► How Representation Works

Newcastle University’s Student Representation Programme is a partnership between Newcastle University, its students and Newcastle University Students’ Union.

It provides all students with the opportunity to provide feedback on their learning experience through representatives elected by their cohort, as follows:

• Course Representatives on Staff Student Committees at programme level

All Course Reps are offered training by the Students’ Union, which emphasises the need to be representative, objective and constructive, and the importance of relaying the outcomes of meetings to students so that they know their feedback is being listened to and acted upon.

All Staff Student Committees are chaired by a student who receives specific training for this role. They have a student majority and meet at least four times per academic year.

• Faculty Representatives* on Faculty Teaching, Learning and Student Experience Committees and Graduate School Committees

These students are recruited from the pool of Course Reps by an application and interview process. They receive additional training for this role and get feedback from the student chairs of all relevant Staff Student Committees through Faculty Forums, which they chair.

• Education Officer on University Teaching, Learning and Student Experience Committee

The Education Officer is a full-time sabbatical officer, who receives feedback from Faculty Reps at Education Executive Committee.

NB: Following extensive consultation in 2010-11, a Revised Student Representation Policy was agreed by UTLSEC in December 2011. These changes will be fully implemented in the 2012-13 academic year. 

*As part of the Revised Student Representation Policy, Faculty Representatives are to be replaced by School Representatives from September 2012. Please click here for details of School Representatives role and responsibilities.