In this issue… Its time for reflection 2 UCL Learning Laboratory… 2 StARs Certificates 3 What you told us about UCL Union… 3 One-off volunteering over the Summer 4 Rights & Advice Centre 4 Spotlight on JSSC 5 In the news 6 Contact details 7 Newsletter The Chief Executive of the Higher Education Academy, has been asked to conduct a review into teaching and the student experience by Secretary of State John Denham. This is a great opportunity for students to make their voice heard. .. Offer a perspective on how higher education institutions and academics, in the UK and internationally, are currently responding to the evolving student expectations oftheir educational experience .. Assess what are the main challenges for the future in maintaining and improving the quality of that experience This work will inform government policy in producing a 10 to 15 year framework for the development of higher education. For further information please see the DIUS website. Students are a key stakeholder in this review, The Chief Executive of the Higher Education Academy would like to hear yourviews on the above aspects and so you are encouraged to fill in the survey. In order to provide a framework for dialogue a set of questionshave been drafted and are accessible via an online survey at: https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/survey/tea_exp_st Government review of the student experience The review will look to: .. Examine how these challenges might be met Responses should be completed by the end of June. StARs Certificates There’s still a chance to get yours! Don’t miss out! Turn to page 3 to find out how you can get yours. …to a computer screen near you! Coming soon… UCL Library Services will be undertaking further extensive refurbishment on the ground floor of the UCL Science Library (DMS Watson Building) from June to September 2008. With the generous support of the Wolfson Foundation, Library Services will create a UCL Learning Laboratory. .. The entrance lobby will be widened and improved with a new Membership Desk and a separate Security Office. .. The Computer Cluster will be extended with 30 new postgraduate cluster computers. .. Wheelchair users will benefit from a new gate to access the Library. .. From the entrance lobby, two sets of glazed double doors will invite users into the Learning Laboratory. .. To facilitate group study, the Learning Laboratory will accommodate 11 new soft seating clusters and a group study area, enabled with RoamNet wireless network, for up to 44 users. .. 5 self-service terminals will be installed for book issue and return, based on RFID (Radio- Frequency) technology. .. New service desks will be installed. As we approach the summer vacation and the end of another session, it brings a time for us to think back and reflect on the year that has gone by. A time for us to reflect and share the successes and how we overcame the challenges in your year as a StAR. Therefore, we would like you to share your experiences with us on any of the following: .. what you have achieved; .. what personal attributes you have developed with this experience; .. what challenges we can all learn from; .. how we can improve the experience for those that follow in your footsteps; .. how the support offered to you can be improved; .. highlighting your important skills to take forward with your career. Feed your thoughts through to representation@ucl.ac.uk Its time for reflection… UCL Learning Laboratory… coming soon Moving UCL Main Library collections – June 2008 A number of the UCL Main Library's collectionsare being moved in June 2008 and this is scheduled to take place between Monday 2 June and Monday 16 June. Cleaning of the bookstock will continue in the newly- refurbished rooms for up to 2 weeks. This is a quiet operation, which should not disturb readers. For more information about summer works in UCL libraries see: www.ucl.ac.uk/library/news 2 What you told us about UCL Union… 3 Remember to vote for your chosen campaign after the summer. www.uclunion.org/get-involved/choose-your-campaign 92% of you thought that UCLU makes a positive contribution of some kind to your student experience 62% of you weren't aware that UCLU uses profits from shops & other commercial services to provide funding for clubs, societies & other student support activities There is still time to get your StARs Certificate, all you have to do is submit: 59% gave UCLU an overall rating of Very Good or Good 90% of you are aware that UCLU is governed by students elected from amongst UCL student body You told us UCLU should campaign more on local & national student issues 68% of you agreed that UCLU helps represent student needs to the College Nearly 2,500 students told us what they thought of UCL Union through our annual survey, this provided us with loads of useful information to feed back into the different areas of UCL Union. Here's a snapshot of what you said about your Union: .. Two sets of minutes of your departmental staff student consultative committee(DSSCC), which you attended; and .. Submit a written statement reflecting upon your experience as a StAR and the skills and attributes that the experience has helped you develop. For more information, see the guidance note at: http://www.uclunion.org/get-involved/downloads/stars-certificate-guidance-note.pdf If you have any further queries feel free to get in touch with Simon, the Student Representation Co-ordinator: representation@ucl.ac.uk StARs Certificates – there’s still time! The Campaign Bids are in for campaigns in term 1 One-off volunteering over the Summer 4 If you’re looking to do something a bit different this summer – why not try out some volunteering? UCL Union’s Voluntary Services Unit has lots of activities going on, from short term placements to one-off events you can join without a longer term commitment. In June, you can help on day trips to the seaside for elderly people, assist with fundraising summer parties, get fit and help the environment on one of our conservation events, or help out at a number of events for young people... plus lots more. 020 7679 2998 http://www.uclunion.org/get-advice/ .. Tenancies’ coming to an end and the landlord/agent is fussing about returning deposits! .. Looking for private accommodation but not sure about tenancy agreements