Postgraduate Association
The Postgraduate Association this year has received an injection of energy and activity from members of the PGA Executive. This has meant that it has improved its services to the UCL Graduate Community across the areas of education, welfare, media, events and representation.
The MSSO successfully lobbied College to have them added to the membership of Graduate Education Executive Sub Committee as well as to Student Welfare Committee. The MSSO also lobbied College to have them added to the membership of the Committee for the Admission and Recruitment of Students as well as to the European Issues Steering Group. The latter committee has been suspended, pending the appointment of a new chair, whilst the proposal and the appeal to the former committee were both turned down.
A number of issues in postgraduate welfare were tackled, including after hours access on campus for students who have handed in their thesis but are awaiting their vivas. This has yet to be resolved, but the PGA will continue to work with the Graduate School to lobby the UCL Registry. Also, the issue of £500 payment caps on departmental credit cards has been taken to the Joint Staff Student Consultative Committee, which has yet to report back on a possible solution.
The media profile of the PGA has seen massive improvement. The MSSO and PGA President set about over the summer and autumn implementing a media strategy they had devised. This involved setting up a microsite and a Facebook group for the PGA, for the first time ever in both cases. Also, they worked with the Graduate School to update their publicity, such as the section on the PGA both on the Graduate School website and in the handbook.
The increased media profile was coupled with a massive overhaul of the events programme. The Welcome Party, organised by the MSSO and the PGA President at the start of the year, was a big success, with hundreds attending. Subsequently, the arrival of a new PGA Vice-President for Events reinvigorated PGA events further. Another party in November was popular, as was the Christmas Party. The fourth party, which had a Caribbean theme, was also a big success. The only problems occurred at the fifth party, a joint SOAS and UCL postgraduate party on the 2nd floor of the Union, with catering not arriving, rugby supporters filling up the venue early on and some SOAS students not being allowed in. Despites this, the party was very popular and on balance, a success. It is the first time ever that the PGA events has organised so many successful and popular events, setting a good precedent for next year.
All these achievements have been possible by the dynamic team on the PGA Executive. Thanks in part due to the energy and enthusiasm of the MSSO and PGA President, a record four people stood for three positions on the PGA (no one ran for Vice-President for Media) in the October Elections. These three individuals who were elected helped to carry and build upon the initial momentum right through the year.
Indeed, the PGA has changed tremendously this year – what was merely an Executive Committee in the Union’s Standing Orders became an official society, equal to RUMS and SSEES. The support of a sabbatical officer was initially removed from the Union’s Governance Review the previous year, but was reinstated with a new Medical and Postgraduate Students Officer in October by a motion proposed by the MSSO. Then a constitution for the PGA, drafted by the MSSO with help from the PGA, was approved by Union Council, establishing it as a society rather just a committee. Additionally, the Vice-President of the PGA became a member of Council, through a Special Resolution. Alas, a Special Resolution to the Union AGM to have the PGA included among SSEES and RUMS in the Union’s Constitution did not get discussed, but hopefully will be brought up next year.
Finally, in order to boost the role of the PGA and to add an additional, much needed focus towards the Graduate Community at UCL Union, the MSSO proposed to add a member of staff, a PGA Development Worker, to the Democracy Support Unit. They will work with the PGA to help them in improving their services towards, and representation of, the Graduate Community at UCL.
Royal Free and University College Medical School Students’ Society
The year at RUMS has been one of continued tradition and success as well as one of new initiatives and reforms. These have been across the areas of education, welfare, clubs and societies, events, media and representation.
The various student representatives, including members of RUMS Executive, have been very involved in a working group looking at the whole MBBS programme, as well as on the numerous committees across the Medical School. Notable successes, all approved, were the Clinical Presidents proposal for a personal study week for year 5, his ideas for improved assessments for year 3, as well as his recommendation for the removal of CEX/CBD’s from MTAS rankings.
Progress on the Thomas Lewis Room was finally being made this year as the MSSO got the Medical School and Estates & Facilities together for meetings and kept it on the Provost meeting agenda’s. As a result, inertia has been conquered and Estates & Facilities are preparing to redevelop the Rockefeller Building to rehouse the Medical School Administration, freeing up the Thomas Lewis Room for student space.
On the broader welfare front, RUMS secured an opt out for students from HIV testing, whilst the Clinical Vice-President for Bloomsbury has led a campaign to raise awareness of an NHS travel discount for our members who have to commute long distances to hospitals across the South of England.
Social events this year at RUMS have, broadly speaking, been a great success, both in terms of popularity and in a financial sense. Both Phase One and Phase Two Freshers Weeks were very popular and made a small profit. The Winter Ball and the Sports Ball sold out for the first time in many years, although sadly the Winter Ball incurred a net loss, due to damages having to be paid. The Finalists Ball has sold out and is on budget for teh first time in a number of years. Sadly, the Summer Ball didn't sell out, although 400 tickets were sold, which is still a large number.
