Class representatives
Class representatives gather feedback from students on their courses and work with staff to enhance the learning experience for current and future students.
Getting involved in this activity allows students to develop the following Common Good attributes:
- Active and global citizenship
- Confidence
- Responsible leadership
What’s involved?
The primary role of class representatives is to gather feedback from the students on their courses and feed this to members of staff. This happens directly and through Student/Staff Consultative Group meetings, which occur once per trimester. Staff may also ask class reps to help gather student opinions on a particular issue.
The Students’ Association runs introductory training for class representatives to prepare them for their roles. We also organise class rep gatherings where they can come together to discuss common issues and develop useful skills for their role. Class representatives can participate in the Student Leaders Programme once they have completed their introductory training.
How will participating in this activity/opportunity allow students to make a positive difference in the communities that we serve?
Students in this role can make a positive difference most directly by improving the learning experience of their fellow students and raising and resolving issues encountered in their course. This also benefits future students when permanent changes are made to courses. Class reps can be involved in supporting students in lower levels of their course who are encountering similar challenges.
Students who have been class representatives will have seen the benefits of raising issues with the people who have the power to act, and hopefully, this is something they will replicate in the wider world.
Success stories
The class representative opportunity provides pathways into other activities, including becoming a school officer (senior academic representative role), a paid associate trainer delivering training to future class reps or becoming involved in enhancement activities, including internal subject reviews and ELIRs. There are examples of GCU class representatives who have performed all these roles. Some have gone even further, undertaking internships and full-time paid work relating to the student experience and quality assurance.