and the new laws! .. Just got an essay back and thought thatwas the last you will have to do but received a letter to attend a plagiarism hearing! .. Not happy with exam results or the way the course was run and need help on taking out a grievance! .. Need to get away desperately but not sure on how to get a visa! .. International student and want to extend your visa! .. Finished your studies but want to stay and work in the UK! Well, it’s that time of the year again! Come to the Right and Advice Centre where free, impartial and confidential advice can be given on the above and more! We have experienced advisers’ available everyday who can advise you in safe and comfortable surroundings. You can find us on the first floor of the Bloomsbury Theatre building. Please check our opening hours on the website. You can find full details at http://www.uclunion.org/volunteers/one-off-volunteering.php 5 want to meet other StARs? want to be the first to hear about developments and events for StARs? The Joint Staff Student Committee (JSSC) is charged with the responsibility to consider any matters affecting the relations of the Student Body with UCL;it has a direct reporting line to the Provost and College Council. The JSSC also considers matters raised through departmental Staff Student Consultative Committees (SSCCs). .. Considered the results of the International Student Barometer (ISB) .. Considered the results from the National Student Survey 2007 Spotlight on JSSC Join the StARs facebook group! http://uclac.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8099816068 This year, JSSC has considered the following issues relating to the UCL student experience: .. Developing a UCL Student Code of Conduct .. Approving the Student Academic Representatives (StARs) Certificate scheme .. Considered issues with postgraduate students and the reimbursement of conference fees and expenses .. Ascertaining Fairtrade University status for UCL .. Developing faculty level student representation In the news… 6 UK university opens in Australia 30/05/2008 (BBC) University College London is to open a department in Australia, which is being claimed as the first UK university to open a campus in the country. Globalisation and the growing international demand for higher education has seen UK universities setting up overseas. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7427378.stm Medical students face £57,000 debt on qualification 02/06/2008 (GP Magazine) A rising tide of medical student debt is threatening the government’s access-to-medicine schemes for lower income groups, the BMA claims. Debt projections on qualification of £37,000, rising to £57,000 if the tuition fees cap is lifted in 2010, will put lower-income students off entering medicine, the association says. The government plans to commission an independent review of student funding arrangements in 2009. http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/GP/LatestNews/813396/Medical-students-face- 57000-debt-qualification/ State sector 'failing pupils trying for top universities' 05/06/2008 (Guardian) The universities minister has accused state schools of not doing enough to help pupils apply to top universities, saying that private schools will continue to be over-represented unless state-educated pupils get the same level of coaching and support. http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,2283778,00.html The Big Question: Have A-levels become too easy, and should there be a harder alternative? 05/06/2008 (The Independent) One of Britain's leading universities has just announced it is to introduce its own entrance exam to select the brightest candidates for courses because it believes it can no longer choose them from pure A-level results. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/the-big-question-have-alevels- become-too-easy-and-should-there-be-a-harder-alternative-840486.html Universities offer lectures on iTunes 03/06/2008 (The Times) Students who sleep through their lectures can now catch up on what they missed by downloading course material on iTunes. University College London (UCL), the Open University and Trinity College Dublin are the first universities in Europe to put free lectures on iTunes, the popular online music store. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/education/article4058158.ece Government's education policy is self-defeating, academics warn 02/06/2008 (The Independent) The drive to reform Britain's education system, with frequent shifts in policy and the added burden of targets, is self-defeating and "working against the Government's own intentions", leading academics have warned ministers. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/governments-education- policy-is-selfdefeating-academics-warn-838156.html Keep the cap 30/05/2008 (Guardian) Removing limits on university fees would see the best courses accessed by people destined for banks and law firms. Is that all we're educating for? Should our world-class universities be allowed to operate like football clubs and raise entry fees in order to pay the higher wages it takes to attract the Beckhams of the academic establishment? The vice chancellors seem to be keen on this notion and suggest that the lower orders, just like working-class football fans, will cope just fine. A few of the poorest punters (the ones who can jump high enough) will get subsidised seats in the stands. And the rest? Well they can just watch it on Sky or downshift to a First Division college. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/may/30/keepthecap 7 .. UCL’s hugely popular Lunch Hour Lectures .. an interview with UCL President and Provost Professor Malcolm Grant Check out the vacancies advertised through the UCLU JobShop at: http://www.uclunion.org/find-a-job/ Feel free to email any employment related queries to: employment@ucl.ac.uk UCL on iTunes U http://itunes.ucl.ac.uk/ You can download: .. a virtual tour of the UCL Slade School of Fine Art Summer Show .. recent lectures by high-profile speakers .. first-hand expert accounts of the history of neuroscience .. a weekly audio round-ups of UCL news 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 With your assistance UCL achieved a response rate of 58% - watch out for the results in September at www.unistats.com