The latest Better Staffs Forum took place on Monday 8 December and saw some healthy discussion on a variety of topical issues. The highlights of the forum are below.
Student timetables
The forum agreed that the experience in September was not good enough, with lots of students not getting their timetables on time/far enough in advance. The panel voted for the Union to take this up with the University and provide a suitable plan to prevent this happening in September 2015.
Lifetime membership
PC Keith Emery, who until recently headed up the University Copshop, has been put forward for lifetime memebership of the Students' Union. Only two other people hav received such an accolade as it is a very special award. The panel voted by majority to reward PC Emery with the membership for his services to students, diversity and safety over the years and the time he spent out of his contracted hours to make the student experience better.
Exams in December
The forum discussed the University's change to exams in December. It was noted by the forum that the logic was to get everything out of the way to give students a restful Christmas break. However some students said with assignment deadlines before Christmas too, it has become unnecessarily stressful. There were also problems with some students not receiving their assignment briefs until quite late, meaning working in advance became quite difficult. Although there was lots of discussion the voting panel said they did not feel they had enough information to make a decision, so they have asked the officer team to present more detailed information for the next forum.
Art shop
The panel has noted that figures indicate the art shop is not running at a profit, although these figures have not been published in full causing a level of distrust. Students called on the Union to begin a campaign for the University to be transparent over its proposal to close the art shop and publish all relevant figures. The panel voted for the Union to begin that campaign and to try and find an alternative solution for the art shop.
Open days
The forum discussed how Staffs needs to make the open days better to attract more future students. The forum said the open days often feel without direction and that students should be used more for the creative and events management aspects of the open day. The panel voted for the Union to encourage the University to use more students in all aspects of the open day.
The next Better Staffs Forum will take place in the New Year. Look out for announcements.
To sign up for the next Better Staffs Forum email union@staffs.ac.uk. Or if you have something you would like to discuss at the forum suggest it at www.staffsunion.com/betterstaffs.