The web of RUMS clubs and societies have continued to justify their individual status within UCL Union by being very active and successful. This year the RUMS Honorary President introduced a series of special termly grants for RUMS clubs and societies, secured from the Medical School, to help them with their activities. These were enthusiastically applied for. A review of sport club kit funding was carried out by the MSSO and an option to join UCL Union’s free kit scheme was secured for RUMS clubs. As a result RUMS Tennis have decided to opt in; perhaps more clubs shall follow in the near future. With the known unknown, to borrow a phrase, of the Huntley Street Bar’s future closure, RUMS Executive have decided to prepare for the eventuality by discussing with sport teams moving Sportsnite’s back to the Royal Free Bar in Hampstead over the next few years, thus securing their right to their own space. It is worth noting that after the merger in 1999, Sportsnite’s for several years would rotate between Huntley Street and the Royal Free Bars.
The old RUMS website disappeared after a two year transition period. A new one was created within a few weeks to replace it by the Publicity Officer for Bloomsbury. A new cache for photos of RUMS events was setup by the MSSO in the form of a gmail account: rums.photos@gmail.com
This year at RUMS has also seen a lot of constitutional change. A Special Resolution by the MSSO was passed by Council to tidy up discrepancies between the Union’s Standing Orders and the RUMS Constitution. More significantly, a year long process of changing the RUMS Constitution itself took place. The original one, dating from 2004, was very long and in places outdated. In order to slim it down and update it, a RUMS Constitution Working Group was set up by RUMS Executive. In the event, they decided to build a Constitution from scratch, to create committees that would be effective and roles that people would stand for. After passing through RUMS Executive and a RUMS AGM, the RUMS Constitution 2008 awaits approval by Special Resolution at Union Council in June.
Finally, the name of the society itself has come under discussion this year. The RFUCMS has decided to change its name next year to UCL Medical School. They would like to see the name of RUMS updated as well, to reflect that shift. However, after much consultation at committees and RUMS Executive, those present at the RUMS AGM discussed the issue at great length and decided not to change the name at present. It will be left till next years members of RUMS to deicde whether the society should stay as RUMS, change to UCL Medical Students, or modify the RUMS acronym to include the Middlesex.
The Postgraduate Association this year has received an injection of energy and activity from members of the PGA Executive. This has meant that it has improved its services to the UCL Graduate Community across the areas of education, welfare, media, events and representation.
The MSSO successfully lobbied College to have them added to the membership of Graduate Education Executive Sub Committee as well as to Student Welfare Committee. The MSSO also lobbied College to have them added to the membership of the Committee for the Admission and Recruitment of Students as well as to the European Issues Steering Group. The latter committee has been suspended, pending the appointment of a new chair, whilst the proposal and the appeal to the former committee were both turned down.
A number of issues in postgraduate welfare were tackled, including after hours access on campus for students who have handed in their thesis but are awaiting their vivas. This has yet to be resolved, but the PGA will continue to work with the Graduate School to lobby the UCL Registry. Also, the issue of £500 payment caps on departmental credit cards has been taken to the Joint Staff Student Consultative Committee, which has yet to report back on a possible solution.
The media profile of the PGA has seen massive improvement. The MSSO and PGA President set about over the summer and autumn implementing a media strategy they had devised. This involved setting up a microsite and a Facebook group for the PGA, for the first time ever in both cases. Also, they worked with the Graduate School to update their publicity, such as the section on the PGA both on the Graduate School website and in the handbook.
The increased media profile was coupled with a massive overhaul of the events programme. The Welcome Party, organised by the MSSO and the PGA President at the start of the year, was a big success, with hundreds attending. Subsequently, the arrival of a new PGA Vice-President for Events reinvigorated PGA events further. Another party in November was popular, as was the Christmas Party. The fourth party, which had a Caribbean theme, was also a big success. The only problems occurred at the fifth party, a joint SOAS and UCL postgraduate party on the 2nd floor of the Union, with catering not arriving, rugby supporters filling up the venue early on and some SOAS students not being allowed in. Despites this, the party was very popular and on balance, a success. It is the first time ever that the PGA events has organised so many successful and popular events, setting a good precedent for next year.
All these achievements have been possible by the dynamic team on the PGA Executive. Thanks in part due to the energy and enthusiasm of the MSSO and PGA President, a record four people stood for three positions on the PGA (no one ran for Vice-President for Media) in the October Elections. These three individuals who were elected helped to carry and build upon the initial momentum right through the year.
