Student Experience Forum (SEF)

Meets: Once per term

Chair: Students’ Union Education Officer

Student Rep members: One Student Rep per school (normally the School’s Chair Rep) including BSMS. Additionally all other Student Reps are invited to attend if they wish

Students’ Union members: Six members of the Students' Union (usually President plus all elected officers)

Key staff members: Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) and the Director for the Student Experience

Purpose: The Student Experience Forum is a University advisory group that offers Reps from all schools the opportunity to meet with senior staff from the University and with the Students' Union. It has a majority student membership and is chaired by the Students' Union. Any item relating to the student experience at a university level may be discussed here. Any issues which are in need of student consultation are taken to this meeting, including issues relating to the Student Rep Scheme itself. This meeting is essential to making sure that the University is open to student needs and opinions, and making sure that action is taken to provide the best student experience possible

As well as named student rep members from each School who are expected to attend (normally Chair Reps), the meeting is also open to all Student Reps who would like to attend: all reps are very welcome

Recent issues discussed include: Feedback on changes to the academic year; exam timetabling; teaching timetabling; changes to academic regulations; campus services; IT provision across campus; language standards for teaching; improvements to Sussex Direct; feedback and assessment

Secretary: Marc Slowey, Student Voice and Engagement Manager

Reporting: The Student Experience Forum receives reports from each School Student Experience Group and reports to the University Teaching and Learning Committee

Further information: Organisation of the University 2018/19 (7.3.5) p.42

University Education Committee (UEC)

Meets: Once per term

Chair: Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education & Students) 

Student Rep members: Three undergraduate Student Reps (Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences) plus one postgraduate taught Student Rep (who also sits on Senate)

Students’ Union members: Undergraduate and Postgraduate Education Officers; Welfare Officer; one permanent member of Students' Union staff (in attendance)

Key staff members: Director for the Student Experience,  Directors of Teaching and Learning from all Schools; key staff involved with teaching and learning resources

Key role:  In order to meet the objectives set in the University’s Academic Strategy, the Committee shall promote and monitor the University’s Learn to Transform Strategy, maintain academic standards and promote the excellence of teaching, learning and the student experience.

Secretary:  Claire Brennan, AQP Manager

Reporting: University Education Committee receives reports from various sub-committees and reports to Senate

Further information:  To follow

Library Consultative Group

Meets: Once per term

Chair: The Librarian

Student Rep members: One undergraduate and one postgraduate Student Rep from each school, including one rep from BSMS

Students’ Union members: Two members of the Students’ Union: Undergraduate and Postgraduate Education Officers

Key staff members: Library staff; one academic representative from each School, including BSMS

Purpose: The Library is a fundamental part of students’ learning experience and offers much more than books. The Library has undergone major change in the last couple of years, helped by feedback from Reps and the Library Consultative Group is pretty much what it says on the tin; an opportunity for the Library to consult with users and get feedback on their projects and services so they can be improved according to what students need

Recent issues discussed include: Leavers run; e-book purchasing policy; integration of reading lists in Study Direct; Royal Literary Fund Fellows; buildings and refurbishment; supporting research; The Keep; changes to core collection

Secretary: PA to the Librarian

Reporting: Advisory group, reports to committees as required

Further information: To follow

IT Consultative Group 

Meets: Once per term

Chair: Director of IT Services

Student Rep Members: One undergraduate and one postgraduate Student Rep from each school

Students’ Union members: Undergraduate and Postgraduate Education Officers; IT Manager of the Students' Union (in attendance)

Key staff members: Senior IT staff; Heads of Schools (or nominees); School Administrators

Purpose: IT is an important part of every student’s experience at Sussex and a priority for the University. The IT Consultative Group is an opportunity for IT Services to consult with users and get feedback on their projects and services, in order to develop them based on student need

Recent issues discussed include: Web security; computers for research students; internet connectivity, reliability, speed, coverage; Software review; Study Direct, electronic management of assessment; campus printing

Secretary: Member of staff from IT Services

Reporting: Advisory group, reports to committees as required

Further information: To follow

Doctoral Studies Committee

Meets: Once per term

Chair: Director of the Doctoral School

Student Rep members: Three postgraduate research (PGR) Student Reps, one each from arts, science (includes BSMS) and social sciences

Students’ Union members: None

Key staff members: Senior academic and professional service staff plus Directors of Doctoral Studies from each school

Purpose: Doctoral Studies Committee considers a range of issues relating to the research student experience including the University's procedures governing research students, policies and procedures relating to supervision and assessment, student retention and award outcomes and training and development needs of both supervisors and research students.

Recent issues discussed include: Scholarships and studentships; supervisor and student training; Industrial Doctorate; continuation status; post viva student experience; GTA teaching allocation; PGR desk space; Doctoral Researchers Handbook; PGR progression and award

Secretary: Head of Postgraduate Research Administration

Reporting: reports to the Doctoral School Board

Further information: Organisation of the University 2018/19 (7.2.1.1) p.23 

Senate

Meets: Once per term

Chair: The Vice-Chancellor

Student Rep members: Three undergraduate Student Reps (one each from arts, sciences and social sciences); one of the three Doctoral School Committee Student Reps; one postgraduate taught Student Rep (who must also be the University Teaching and Learning Committee PGT Rep)

Students’ Union members: Students’ Union President, Undergraduate Education Officer and Postgraduate Education Officer

Key Staff members: Pro-Vice-Chancellors; Heads of Schools; two elected academic representatives from each school; elected representatives from professional services; lead representatives from each of the main trade unions on campus

Purpose: Senate is the highest democratic governing body at the University relating to academic issues. All committees relating to the academic experience at Sussex report to this committee, including Teaching and Learning Committee. Being a Senate Rep is a bigger responsibility than most committees, and should be taken especially seriously

Reps on Senate need to be very active as Student Reps; they must attend briefings provided by the Students’ Union in advance and should organise a termly meeting for all Reps in their Cluster to discuss the agenda items. Senate Reps must converse regularly with Chair Reps of relevant Schools, and the Students’ Union. If there are any issues which affect wide numbers of students, they should raise issues in advance as agenda items

Secretary: Member of staff from the Planning, Governance and Compliance Office

Reporting: Receives reports from various committees, including Council (see the Principal Committees diagram), and reports to Council as required

Further information: To follow 

Please note: The composition (membership) for Senate is set out in Regulation 4 of the University

Council

Meets: Once per term

Chair: Appointed from independent members

Student Rep members: One Doctoral Studies Committee Student Rep, who is also a member of Senate

Students' Union members: Students’ Union President

Key staff members: Vice-Chancellor, Deputy-Vice-Chancellor, up to 15 independent members, three members of Senate, two members of academic staff, one member of the professional services 

Purpose: Council is the University’s governing body, determining strategic objectives and ensuring that the University meets its external requirements. One postgraduate research Student Rep from the Doctoral Studies Committee is nominated by the PVC Research to sit on Council.

Recent issues discussed include: Finances – approval of budget; strategic planning; university regulations and organisation of the University; review of new academic year structure; changes to the Students’ Union; work with external partners; student recruitment, experience and employability.

Secretary: Member of staff from the Planning, Governance and Compliance Office

Reporting: Receives reports from various committees, including Senate (see the Principal Committees diagram)

Further information: Organisation of the University 2018/19 (2) p.8 

Please note: the composition (membership) for Council is set out in Regulation 5 of the University