Being a Class Rep is a fulfilling job. You’ll get to know your peers and feedback their views to your lecturers getting an insight into enhancing the learning and teaching practice at the University.  

The purpose of Class Reps is to speak on behalf of the whole about issues which affect all or most of the students. This is important for two reasons. Firstly, if Class Reps bring up an issue, lecturers know that it isn’t just an individual opinion; it is something most of the class thinks. This means they need to give it more consideration. Secondly, if lecturers need to find out what students think (if, for instance, they are planning a change to the course) they can go to the Class Reps to find out. 

Class Reps play an important role in providing a communication channel between students and staff. By bringing constructive feedback to staff, and helping find solutions, Class Reps contribute to improving the student learning experience.  

Here is what Class Reps do: 

• Interact and consult with classmates to gather their views, see what positives there have been, or any issues that have arisen, and give feedback on action taken on issues raised; 

• Collaborate with your Programme Leader, or Module Co-ordinators, to pass on any positive/negative feedback and suggestions for possible solutions from your classmates; 

• Participate in Student Staff Consultative Committee and any other relevant meetings to talk about issues and their ideas in developing and enhancing the course; 

• Participate in the Academic Council and keep the Student President up to date with any major issues affecting the student learning experience; 

• Liaising with your Students’ Union for advice on any issues that remain unresolved. 

Methods for collecting feedback

The main part of your role is to gather feedback from your group and communicate their thoughts to your PL and their team. Sometimes getting that feedback can be tricky, so we have put together some ideas for you below to help with that.  

• Take 5 minutes at the start of the class to make a brief announcement or ask for feedback. Check with your programme tutors to establish the best time for this. Also ask your Programme Leader to ensure that your class is given your name and QMU email contact details so you can add them to your social media groups. 

• Use social media e.g. set up a Facebook or WhatsApp group for the class it can be a great tool to communicate with a big group. It’s up to you how you want to manage it. Some Class Reps like having their group chats set up so everyone can contribute and give their views, others set it to only allow the reps to comment and use it to send out information without it descending into a never-ending discussion. Every group is different so work out what works for you, as long as you are getting constructive feedback from your classmates.  

• Use discussion boards on Padlet (not everyone is on social media!) This could be divided into headings, such as Modules, Placements, Assessments etc. This will allow you to keep up to date with any issues concerning your classmates. 

• Speak to people face to face and encourage discussion 

• Organise a meeting to catch up with everyone 

• Send an e-mail to survey the class, ask for feedback and share information 

Closing the loop 

Don’t forget to let your class know about the action agreed with staff on feedback raised. Methods to feedback on actions are the same used to collect feedback. 

You may consider a few things when feedback back to classmates: 

• What needs to be reported? 

• What is the most appropriate method?  

• Report on successes and news that are less positive.  

• Keep your classmates up to date with progress on actions. On some occasions, there won’t be a straightforward outcome and it can take some time to find a compromise or resolution. Keep your class aware of the steps you have taken so far and update them on progress. 

Class Reps are at the centre of communication between students and the University. You inform the University on your cohort’s views and advise your peers on actions taken and decisions made by the University. 

Representation at QMU is undertaken on a number of levels, including programme, School and institutional level committees and through the Students’ Union. 

All Class Reps are invited to attend their programme Student Staff Consultative Committees and some of them will be invited to Programme Committees. Senior Student Representatives, appointed amongst Class Reps as vacancies arise, contribute to School Academic Boards, Student Experience Committee and Senate.  

Below are some links that give you more detail on each of the committees. You are required to attend SSCC, but some of you may find the other committees useful and interesting.  

 

Student Staff Consultative Committees.docx 

Programme Committees.docx 

School Academic Boards.docx 

Student Experience Committee.docx 

Senate.docx 

Once you have gathered feedback from your peers, you will need to work out a way to pass on your peers’ views to your lecturers. To ensure feedback is received positively by your academic team it is important to ensure it is effective. The ABCD of Effective Feedback tool helps Class Reps to prepare their feedback before passing it on to staff. Student feedback is valuable and can make a real difference when presented in a structured way. 

