As we gear up for Big Rep Meeting 2024, here's a look back at what happened in Big Rep Meeting 2023.
Big Rep Meeting 2023 – what happened?
Reps gathered together at Penryn Campus to discuss Employability, Wellbeing, Sports Facilities, Library, and Accessibility. University and Students’ Union staff were included in these conversations, using your feedback to inform action plans to improve your student experience, read on to find out about the progress they’ve made so far.
Your feedback at Big Rep Meeting 2023 led to:
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Co-creation of the Retreat Room at Penryn Campus Library – for all students to use to relax, designed with a neurodivergent student.
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Increased access to employability opportunities for Exeter students, including free coaches to Streatham Campus for careers fairs.
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Collaboration between students, The SU, the Universities and FX Plus to develop and implement an Accessibility action plan addressing the issues shared by students.
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Increased Falmouth employability staff presence at Falmouth Campus and Penryn Campus and a Part-Time Jobs Fair.
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Development of wellbeing and support communications, including posters, by both Universities and FX Plus and development of a bereavement peer support group.
What is the Big Rep Meeting?
Big Rep Meeting is a large meeting where all course reps from Falmouth University and the University of Exeter come together to discuss areas of improvement for your student experience. The topics are shared in advance of the meeting and your rep chats to your cohort about your thoughts on these areas, ready to share your thoughts and ideas at the meeting.
The SU brings University and FX Plus staff to Big Rep Meeting so that they can listen directly to your responses and can ask questions to develop deeper understanding of the student perspective and hopefully deliver improvements.
Careers at the University of Exeter
Reps shared that students want more employability support and information on your courses, from this feedback we are collaborating with the Career Zone to begin to introduce “employability reps”! A role which will ensure students receive as much info as possible on the opportunities available to them, to learn more take a look at our rep page.
Reps also shared that Streatham Campus students in Exeter got more careers opportunities. As a result of this feedback an Ecology and Conservation Careers Fair and Part-Time Jobs Fair have been organised and run in the last 12 months.
The University also runs free coaches to any careers fairs held at Streatham Campus so that you can access the same resources and networks as students based in Exeter.
Your feedback resulted in:
Library enhancements for neurodivergent students
Reps suggested that the library could be more accessible for neurodivergent students, asking for a quiet space where you could get away from the crowds and relax.
The library team worked with one of the reps involved in the conversation to create the Retreat Room on the second floor of the Exchange Building, through the silent study section. It has dimmable lights, soft seating on the floor, a sensory bubble tube, and balance balls.
The space is open for any student to use when they need to.
You can also borrow ear defenders and headphones from the library helpdesk, just head to the main desk and ask the team to find out more.
Your feedback resulted in:
Accessibility
Accessibility conversations included suggestions for improved signposting for routes around campus and whether doors are ‘push’ or ‘pull’, improved awareness and promotion of accessible routes, more priority seating for people with accessibility needs and increased availability of accessible rooms.
Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) were discussed, with student reps highlighting the need for clarity on the process and requirements for applying for an ILP and what support you can access before and during your ILP application.
Reps feedback led to the Rolling Forward campaign run by Vice President 2023/24 Orestis Collins-Alamanos and a group of students which raised awareness of the experiences of wheelchair users at Penryn Campus and Falmouth Campus. The work has led to an ongoing collaboration with the Universities and FX Plus to deliver an action plan that Orestis developed with the accessibility team and the Universities.
Your feedback resulted in:
Employability at Falmouth University
The discussions about employability included more clarity on what opportunities are available for Falmouth students, alternative channels for communication alongside email newsletters, the consistency of careers information shared by lecturers and across courses. Students wanted to see improved guidance on how to use Handshake and increased support at Falmouth Campus and for online students.
In response, the Employability team have worked to develop employability resources available for you, including videos of alumni outlining their career path since graduation and their advice for current students. The team has also increased the staff presence at Falmouth Campus and Penryn Campus. The team also worked with Exeter Career Zone and The SU to deliver the Part-Time Jobs Fair.
Your feedback resulted in:
Wellbeing
Student reps highlighted that improvements were needed in the signposting and communication of wellbeing services. They also discussed the public placement of the Compass helpdesk, suggesting that students who feel anxious may struggle to approach the team. The role of personal tutors in promoting wellbeing services at both universities was stressed by reps as course staff are usually a first point of contact for students.
The wellbeing team have increased signposting to their online contact channels through new posters displayed on Penryn, Falmouth and Truro campuses that include contact information and booking details and Falmouth University and University of Exeter students. Both Universities have also reviewed their wellbeing communications, adding wellbeing updates to their regular student communication channels.
Your feedback resulted in: