Happy New Year! I hope you enjoyed the festive break, and that Santa brought you everything that you wanted. Myself and the team had a great holiday and have returned refreshed and eager to get back into our work for the rest of this academic year.
Obviously last week most students were still at home, but the Students' Union was back in action and last week alone we were working for students; helping some international students settle in, meeting to talk about retail provision on campus, talking to the local community about the 'UniQ' changes happening in Shelton and working with the University to support those students affected by the "Shelton Siege".
So, now that most students have made there way back to Stoke and Stafford and teaching has restarted at our other sites, what will Your Officer Team be doing for you?
Today, Vic, Gary and Kim are heading down to Heathrow Airport to meet and greet a coach of International Students from all over the world; for many it could be their frist time in the UK (let alone Staffs!) so helping them feel at home and settle in is vital. Emma and I will be at Stafford and Stoke respectively to meet any students with questions or issues as they return to campus and cracking on with the projects in hand.
Emma has been working very hard on this year's Green Impact Submission, Vic will be working on his International Student induction for Wednesday, Kim will be working with the University to further improve their feedback processes and consistency, I'll be meeting Hannah Charnock who is our point of contact at the NUS to pick her brains on all sorts of things and Gary will be planning ABC Night and "Versus" - two Student Activities events that are shaping up to be great.
...and what about the rest of 2012? Well, the focus of January will be the finalisation of developing our startegy for the next five years, and researching and defining what our student body want and need from Your SU; February will contain Volunteer week and the election of StARs; March will be jam packed with Coucnicillor, Trustee and Officer Trustee Elections and Varsity, where we will be bringing that Cup home after last years epic contest. Looking beyond March and after the Easter break, the Team's focus will be on finalsing any short term project we have in hand, and making sure we have a quality handover process in place for our successors for 2012 - 2013; it'll all go by in a flash!
Again, Happy New Year and remember to give any of us a shout if you need anything!
All the best,
Jamie