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Trends Report

 

Trends and meetings Course Representatives Feedback

 

Student Comments and Key Issues

 

April 2006

 

This document contains the feedback from the Trends and Meeting questionnaire, a focus group and various one on one meetings with Course Representatives. The statements in questions 1- 4 are actual students comments received. The statements in Question 5 relate to student comments and face to face feedback in meetings.

 

Question 1

What sort of issues have you raised at Course Committee meetings?

 

"Clashes in time-tabling for students".

 

"Staffing in the refectory in the evening during lecture times".

 

"I have asked members of my group to give feedback, good or bad so that I can air their views. Last semester I received very negative comments, however this semester the comments have been a lot more encouraging with positive aspects. Great support from lecturers is the main comment. The same negative comments keep coming up, students walking in late to lectures and mobile phones etc".

 

"Software incompatibilities between campuses".

 

"Availability of day and evening modules (9 out of 10 ICT courses are preferred for evening classes)".

 

"The possibility of students acting as Course Ambassadors at open evenings at their previous colleges and schools".

 

"The possibility of retiming research seminars so that more students and staff could attend".

 

"Security on Campus".

 

"Issues over Guest lecturers".

 

"Overloading of teamwork per semester".

 

"Submission deadlines for assignments".

 

"Students appreciate the concept of learning by doing".

 

"Some students prefer examinations rather than course work/assignments".

 

"Working in groups on a piece of assignment is problematic".

 

"Mobile phones can be disruptive during lecture times" (In the meeting the student said that this is a problem in a lot of lectures).

 

"Some students at Masters' level cannot speak English".

 

"Some students use their respective language while working in groups". (This made the task difficult and the Course Representative felt this should be looked at during assessment).

 

"The issue I raised was more related to the means of communication we are allowed to use to contact students. The other issue raised concerns the mode of assessment used, it was considered by the Committee and turned into a win-win scenario."

 

Question 2

Would you recommend being a Course Representative to other students?

 

"Yes" (x5)

 

"I most definitely would recommend being a Course Representative to any student. I have enjoyed interacting with the students, and getting to know them better. It has also challenged my ability to be able to deal with other peoples' issues".

 

"Yes, being a Course Rep is a good way of gaining skills and showing to an employer that you're different from every other student on the market, valuable skills such as communication and team building can be shown".

 

"Yes I would because you learn a lot in the process. For example, you learn to put views across to the Course Committee, you develop strategies vis-à-vis how to feedback to students following a Course Committee meeting, you develop communication skills, you develop problem solving skills , you learn to deal with people from different cultural backgrounds, and the experience of sitting on the Course Committee is fantastic and educational. Further you learn to argue convincingly, you develop listening skills too".

 

"Yes, you get to meet and know everyone on your course and can raise issues for them if they feel unable to do so".

 

"Yes. It provides a small amount of responsibility and could be useful for younger students to add to their CV".

 

"I would definitely recommend being a Course Rep to other students. It is a good experience which gives you insight into how the courses are managed, as well as allowing you to participate to the improvement of the study environment".

 

Question 3

 

Did you attend training? If no, please state why?

 

"Yes" x5

 

"I did not attend training as I was ill at the time, did book a place but apologised".

 

"Yes, it was great".

 

"No I didn't, was unaware of it".

 

"No, very hard to attend them as a part-time student".

 

Question 4

Did you actively seek feedback from your fellow students? If so, how did you go about this?

 

"Yes I did, by way of meetings and informal discussions".

 

"Yes, many people in my class knew who I was. The computing department have been excellent in the last couple of years with active promotion of the scheme i.e. the departments website has a link with details of the Course Reps. Emails are regularly exchanged informing students who their Rep is and any news, particular ......who emails on a regular basis".

 

"I gave a small handout to all the students on my course, detailing my student email, and detailing the times I was present in the university. I also ensured all students strict anonymity so they would not feel unsure about approaching me".

 

"Yes. In the lecture which we all attend, a piece of paper was given to every student. They were asked to put down any comments or issues, whether good or bad which they would like me to rise at the meeting. I explained about the meeting next week, and reminded them about the last meeting and their comments. The lecturer gave us 10 minutes at beginning of the lecture to do the task".

 

"I asked students from my pathways if they had issues whenever I saw them".

 

"Usually, in my case, the lecturer discusses with students and they give him feedback".

 

"Yes".

 

"Yes. By informally chatting to them during lunch and asking them to raise any course-related points issues at the end of lectures".

 

"Yes by discussions, announcing times when I would be available to chat at the start of lectures".

 

Question 5

 

State five points/issues/problems you think that the Students' Union should be campaigning or lobbying the University about

 

This is a round up of issues raised, many of them by more than three Course Representatives:

 

1)A common room for smokers/smoking shelters.

2)Course assignment submission dates should be spread at better intervals.

3)A place for students to consume their own food.

4)Parking facilities, more, better and accessible.

5)A recruitment campaign to try to attract more post graduate students.

6)Security on campus, some students feel unsafe.

7)Better facilities for group work, meeting rooms.

8)Recruit higher quality students, image of The University of Bolton needs to be improved.

9)Sports facilities - below par compared to most universities.

10)Flexible meeting rooms for preparation of presentations, group work and social/work space.