Here at Queen Mary Students’ Union you’ll often hear us talking about making sure your voice is heard. We are here to improve students’ lives, and the only way we can do this is by listening to what you want done in your School, Faculty, Students’ Union and University. Every QMUL student is automatically a member of the Students’ Union, and as we’re an independent organisation we are here to make sure the student voice is felt throughout QMUL. But how exactly do we do this?
Student Council
Student Council takes place throughout the year and you are invited! You can attend this meeting to hold your elected representatives to account and debate how to improve student life, your university experience and things that matter to you. The next Student Council is Tuesday 5 December at 6.30 pm in the Students’ Union Hub Blomeley rooms, so why not come along and get involved, or submit a motion to the next meeting? You can read about what happened at the last Student Council here.
Student Council decisions are acted upon by senior Union staff, your executive officers and elected representatives, who use their contacts at the University to make the changes you want to see happen.
There’s also one meeting a year where all students can vote on Union policy. This academic year, in early 2017, we will hold a Company Law General Meeting where you will have the chance to vote on the future direction of the Union including governance, policy and finances, so watch this space!
Executive Officers
Your Executive Officers work full-time for a year at the Students’ Union, making sure the University listens to students. They complete the promises set out in their manifestos, listen to what you want done and work with the relevant people to make it happen. They do this by working with high-level decision-makers such as the University Principal, Vice-Principal and Academics. Some key achievements this year include:
- Extending Mile End Library Weekend hours during the exam period
- Securing 3 mental health inspired art installations designed by students to go around Mile End campus
- Sourcing 30k of funding for the QMUL Disability & Dyslexia Service
- Creating the Study Well initiative to promote mental-wellbeing
Course Representatives
Your academic School is probably where you will spend most of your time at university, and decisions made on various topics from modules to assessments will shape your student experience. Course Representatives are the link between students and their course, and attend regular meetings with high-level staff at your School called Staff Student Liaison Committees. In the past Course Reps have fought for changes in academic assessment formats, deadlines and organised opportunities such as employability advice and Module Fairs. If you want something to be changed or extra support on your course, from funding to advice, these are the people to speak to! Course Reps can also work with your Vice-President Education on larger issues if need be such as course feedback.
Education Representatives deal with issues at a Faculty level (Humanities and Social Sciences, Science and Engineering and School Medicine and Dentistry), such as making sure faculties are consistent on important processes, e.g. extenuating circumstances.
Other Representatives
Aside from your Executive Officers, Course Reps and Education Reps, there are a host of elected representatives working to improve you student experience. Welfare and Equal Opportunities Reps, Part-Time Officers and Hall Representatives work with Executive Officers, the Students’ Union team and QMUL on issues as varied as ensuring the university reduces climate change by divesting fossil fuels to ensuring the Union hosts alcohol-free events.
Get involved
There’s so many ways to get involved with having your voice heard at QMUL. You can submit a motion, attend student council, nominate yourself in our spring election, use our ideas page or simply get in touch with your elected student representatives with your thoughts – we want to hear from you!