► Accountability

Who are Course Reps accountable to?

Mainly, as a Course Rep there is a moral responsibility to the other students on your course whom you represent, and to yourself, to do the job to the best of your ability. You also have a responsibility to the Students’ Union who you are acting on behalf of. Therefore you should really try to respond rapidly to the requests of the Union to attend meetings, return paperwork etc.

Course Representatives are definitely NOT held accountable by lecturers or other members of the University staff at any time. While these people may advise a Rep about how to proceed on an issue, the Reps are under no obligation to follow their advice. Remember, you represent the students, not the staff, so the interests of the student body must always be given priority. You should always bear in mind that it is the general well being of the students that is the most important part of the post.

As outlined in the University’s Quality Assurance and the Enhancement of Programme Report 1995, the Course Reps roles and responsibilities are as follows:

“The major role of student representation is to provide the university with a balanced view from the student body of the quality and standard of the education and services being provided. The enable communication between staff who deliver the course and the students. They may also participate in the review and development of programmes and policies and contribute to decision making processes at the Department, School, Faculty or Institutional Levels.”