President

International Students Conference

Thu, 10 May 2012 09:39:00 +0100

It's day two of International Students Conference and I'm sat on conference floor with Joanna Zielinska. voting opens soon and we will be voting for the new NUS International students Officer. Exciting times. We are voting for Daniel Stevens, not just cus he has the same name of our incoming president.

Last night Joanna and I wrote a policy for conference titled "Fair & Equal Access to Financial Support", let's hope we get to vote this through. It calls for more financial support to international and EU students facing financial difficulties. Our fingers are crossed.

Right now the speeches are taking place so, it's back to conference and I will update you later.

In Unity

Getting you Employed

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 23:12:00 +0100

Hello my fellow students, I’m super excited and I just had to blog about it, so here goes....

Last year I negotiated a deal with the university asking that the strike money that was deducted from staff at the university who took part in the industrial action in June and November 2011 could in some way be given to students. This amounted to over £60,000! I’m happy to say that this money has been split between two funds. £45,000 has gone in to the Hardship Fund (ALF) and £15,000 has been given to the Students’ Union for the creation of a Student Employability Fund.

My plan is that students in their final year can apply to this fund to help with their employability. So this will help students in their attempts to secure future employment. Students will be able to apply for items such as money towards a business suit or assistance towards travel for a job interview.

I intend to launch this at a brand new Employability Fair on May 1^st 2012 12-4pm. More details to follow shortly. But just to give you a sample, we will have CV clinics, giving you tips on improving and maximising your impact, Mock Interview Sessions, Careers Advice, Info on the university’s Alumni Association, Tips and Advice on Business Start-ups, University Graduate Internship Opportunities, Guest speakers from local businesses including Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, Swan Education, Student Entrepreneurs Matt Weston & Mike Chinn of Stones Throw Media and many more.

It’s going to be an afternoon that you don’t want to miss and will give you tonnes of information, advice and skills to help you stand head and shoulders above the rest when you apply for that all important graduate job.

I hope you are as excited as I am!

Keep posted for more info and watch out for the flyers soon to be handed out around campus

Weekly update- Elections & Stuff

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 12:13:00 Z

Elections are here: Voting opens in just a few hours!!! wow I really can't believe that we are at this stage again. make sure you click the links above and findout about the candidates. They will be running the union for you next year.

Student Council: last night we had another Union Council meeting. lots of members there (not just for the pizza) and we got another new policty added to the policy book. The policy was put forward by Gee Gee (City Campus Officer0 and its about getting our Union Reps more opportunity to shout about their activitity and a chance for us to hold each other to account. Take a look at the policy book for more info.

Policy Writing: Right now I am in the middle of writing some National Policy to be submitted to NUS National Conference. I will be focusing on Student Voice, Feedback, Hidden Course Fees & International Student Issues. I hope you will see these as a work in action over the next year or so.

Finally:.....The Rock has returned to Wolverhampton!!! (ok not really, I just couldnt resist that) so finally, all that's left to say is as always I welcome yourthoughts and comments and love it when you stop me around campus, come to my weekly surgeries or strike up a conversation with me on the bus. I want to hear all your stories, not just the bad but also the good.

Busy Busy Busy

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 23:03:00 Z

Hello guys and dolls. Here we are again me we find ourselves in the middle of campaign week

There are some excellent candidates running for a variety of positions. Someone is even running to fill my position.

I admit im really gonna miss working at the Union, but you have to movers some point. I know that either of the two presidential candidates will do a good job and work for the needs of students.

so I really must encourage you to click on the elections tab and look at all the candidates running and make your choice and ensure that you vote next week.

your opinion and vote really does matter and they will make the union work better for you.

Peace out

In Unity

What's Been Happening?

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:50:00 Z

Hello, good evening, and welcome. Whatever time of day it is I’m sure that one of those statements fits perfect.