Indeed, the PGA has changed tremendously this year – what was merely an Executive Committee in the Union’s Standing Orders became an official society, equal to RUMS and SSEES. The support of a sabbatical officer was initially removed from the Union’s Governance Review the previous year, but was reinstated with a new Medical and Postgraduate Students Officer in October by a motion proposed by the MSSO. Then a constitution for the PGA, drafted by the MSSO with help from the PGA, was approved by Union Council, establishing it as a society rather just a committee. Additionally, the Vice-President of the PGA became a member of Council, through a Special Resolution. Alas, a Special Resolution to the Union AGM to have the PGA included among SSEES and RUMS in the Union’s Constitution did not get discussed, but hopefully will be brought up next year.
Finally, in order to boost the role of the PGA and to add an additional, much needed focus towards the Graduate Community at UCL Union, the MSSO proposed to add a member of staff, a PGA Development Worker, to the Democracy Support Unit. They will work with the PGA to help them in improving their services towards, and representation of, the Graduate Community at UCL.
Royal Free and University College Medical School Students’ Society
The year at RUMS has been one of continued tradition and success as well as one of new initiatives and reforms. These have been across the areas of education, welfare, clubs and societies, events, media and representation.
The various student representatives, including members of RUMS Executive, have been very involved in a working group looking at the whole MBBS programme, as well as on the numerous committees across the Medical School. Notable successes, all approved, were the Clinical Presidents proposal for a personal study week for year 5, his ideas for improved assessments for year 3, as well as his recommendation for the removal of CEX/CBD’s from MTAS rankings.
Progress on the Thomas Lewis Room was finally being made this year as the MSSO got the Medical School and Estates & Facilities together for meetings and kept it on the Provost meeting agenda’s. As a result, inertia has been conquered and Estates & Facilities are preparing to redevelop the Rockefeller Building to rehouse the Medical School Administration, freeing up the Thomas Lewis Room for student space.
On the broader welfare front, RUMS secured an opt out for students from HIV testing, whilst the Clinical Vice-President for Bloomsbury has led a campaign to raise awareness of an NHS travel discount for our members who have to commute long distances to hospitals across the South of England.
Social events this year at RUMS have, broadly speaking, been a great success, both in terms of popularity and in a financial sense. Both Phase One and Phase Two Freshers Weeks were very popular and made a small profit. The Winter Ball and the Sports Ball sold out for the first time in many years, although sadly the Winter Ball incurred a net loss, due to damages having to be paid. The Finalists Ball has sold out and is on budget for teh first time in a number of years. Sadly, the Summer Ball didn't sell out, although 400 tickets were sold, which is still a large number.
The web of RUMS clubs and societies have continued to justify their individual status within UCL Union by being very active and successful. This year the RUMS Honorary President introduced a series of special termly grants for RUMS clubs and societies, secured from the Medical School, to help them with their activities. These were enthusiastically applied for. A review of sport club kit funding was carried out by the MSSO and an option to join UCL Union’s free kit scheme was secured for RUMS clubs. As a result RUMS Tennis have decided to opt in; perhaps more clubs shall follow in the near future. With the known unknown, to borrow a phrase, of the Huntley Street Bar’s future closure, RUMS Executive have decided to prepare for the eventuality by discussing with sport teams moving Sportsnite’s back to the Royal Free Bar in Hampstead over the next few years, thus securing their right to their own space. It is worth noting that after the merger in 1999, Sportsnite’s for several years would rotate between Huntley Street and the Royal Free Bars.
The old RUMS website disappeared after a two year transition period. A new one was created within a few weeks to replace it by the Publicity Officer for Bloomsbury. A new cache for photos of RUMS events was setup by the MSSO in the form of a gmail account: rums.photos@gmail.com
This year at RUMS has also seen a lot of constitutional change. A Special Resolution by the MSSO was passed by Council to tidy up discrepancies between the Union’s Standing Orders and the RUMS Constitution. More significantly, a year long process of changing the RUMS Constitution itself took place. The original one, dating from 2004, was very long and in places outdated. In order to slim it down and update it, a RUMS Constitution Working Group was set up by RUMS Executive. In the event, they decided to build a Constitution from scratch, to create committees that would be effective and roles that people would stand for. After passing through RUMS Executive and a RUMS AGM, the RUMS Constitution 2008 awaits approval by Special Resolution at Union Council in June.
Finally, the name of the society itself has come under discussion this year. The RFUCMS has decided to change its name next year to UCL Medical School. They would like to see the name of RUMS updated as well, to reflect that shift. However, after much consultation at committees and RUMS Executive, those present at the RUMS AGM discussed the issue at great length and decided not to change the name at present. It will be left till next years members of RUMS to deicde whether the society should stay as RUMS, change to UCL Medical Students, or modify the RUMS acronym to include the Middlesex.
