled with Daniel Perry (Chief Information Officer and Chief Librarian) to discuss various issues brought forward from students.
In addition to rolling IT issues, the gmail to office365 migration for societies and the collection and use of academic student engagement data charter for support and not punitive reasons; we discussed topics that needed to be taken up in Sabbatical Officer reports relating to students and the library. We also discussed applicable UGM motions such as the Computing for All motion. He did respond that there are some resources that could be applicable and useful for students that have been put forward that could benefit the student body, which are going through for approval. We welcome this and hope that the approval channels are as expedient as possible so that as many as possible students benefit, especially if it’s possible that students this year or beginning next academic year could benefit from it.
3.4. SEND and Sustainability:
Recently I have been in touch with the SEND team in the Horwood Energy Centre to discuss what more we could do to get students involved, interested and actively interacting with energy use on campus. We have had an increase the amount of interest from students especially with UGM motions, discussions and messaging
We are looking into a simplified energy report with information on energy use from accommodation blocks so there can be more information to students on energy use and wastage. This would be very useful for Officer and SU updates for students with students taking an increasing interest energy use, clean energy and how we use our energy.
I put forward a recommendation on if we could add to the problem reporting tools, that if students see random lights on or excessive heating in a building, a way they can make a report of instances they see potential energy wastage. The Estates staff in SEND have put up a form which can be found here: https://www.keele.ac.uk/discover/sustainability/studentandstaffsustainabilityprojects/sustainabilityideas/
I also requested from them a summary of information about the SEND project for students to discuss