Effective means it is accurate, balanced, constructive, and diplomatic.

 

Accurate: This is about being truthful and giving sufficient information. Be specific and provide the relevant data and/or evidence for what you are saying. 

 

Balanced: This is about giving positive feedback and not just complaining. You may receive negative feedback more frequently, but it is equally important to emphasise the parts of the course that are good. This will help you to develop a good working relationship with staff and may help them remain open to your suggestions. 

 

Constructive: This is about helping to find solutions to the difficulties raised. In some cases, you may be able to suggest solutions for staff to consider. Effective feedback can be paired with effective answers. 

 

Diplomatic: This is about being tactful. Critical feedback does not have to blame individuals. Tackle the issue and not the person. Focus on the learning of your class, not on the actions of your tutor. 

Meetings can seem quite formal and need to follow certain rules of etiquette so that everyone gets a chance to have their views heard. Remember that everyone is treated equally.  Here are the guidelines. Further useful tips and templates are available on the Class Reps Hub area if you chair and take minutes at your SSCC. 

  

 Before the meeting 

• Find out how the committee works, e.g. how to add an item to the agenda. 

• Send apologies if you cannot attend. 

• Check the agenda items, time and location and read the documents.  

• Speak to your class to identify any issues that need to be addressed.  

• Meet other reps on your course to make sure you have the same strategy.  

• Bring solution suggestions if you have to raise an issue.  

• Prepare notes.  

  

 During the meeting  

• Please be on time! 😊  

• Have a device that has access to the documents that will be discussed. You can also take paper copies with you if you find that easier.  

• Listen to other people's views and opinions. 

• Consider people’s ideas (even if you disagree). 

• Please concentrate on the meeting when you are there. Not cool to be messaging your friends or playing games while you are meant to be representing your classmates!  

• Ask questions. 

• Bring constructive feedback, both good and bad.  

 

 After the meeting  

• Check the minutes to make sure they are accurate before they are officially confirmed.  

• Feedback on the main points to your classmates (you could use the SSCC action template).  

• Carry out any actions assigned to you in the action status report. 

• Maintain ongoing communication between staff and students to ensure agreed actions are being followed up. 

• Speak to the Students’ Union if you need help. 

  

The Student Experience Committee developed the Student Experience Strategy for 2021-26. It is important to be aware of this Strategy as the priorities are directly relevant to students’ learning and teaching experience. You might also discuss it at Student Staff Consultative Committee. 

The Strategy includes priorities to help students achieve their potential with a focus on the academic learning experience and areas which support and complement student learning. It also recognises the importance of extra-curricular activities such as sports and societies, and volunteering.

The QMU Student Experience Strategy 2021-26.

The QMU Student Experience Strategy is concerned with holistic student experience. This encompasses both the student learning experience, and aspects of the wider student experience that support and complement student learning. The Strategy is relevant for all of our students based in Edinburgh, as well as distance learning students and students at our partner institutions around the world. 

The Student Experience Strategy for the period 2021-2026 has been developed in partnership between the University and the Students’ Union, drawing on the outcome of consultation and co-creation with students and staff. Embracing and extending this ‘Students as Partners’ approach will be fundamental to our plans for implementation of the Strategy, and students and staff will work collectively to deliver this. 

Our overarching principles for the student experience are listed below. These are interrelated and of equal importance. 

• All QMU students experience a transformative journey through outstanding learning and teaching and co- and extra-curricular opportunities that enable them to achieve their individual goals and enhance their well-being. 
• We share individual and collective responsibility for enhancing and placing the student experience at the heart of our thinking and practice. 
• We establish, maintain and contribute to communities and a learning environment that supports our students to flourish and succeed and actively influences wider society. 

