Spring Issue . 2007/8 Democracy Support Unit www.uclunion.org In this issue… StARs Certificate 2 National Student Survey 3 A Fair Trade UCL? 3 Spring Elections 5 In the news 6 Contact details 7 Newsletter Furthering Postgraduate Representation! This year has seen tremendous energy put into postgraduate representation at UCL Union by the previously dormant Postgraduate Association (PGA). What used to be quote an informal association this year became an official society of the Union, with its own Constitution. Coupled with a new sabbatical officer for postgrads – the Medical and Postgraduate Students Officer, these changes will boost representation in the future for postgrads by allowing for a dedicated group of student officers to start to bridge the gap between ordinary postgrads and the Union and College. From welfare and academic issues, to extracurricular and social activities, there are plenty of areas that need addressing. However, one change still hasn't been completed. A motion to the Union's General Meeting has been proposed by me to have the PGA's special status enshrined in the Union's Constitution. In order to pass, it requires a simple majority. Any UCL student can attend and vote, so please come down and vote this symbolically important amendment. There are many problems facing postgrads at UCL. Recognising this is the first, but by no means last step. Postgrads of UCL unite, you having nothing to lose but an hour of your time! Jules Mazowiecki Medical Students’ & Sites Officer mss.officer@ucl.ac.uk UCLU Annual General Meeting Wednesday 5 March 2008 5:30pm – 7:30pm Christopher Ingold Auditorium Chemistry Building (opposite UCL BloomsburyVote Now ) www.uclunion.org 54%described the training as informative 61%described the training as participative 39%described the training as enjoyable Over 30%described the training as valuable, practical and interesting What did you think? Email representation@ucl.ac.uk If you have any feedback or suggestions about the training that took place in January, please email them to representation@ucl.ac.uk Here are some of the comments from those that participated in the training: “It has exceed my expectations as it is very relevant and has clearly outline my responsibilities I was previously unclear of.” “It answered some questions that I haven't considered well before.” “Excellent, the presentations and exercises were really well organised and he created a friendly interactive atmosphere.” What you said about the StARs Training… This year sees the launch of the StARs Certificate. The UCL Joint Staff Student Committee confirmed the criteria for the certificate. StARs are asked to fulfil the following criteria for the session 2007/8: . Attendance at two meetings of your departmental staff student consultative committee (DSSCC); and . Submission of a written statement reflecting upon your experience as a StAR and the skills and attributes that the experience has helped you develop. From the next session, an extra criterion for attendance at a training session will be added to the above. Contact the Student Representation Co-ordinator for more information: representation@ucl.ac.uk StARs Certificate 2 Do you think UCL should be a fair trade University? The Fair Trade Foundation present the following criteria for a University to gain fair trade status: 1. Set up a Fairtrade University Steering Group; 2. Write & adopt a Fairtrade policy; 3. Commit to selling Fairtrade in all outlets; 4. Commit to using Fairtrade at internal meetings and events; and 5. Commit to campaigning for increased Fairtrade consumption on campus. If so, get involved with the campaign. Contact Sherina Environment & Ethics Officer uclu-environment.ethics.officer@ucl.ac.uk A Fair Trade UCL? Final-year undergraduate students are being asked this term to complete this year’s National Student Survey (NSS), which should take no more than five minutes. All students completing the survey on-line before 31st March 2008 will be entered in a prize draw: 1st prize = £250 2nd prize = £100 3rd prize = three prizes of £50 To complete the survey, please go to: http://www.thestudentsurvey.com/ Please note that all students who have already completed the survey on-line, will be automatically entered into the draw. Results of the survey will be available to prospective students and UCL is committed to acting on student comments. 3 Raise awareness about your Club or Society activities or about a campaign you are involved in by giving a one-off 'Change the World Hour' talk. For further details contact: Nadia Cole Junction49 Voluntary Services Development Worker Voluntary Services Unit Second floor of the UCL Bloomsbury E: junction49@ucl.ac.uk T: 020 7679 2352 ++Campaigning through Junction49++ 4 Link: www.uclunion.org 5 Check out who’s standing and what they’re promising you on www.uclunion.org Pledge your vote now! Voting is open until 3pm on Friday 29 February. Vote Now! www.uclunion.org *Election Results Party* Friday 29 February from 7pm in Easy J’s, 2nd Floor, UCL Union want to meet other StARs? want to be the first to hear about developments and events for StARs? Join the StARs facebook group! http://uclac.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8099816068 In the news… How to hang on to students 26/02/2008 (Guardian) A new report puts the drop-out rate at 1 in 5, but some universities have a knack for keeping numbers up. http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,,2259841,00.html Future of engineering courses in doubt, say academics 25/02/2008 (Guardian) Universities are losing money running engineering courses and cannot afford to update ageing equipment, academics warned. http://education.guardian.co.uk/universitiesincrisis/story/0,,2259880,00.html Nearly a quarter of students do not finish their university courses. What is going wrong? 23/02/2008 (The Times) David McHugh’s mind wandered as his lecturer droned on, repeating the words of a PowerPoint slide that the students could already read on the overhead screen. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/education/article3423483.ece Bringing students back to the sciences 23/02/2008 (Scotsman) CONCERN has been growing about the falling number of students in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem). http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Bringing-students-back-to-the.3808729.jp High achieving A-level students offered five-day 'super clearing' to get on better university courses 21/02/2008 (Daily Mail) Students who do unexpectedly well in their A-levels will be given five days to trade up to a better university under reforms unveiled today. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=516931&in_page_id=1770 A degree of betrayal: how too few lectures and massive debts are forcing a quarter of students to drop out 21/02/2008 (Daily Mail) Two months into the first term of her three-year degree course in photography, Megan Martin suddenly realised she was wasting her time. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=516968&in_page_id=1770 More students take jobs to get by 19/02/2008 (Yorkshire Forward) More and more students, including many in the Yorkshire region are being forced to take on paid employment to help them finance their studies, according to a new report published today. In an effort to remedy this situation the TUC (Trade Union Congress) has established a protocol agreement with the National Union of Students (NUS), welcomed by union's president Gemma Tumelty. http://www.yorkshire-forward.com/www/view.asp?content_id=4220&parent_id=263 Should universities be left to sink or swim? 19/02/2008 (Guardian) We have grown used to schools labelled as "failing", and even closed and reopened under new names and "fresh-start" management. So could it, or should it, ever happen to universities? http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/mortarboard/2008/02/should_universities_be_left_to.html Surge in EU university applicants 19/02/2008 (Manchester Online) APPLICATIONS to study at British universities from people living in countries which joined the EU on May 1 have shot up by almost 140%, figures showed today. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/124/124030_surge_in_eu_university_applicants.html Well-off students abusing hardship grants 19/02/2008 (Manchester Online) AFFLUENT students are ripping off university funds intended for genuinely hard-up undergraduates after splurging their allowances on booze and clothes, research claimed today. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/124/124675_welloff_students_abusing_hardship_grants.html 6 Contact us .Visit Democracy Support Unit, UCL Union First Floor Bloomsbury Theatre Building 15 Gordon Street .Call 020 76792998 .Email uclu-democracy@ucl.ac.uk 7 Coming soon… Conservation volunteering First Aid course The Masque of the Red Death theatre performance Backstage National Theatre Tour UCLU Annual General Meeting Wednesday 5 March 2008 5:30pm – 7:30pm Christopher Ingold Auditorium Chemistry Building (opposite UCL Bloomsbury) More info: www.uclunion.org/student-union/agm