Blog
Course Rep Elections!!!
Nominations for becoming a course rep are open all week until this Friday (22nd October) at noon. All you have to do is click the "Nominate!!!" button below, fill in some details (name course & 50 words about why you want to run) and then get campaigning - it couldn't be easier.
Being a course rep is a great way to get to know other people on your course, how the department works and develop key skills to help you get a job after University or in whatever you want to do. Almost every department is holding elections this week in every year so there are a wealth of opportunities to get involved. Make sure that you check out the list on the nomination forms as every department has slightly different roles available.
Getting elected is simple - just fill in the form and get talking to the rest of the people on your course. If you want to get a bit more text online (50 words is pretty concise) you might want to use a facebook group or twitter...but don't forget there are no substitutes for good old fashioned chit chat in getting yourself elected! If you are getting down to campaigning don't forget to check out the election guidelines here
There's loads you can do as a course rep, and the most important thing is that you're enthusiastic and willing to get stuck in as we'll give you full training. If you're looking to find out a bit more about the role though it isn't a bad idea to check out last years course rep handbook for ideas and information - although if you get elected there'll be a brand sparkling new one for you.
If you've got any questions don't hesitate to drop me (b.humphrys@yusu.org) or Marc Kidson (m.kidson@yusu.org) an email. In the mean time I've put some FAQs below to get you started... 
Combined reps: If you study a joint degree (i.e. History and Politics) then you can run for election in either department as a general rep, or sometimes even as a specific combined studies representative. It varies from department to department, so if you have any queries after checking the nomination screen then get in touch.
Note: Some combined studies schools (i.e. PEP or SPS) have separate reps - they turn up in the nomination list just as any department would.
FAQs
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What does a course rep do? Course representatives represent every aspect of students learning experience in an individual department in their time at York. Be that the number of books in the library, the amount of contact time or the way that module choices are made, they feed any student ideas or dissatisfaction into the departments senior committees to make a the course meet students needs.
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Is it easy to become a course rep? Like with all positions some departments have much more competitive structures, some less – but there are 250 total course rep positions, and we’re looking to increase that so there should be every opportunity!
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Why is it important? There are loads of competing influences on an academics time. If we don’t have a strong voice in every department telling academics that teaching is crucial then there’s no way we’re going to be able to make sure students interests are put first.
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Can course reps make any real change? Yes!! Here are a few examples:
Management: Managed to get a whole load of new books free for the incoming first year.
History: Increased their first year contact hours by 25%.
Politics: Have got their department to review feedback to students next year.
History of Art: Have been the catalyst for a review of the information students get in making module choices to allow future decisions to be better informed.
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How does that fit in with YUSU? As well as supporting every course rep in their work with boards of studies and departments we campaign on wider issues with the support of the course representative network. Recent wins include:
New study spaces: Increased study spaces in the newly refurbished library and a new study space between the campus.
24 hour library: Committed to by the University to open next year.
A review of supervision: To develop the one on one support students get through the year.
Better timetabling: Individual online student timetables, as well as the entire timetable delivered 3 weeks earlier after a strong campaign last year.