Introduction

So here I am and it’s the end of the Semester, or should I say Block 1? Ok it’s the end of the semester and the end of Block 1. It has really been a busy time. Work has been mega busy and I’ve been working really hard on various student issues as well as my studies

A Little Detail

Some of the things I’ve been working on:

Working on Student Fees & Bursaries
Helping with the University Recruitment Drive for 2012
Opening of the Performance Hub
Visits to Other Campuses
Held a Weekly Open Surgery Every Week at City Campus
Held Roaming Surgeries at Walsall & Telford
Recruited More Student Staff
Events & Seminars with QAA
NUS National Activity
Local College Mentoring
Researched & Created the Students’ Union Teaching Awards
Numerous Events & Sessions for International Students
Countless University Meetings- Strategy, Finance, Academic( AKA the internal stuff that makes your time here more enjoyable, more beneficial & more bareable)

All of this until the end of the year (2011) So I have so much more to tell you that I’d better start a second entry to do just that.

As Always you can find me mostly in the Activities Centre on City Campus, Every Monday 11am until 1pm I hold my Officer Surgery at City Campus. I am always just a phone call, email, or a tap on the shoulder away.

See you soon.

October Is not just for Halloween

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:01:00 +0100

It’s now two months in and we are well and truly into semester one. Welcome week has been and gone and wow! It has been a busy and exciting time. Not just because of the free stuff that the Students’ Union were giving out, or the variety of events that we put on, but for the sheer buzz and excitement of the new and returning students.

Some of the things that I have been up to since the new year….

· The Learning Centres are now open from 830am Monday to Friday. Weekend opening has now been extended so it works better for students, that’s 10am opening and closing at 7pm. This is an outstanding improvement on last year where the opening times were from130pm-530pm. Win win win

· I’ve been working with the university to ensure that you lucky students continue to get updated with loads of fresh new students in 2012. A.K.A I’ve been helping with the open days, visits to colleges and H.E. Shows and events.

· Out and about and vacating my desk- I’ve been working my legs and exercising my mouth by getting in and around campus and speaking to you students. From MX to MK from Telford to Walsall, I’ve been here there and everywhere. So if you see me (and you can’t miss me in my grey hoodie with my name all over it) make sure you stop me and tell me what your issues are. It could be that you simply want to have a moan or give your praises to one of your lecturers, your voice matters.

· Working on updating the website with our campaigns and planning our campaigns for the coming year

So that’s a little bit of an insight as to what I’ve been up to these past few weeks. Coming up next…

· Delivery and roll out of our Black History Month Campaign- see website for details.

· Attend NUS Higher Education Zone Conference and take the student issues to the people.

· Officially open the new students’ union over at Walsall (what? You haven’t heard? We have a new building at Walsall campus, it’s in WS building and you really should pay attention. Come over for a game of Pool, a real cup of coffee or a smoothie, or just chill and use our computers and watch TV.) ***unashamed plug***

· A whole load of other stuff that directly or indirectly affect students for the better.

That’s all for now folks, but as always; I’m here for you so please use me.

See you soon.

Welcome from Ken

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:22:00 +0100

Hi I’m Ken and I would like to welcome you to your Students’ Union. I work here full time and am really excited about having the opportunity to work on student issues for a second year.

I graduated in 2010 after doing a Joint Degree in History and Deaf Studies. I am now completing my MA in Conflict Studies. I love it! I have a passion for swimming, Capoeira, music and chocolate.

Last year in addition to my day to day duties (meetings, boards, finance and paperwork) I worked on a number of campaigns and student issues such as the Illegal Download Campaign, NUS National Demo, Earlier Opening of the Learning Centre, Green Campaign, Language Lounge, New Students’ Union Building at Walsall, and new Prayer Facilities for the Islamic Society. I have also been writing national policy for NUS campaigns such as International Students Campaign and Black Students Campaign.

This year I plan to continue to improve on all the successes we achieved last year and help to make your student experience the best it could possibly be. You won’t find me cooped up in an office; I work in the Activities Centre in the SU. You can also find me at my weekly Officer Surgeries that I hold at City & Walsall Campus every week. I also pay weekly visits to our other campuses and building. No agenda just come and chat to me about anything.

Some of the main campaigns I will be working on this year:

• Welcome Week
• Black History Month
• Deaf Awareness (with Silent Disco)
• H.E. Funding & Fees
• Student Safety
• International Issues
• More £££ For Student (Bursaries, grant and loans)
• Graduate Employability

Most importantly, if you have any suggestions on what you think I should be doing, holla holla holla.

Contact Ken at: president@wolvesunion.org or follow him on Twitter: @UWSUPresident
Tel: 01902 322045

• Read my manifesto

• Job description