Student Led Learning & Teaching Forum

The 1st Student Led Learning & Teaching Forum was held on the Tuesday 27th November 2012 at the Cadman Student Space. A huge Thank You to all the STARs who attended the event.

A wide range of subjects were discussed and what follows is a summary of the main issues raised:

Academic

• Options modules being offered to replace cancelled modules and the fact that cancelled modules still appear online as if they are available.

• Programme Committee Meeting (PCM) are yet to be taken place or minutes from the meeting have not been released within the agreed 10 working days.

• Module titles/descriptors didn’t reflect the true nature of the course.

• An official policy to ensure consistency with peer assessments and group work. Students are concerned that their grades would be adversely affected by other members of their group.

Communication

• General lack of communications

Disability

• Some but not all students identified a change to the system where SWDs request a 10 day extension.

Rooms/Equipment

• Science students were concerned that they did not have classes in the new Science Building.

• Security/safety concerns in the Fine Art Building, as door codes hadn't been changed since last year, so past students can access the building.

• ID Cards can be better used. Suggests were having scanner at the door, which can be used to monitor attendance, rather than passing round paper registers.

• Concerns about the suitability of rooms for teaching.

• Opening times for Film Tech Labs (Stafford) are inconsistency.

• Four computer rooms in the Mellor are regularly reduced to two as they are being booked for lectures

Library

• High demand for books that are limited in numbers

• Library D103 –only room that has animation software and it closes at 5pm. This means animation students can’t work after University hours. Also, when the room is open it’s either full or it is booked for lectures.

• Library systems/University environment make it difficult for dyslexic students to use.

• Law library only available until 10pm whereas other library facilities available 24/7.

General Concerns

• Students identified a problem with bullying in the Law School (Union working on a zero tolerance campaign).

• Students are concerned their course will be cancelled and some students are considering transferring to another University.

Wish List

• More computers needed in the library

• Students on Arts & Film courses request lockers

• Students requested that the University look at the timings of Bursary payments

The recommendations/suggestions were presented to the Academic Board by Gary Richardson (President) and Rochelle Owusu-Antwi (Vice-President). The Academic Board responded positively to the report and will forward the key points to the relevant faculties.

The next Student Led Learning & Teaching Forum will be held on Tuesday 16th April 2013, at the Students' Union Student Space, Stafford House.