It has been suggested to Programme Leaders that they include the Strategy on Programme Committee agendas, and discussion at Student Staff Consultative Committee meetings has also been encouraged. Class Reps can play an important role in disseminating the Strategy and participating in committee discussions. By discussing the Strategy at Programme level meetings, staff and students can consider how to apply priorities at programme level. For example, there is an action to develop appropriate work-related partnerships for every programme, and it will be important to look at this on a case-by-case basis to make sure that work-related experiences meet the needs of students from different disciplines. 

The Strategy is available in full at the following link: https://www.qmu.ac.uk/about-the-university/quality/quality-enhancement-and-external-context/quality-enhancement/ 

Feedback on the Strategy is very welcome and can be sent to Dawn Martin, Secretary to the Student Experience Committee: dmartin1@qmu.ac.uk 

The Students’ Union is here to make sure students at Queen Margaret University are represented. All QMU students are automatically members of the Students’ Union and can take part in activities. The Students’ Union is fully student led and ensures that the views of QMU students are effectively communicated to the Officers and the University senior management team. The Board of Trustees is accountable to ensure the Students’ Union always acts in the best interest of its student members. 

The Officers’ Committee is the representative body of the Students’ Union, running campaigns and passing policies, based on consultation with students. Officers have the ability to amend the Constitution and take it to a general meeting or referendum to be passed. The Officers’ Committee engages students, and is held accountable, through various channels: the Academic Council, Campus Life Forum and direct engagement of the wider student body. 

Through the Academic Council and Campus Life Forum, Officers get student views on specific areas of the Students’ Union and University experience; they also allow students with particular areas of interest to engage with officers in that area. 

Direct engagement allows the Officers to hear issues affecting students across campus and provide solutions to these. Officers are encouraged to go out and talk to students to hear their views and concerns, but also to involve students on big topics they might be working on. This can be via campus-based activities (e.g. stalls) or using online surveys and polls (e.g. Question of the Semester). 

Academic Council 

The Academic Council, run by the Students’ Union, supports Class Reps all through the academic year and enables communication between students, the Students’ Union and the University. 

The Academic Council meets twice a semester and is chaired by the Vice President. Class Reps can hear about any news and updates regarding the teaching and learning experience at QMU. 

The Academic Council is also an opportunity to get extra support or advice from peers and the Students’ Union. It is a safe place and Class Reps can bring to the Student President’s attention any issue affecting the learning experience of the class and any difficulties they face in their role. Because the student learning experience is also about successes, Class Reps can share with other examples of good practice. 

Class Reps represent their peers’ views on the student learning experience. The diagram below summarises seven interconnected elements of the Student Learning Experience. All seven contribute to the quality of a student’s learning experience. When you collect feedback from classmates, and when you report these opinions to subject staff or the students’ association (or Student Union), the comments should fall into one or more of these areas. 

For students, there are many benefits to being a Class Rep: 

• developing various skills such as confidence and negotiation 

• gaining an insight into decision-making processes 

• networking opportunities 

• making a difference 

• experience for future representational roles & valuable for CV and future employment! 

Class Reps contribute to enhancing the student learning experience in the following seven areas: 

Curriculum is everything you learn: content of your course, learning objectives, modules, reading list, handbook, placements 

Learning Resources are material and resources that support your learning: library, IT, Technical and Lab equipment, VLE 

Learning and Teaching Process refers to methods used to deliver the course: teaching style, amount of contact time, independent and group work, class sizes, staff training, accessibility and suitability of teaching methods 

Assessment and Feedback relates to marking criteria, fairness of marking, number, frequency and type of assessments, quality and promptness of feedback 

Student progression and achievement is about information on progress within the course, transitions between courses, the overall learner journey, onward opportunities and pathways 

Guidance and Support is the academic support you receive: clear guidance on what is expected of students on the course, access to P.A.T. 

Quality Enhancement is the system in place to achieve and maintain high standard in learning and teaching.  

