You might have heard us talking about Subject Reps recently and wondered what they are and where they came from. Well, you're in the right place!
What Are Subject Reps?
In short, Subject Rep are the new alternative to the previous Department Rep position. A subject rep is the bridge to connect Course Reps to the Full Time Officer Team. They represent whole subject areas (rather than course level, like a course rep) and champion the needs and concerns of all students in that area of study. This is a voluntary position that requires just a few hours of your time each semester.
What Happened to Department Reps?
With the department changes happening in the University, we took this opportunity to revamp the Department Rep role into something that we hope will be more efficient and comfortable for you as students. With Subject Reps representing fewer students than Department Reps would have, it should be easier for our reps to chat with and gain feedback from these students.
Who Can Run to Be a Subject Rep?
Any student who will be continuing their studies into the next academic year can run to be a Subject Rep in our Leadership Race. Simply head to staffsunion.com/vote and nominate yourself before the 31st March 2024!
How Does it Relate to the University's New Department Structure?
We've done our best to doodle this up for you in the diagram below. The University's courses are grouped into departments, and those departments are then grouped into the two schools - Digital, Technology, Innovation and Business, and Health, Education, Policing and Sciences. Our Officers interact directly with the staff that oversee the entire schools and departments, and previously, our Department Reps would also work with the Heads of Departments. The new Subject Rep roles now interact more directly with Course Leaders and Course Directors in only courses that are very closely related to their own courses, making it a lot easier to talk to all of the students they represent. They may also interact with the Head of Department if the issue calls for it, but this will be less commonplace that previously.
