What kind of issues do Reps deal with?

Bunching of Assignment Deadlines
A problem with a modular scheme of study is that sometimes assignment deadlines from different modules can bunch together. For example, deadlines may bunch around the first week of May. Students may find that the workload is impossible if they have too many deadlines that are close together.

Solution - Do a lot of students feel the deadlines are impossible to meet or is it just one student? If the concern is widespread, try contacting the module leaders. Can some of the deadlines be moved? Can students get a seven-day extension? Lecturers might not know that their deadlines are clashing unless you tell them. Lecturers tend to be flexible if the students’ concerns are genuine.

Inadequate  Resources
A group might experience inadequate resources that affect their ability to study effectively on their course. For example, there may not be enough computers and software or there may not be sufficient access to teaching staff.

Solution - Your Course Leader is responsible for the day-to-day running of your course. You could arrange to raise the group’s concerns to your Course Leader informally or bring up the issues at the next Staff/Student Liaison Meeting. If the matters are persistent or serious, you could refer them to the SU’s Academic Affairs Officer.

Cancelled Lectures
Sometimes lectures are cancelled for good reasons, but these reasons may not be communicated to students efficiently. You may be able to forgive a one-off, but if the cancellations are regular, you may get requests from students to take the matter further.

Solution - First of all, see the Module Leader and explain the group’s concerns. Then go to the CourseLeader if necessary. If the cancellations continue and you don’t receive convenient replacement tuition, you and your group could consider submitting a formal complaint to the Dean of your School.

Opening Times of Departments
Have students in your group got reasonable access to, for example, computers, books and printing?

Solution - If not, you can take the issues to the Staff/Student Liaison Meeting or you can ask the School Rep to bring up these issues at the School Quality Committee. For example, you may be able to increase the opening hours of the IT laboratories in the evening and on weekends.