Class Reps DO NOT deal with catering, accommodation, finance, student support (e.g. counselling, disciplinary), car parking, sport facilities etc. Direct your peers to the Student President – Academic Life to raise any concerns on the University facilities via Union@qmu.ac.uk  or to the Help Zone for support helpzone@qmu.ac.uk  

Class Reps voice students’ views and opinions and support communication between staff and students. For large programmes in particular, it can be difficult for staff to communicate effectively with all the students in the class. Sometimes it’s more effective to speak to Class Reps and ask them to report back to the rest of the class. 

For the University, the benefit of having Class Reps is clear: regular and constructive dialogue with students helps to improve the quality of teaching and learning and the student experience. Class Reps contribute to Student Staff Consultative Committee (SSCC), Programme Committee and other senior committees ensuring the voice of all students is heard at university. 

Class Reps are the basis of the Students’ Union representation system. They enable us to identify trends in the student learning experience and take action to improve it when relevant. Class Reps provide feedback to the Academic Council and the Student President who can use this to make change at an institutional level. 

Elections for Class Reps are organised by Programme Leaders in September. Reps can continue from one year to the next, if they are happy to do so, but an election can be called if needed.  

If you find you don’t have the time to devote to the role or if you want to resign for some other reason, you must inform the Programme Leader. They will then seek volunteers to fill the vacancy. 

Not sure how to deal with a situation? Drop us an e-mail at Union@qmu.ac.uk  or  classreps@qmu.ac.uk and we’ll help you. 

We’ve looked at being a Class Rep at QMU, communicating with students and communicating with staff. You now know how to collect feedback from your peers and work with other Class Reps and staff on a constructive approach. Below is a graph summarising where to take your feedback.  It’s important to provide your feedback to the right person or committee to speed up the resolution process. 

 

Not quite sure where to take some feedback? Contact us on classreps@qmu.ac.uk and we will guide you. 

 

Have a look at the pages below for other useful contacts: -  

 

Contacts 

 

Remember that there are various support staff that can help with specific questions. A guide to support services is available at https://www.qmu.ac.uk/study-here/student-services/  

 

Student Services for careers and employability, counselling, the wellbeing service, student finance and disability support. StudentServices@qmu.ac.uk  

 

Effective Learning Service for general academic advice, such as essay planning and research and academic writing skills. Els@qmu.ac.uk  

 

International Office for support for international students. International@qmu.ac.uk  

 

Library for any problems with IT or library services. LRChelp@qmu.ac.uk  

 

Students’ Union contacts 

President – Academic life  ZMaccallum@qmu.ac.uk  

Zoë MacCallum 

 

President - Student Activities scardinale@qmu.ac.uk  

Silvia Cardinale 

 

Student Support Coordinator  Union@qmu.ac.uk   or classreps@qmu.ac.uk   

 

 

University staff – Division of Governance and Quality Enhancement 

Student Retention and Surveys Manager - Heather Hartley HHartley@qmu.ac.uk  

• Student Retention 

• Student Representation 

• National Student Survey 

 

Assistant Secretary, Governance and Quality Enhancement - Dawn Martin dmartin1@qmu.ac.uk  

• Quality assurance and enhancement related policies, regulations and procedures  

• Secretary to the Student Experience Committee  

 

School of Arts, Social Sciences and Management (ASSaM)  

Dean:  Dr David Stevenson 

School Manager: Sheena Watson 

 

Heads of Division: 

• Business, Enterprise & Management: Thomas Peschken-Holt, Head of Division 

• Media, Communication & Performing Arts: John Dean 

• Psychology, Sociology & Education:  Simon Hoult and Stephen (Steve) Darling 

 

School of Health Sciences (HS) 

Dean:  Dr Sara Smith 

School Manager: Nicola Crowley  

 

Heads of Division: 

• Dietetics, Nutrition, Biological Sciences, Physiotherapy, Podiatry and Radiography: Professor Jackie Waterfield  

• Nursing and Paramedic Science: Ruth Magowan 

• Occupational Therapy and Arts Therapies: Duncan Pentland 

• Speech and Hearing Sciences: Prof James Scobbie (Acting) & Dr Sara Smith