We work closely with students who are elected/volunteered as Student Reps to give all students a strong voice and make sure there is a positive and meaningful impact across LJMU. 

 

But what are student reps?

We imagine you've heard lots of terms such as student reps, academic reps, course reps, and school reps.

 

Student reps refer to student leaders and can specialise in different areas such as their course, school or even community, sports, or society. 

Academic reps are an overarching term referring to course reps and school reps. 

Course reps are simply students who have volunteered their time to make their course better by collecting feedback and sharing with the programme leaders.

School reps are like senior course reps, who work at a school level, liaising with course reps to gather information for more a more senior meeting called Faculty Education Student Experieince Committees, representing multiple courses and a larger cohort of students.

 

We work in partnership with LJMU staff and support student reps across all faculties and schools. Your student reps are committed to representing you at course level, regularly attending Board of Studies, and liaising with academic staff to steer positive change for your cohort and future cohorts. So, whether you are here to know who your student rep is, if you would like to become one, or you simply want to get in touch with a staff member at JMSU, we are here to help!

 

What is a Course Rep?

A Course rep is a student who has volunteered or been elected to be the spokesperson on their course. They speak to students, collecting feedback from peers and share with with us, the students' union, and the key staff within your programme and school to make sure that feedback is acted upon. This can be about enhancing the quality of your course, or giving a shout out to the things you and your peers love about your course and would like to see in other modules/lectures. 

 

What are the benefits?

• Paying your kindness forward - Your course is made better each year by people just like you who care about their experience and want to use their voice to steer positive change that will impact your peers and any future generation of students that come after you!
• Official accredited volunteer hours - Showcase your volunteering and get real accredited hours that will enhance your employability and help you stand out.
• Student Leadership Programme - You'll get access to our Student Leadership Programme, brand new for 2023-24! We have a range of training that is available to develop your skills and knowledge, from First Aid to Bystander Training - Great for your CV!
• Work with staff and attend meetings to feedback - Develop your confidence, public speaking, and problem solving skills by attending our Course Rep Training and then spending the year working with academic and JMSU staff to better your course.
• Course Reps Socials - Join us for exclusive events and socials just for course and school reps to attend, which will include a chance to network, eat some free food and make some friends!
• Student Experience Awards (SEA's) - Nominate academic and non-academic staff (E.g. Cleaners, Estates Team etc.) and your peers to win awards for their hard work in making your university experience extra special - Who knows, as a course rep, you may even win a few awards yourself! 😉
• Work with your VP Education, Shaquita Corry, and gain insight into the work behind the scenes. 

 

Role expectations

Becoming a course rep is a volunatary opportunity, but there are some key things that you should know may be expected of you before you put yourself forward:

• Attend training with us! If you do sign up to become a rep, we will get in touch to let you know how to sign up for training, when it is and where it will be. We have a range of sessions available to suit your diary including fast-track, quick recap sessions for returning course reps, and online sessions for those who may not be able to make it in person.

• Be proactive in representing your course - speak to your peers about their experiences, positive and negative, and collect their feedback.

• Attend Board of Studies meetings as often as you can (usually termly), send apologies if you aren't able to attend, and feedback to the academic staff the experiences you have collected from your peers.

• Liase with LJMU and JMSU staff to ensure that you are not only representing your peers, but yourself as well! Your wellbeing is just as important to us. 

• Register with JMSU and log your volunteering hours (This is optional but will help to enhance your CV and gain recognised accrediation for your hard work)

 

How do I become a course rep?

Each school operates differently, some running mini elections within the first few weeks of term, and other running a volunteer system, where students put themselves forward as a course rep. We, as your students union, facilitate this recruitment and support students and staff with the process. 

If you would like to be a course rep, you need to;

1) Speak to your programme leader and find out if they are running an election. 

2) If your course doesn't run it's own election then great news! You can sign up directly with us via our online form which you will find here

 👉 Become a course rep now!

3) If your course DOES run its own election then ask your programme leader for more info - When and where the election will take place and how to put yourself forward.

4) Sign up to a course rep training session on the JMSU website from Mid-October. 

5) Start course repping! 

 

Once we have your details we will email you and all other course reps at LJMU with a welcome letter, giving you all the info you need. 

 

Any addtional queries, do not hesitate to contact us at coursereps@ljmu.ac.uk