Tony Costin speaks to Jaime-Lee Cunningham, one of our vice presidents, about what she would do differently as a commuter student if she could start her time again.
If you were to ask someone what they'd consider to be a typical university student, chances are they'd describe an 18-21 year old living away from home for the first time in halls of residence or a student house. At many universities you'd be safe to assume that, but not at Staffs.
'Live-at-home' students or 'commuters', who don't live on-campus, make up over half of students studying here putting them in the majority over the more 'traditional' style of students, who only make up a third.
Student officer Jaime-Lee Cunningham was one such student as she travelled from Lichfield to attend her lectures in Stoke every morning by car. She talked to us about her experience as a university commuter.
"The only thing I really got involved in was the dance society, because I have a dance background, but I didn't go out of my way to know what other stuff there was.
"It was an hour here, an hour back if traffic was good. If I hit really bad traffic it could be two. So in between lectures I'd have a couple of hours space where I'd just sit and have a coffee or do work and there's so much I could've got involved in.
"I think I had the idea that, because I commute, the Union's not for me it's for people that live on campus, that go out every night. Really, it doesn't matter that you're a commuter, you're still a student. Just don't hold back, get involved as much as you can.
"The volunteering in particular, I didn't know a lot about that, there's so much to do. Even working for the Union in their bars or in other roles. So I think if I could go back I'd have spent an hour or two looking around to see what I could do, instead of sitting there waiting for my next lecture. I should've engaged more and come up to the Union offices above the Ember Lounge and asked what I could do instead of just thinking that because I'm a commuter I can't get involved.
"At the Union we do everything we can to engage with live-at-home students, all that's left is reassuring them that what's there for other students is there for them too.
"It's about being vocal. If it's a specific club or society, talk to their president, or, if it's social situations they can't get involved in, to a social sec at the Union. If you've got a problem we will help you out. Just come and talk to me or Ash [Holland, fellow student officer,] because we've got the experience of studying from home."