Priority updates Approvals Statements Student issues
Social media conversations Other news We need you Podcasts
Priority Areas Steering Team Update
Steering Teams have been established since the last Student Leadership Team (SLT) weekend in October to progress work in each of the four priority areas. They were given guidance regarding how to approach their activities, but also autonomy to decide as a team how to approach communicating, decision-making, and progressing the activities within the priority area.
Steering Teams are made up of an even balance between Student Leaders and members of the Association staff team, creating an opportunity for the development of new ideas and representation of student interests with the continuity knowledge and operational know-how of the very capable members of staff.
The Steering Teams will report into the Student Leadership Team at their quarterly meetings. The wider team's role will be to engage constructively with the decisions, outputs, and outcomes from Steering Teams at the quarterly SLT meeting, while also holding them to account over the delivery of work. The Leadership weekends will provide an opportunity for more context to be provided by Steering Teams and for developing ideas and solving problems collaboratively.
At the time of writing, the Communities & Engagement team, the EDI & Accessibility team and the Association Awareness team have had an initial meeting. The Representation Steering Team had not yet been able to meet. All Steering Teams have a dedicated Microsoft Teams space that can be used to communicate asynchronously between meetings
Approvals
This section shows the approvals given by the Sttudent Leadership Team between 8 October and 20 January 2023. (Some items will not have links to further details. This can be due to the nature of the approval or due the confidentiality of the item).
Agreed Student Leadership Team Priorities – Approved 29 Oct 2022
Agreed formation of Student Leadersip Team Priority Steering Groups – Approved 29 October 2022
Students Association Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Submission, OfS – Approved 13 Jan 2023
Statements
These are statements issued by members of the Student Leadersip Team in response to certain issues in the last 3 months.
Announced strike action at The Open University – 17 Jan 2023
Nicola Boffee leaves Student Leadership Team – 11 Jan 2023
Update on pay negotiations between Unions and Universities – 12 Dec 2022
Our statement on The OU Financial and Business Planning statement – 25 Nov 2022
Student Leadership Team statement regarding outcome of strike ballot – 10 Nov 2022
Cost of Living Crisis – 24 Oct 2022
Student issues
These are the issues that have come to the attention of members of the Student Leadership Team during the last 3 months
Extended Membership
Extended Membership was granted for students who had finished their studies but wanted to continue volunteering at the Association. This is permitted within our governing documents, and can be given to students, upon application, where a gap exists between finishing a qualification and starting another one to allow the student to continue to use our services or volunteer with us.
Delayed Alternative Formats
Individual facing issues with alternative formats were raised with student representatives, and details were passed on to the appropriate teams at the OU. In addition to this, student representatives have been engaged in conversations relating to the general provision of alternative formats. This has been raised at the Student Experience and Learning Adjustments (StELA) working group by our VP EDI, and at meetings with the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Students by the President and Deputy President. We will continue to work on this and will soon be releasing joint communications with the OU on the current situation.
Lack of Inclusivity in Student Hub Live sessions for STEM students
Students have been supported in their concern surrounding the heavy focus on academic writing in the Student Hub Live sessions, which isn’t supportive of STEM students. These concerns have been passed on to the STEM representative and also raised at the Digital Inclusion meeting.
Student Voice Week Prizes
Enquiries have been received from students regarding the whereabouts of their prizes and freebies gained during Student Voice Week in November. This was investigated with the appropriate team, and since this we are pleased to hear from students that they have started to receive their prizes and freebies.
Issues with tutorial accessibility
Students raised concerns with representatives about their inaccessibility of tutorials. This often related to some very specific needs of individual students. The student was advised to contact their tutor directly, as well as the Student Support Team to ensure that their profile accurately reflected any needs. In addition to this, the module team(s) were contact directly about the general inaccessibility of some material, asking them to consider these needs when producing or remaking materials.
Inappropriate content on the Hoot
A student reported receiving inappropriate messages through the OU Students Association’s online magazine, The Hoot. This was raised with the appropriate staff member at the Association, and the offending messages were removed. It was also discussed on this could be prevented in the future.
Contacting Student Representatives
These were mainly where an absence existed. Whilst vacancies or gaps in engagement are usually covered by other representatives on an interim basis, this is often not clear to those attempting to contact the representative. On these occasions, students were signposted to the President or the covering representative or staff member for assistance. We are currently looking out how we can better make sure that gaps in representation are adequately covered, including appropriate signposting.
Pending Results
Following a case where a student had been waiting 17 weeks for their results, this has been escalated to PVC-S with a resolution made on behalf of the students. Conversations also took place on how this was allowed to happen, and a request that checks are put in place were this to occur again. An emphasis on providing adequate communications to students going through this process was also made.
Finances
October saw many enquiries from students relating to the first payment to either themselves, for those eligible for maintenance grants and loans, or for their student fees. Advise was given about the requirement for engagement and the usual delay whilst the OU confirm registration. Students were advised to contact the Student Support Team with specific queries.
Additionally, an issue was spotted where students had registered for February modules whilst studying October modules. Depending on the timing, there was often an extended delay in approving finance. Following engagement with the OU, it was identified as an improper application of a policy, and updated guidance was given.
Studying Whilst on Benefits
Students were signposted to the Disability Support Team (DST) and Student Support Team (SST) for further guidance and support. As this can often be very specific, with variations in the different nations, it is normally not appropriate to provide any guidance in these enquiries other than to signpost to those specifically trained to deal with them.
Level of Detail in Previous Report
Whilst our previous report received positive reviews for it’s new format and style, we did receive one piece of feedback that commented on the lack of context to elements of the report. In response to this, we have looked to provide more context, where possible. We recognize that it is not always possible to do so, but in this report, we have endeavored to do so. In particular have tried to include more information the student issues section, without providing too much information so that the individuals become identifiable. In regards the approvals section, we do try to share documents to support the approvals when we can, but this is often not possible. We will try to provide reasoning going forward.
Gareth, the Deputy President, as Student Leadership Team lead on reporting provided this comment:
‘Going into the October report, we always knew that the process would need amendment for future versions. As this completely changed the methodology of providing feedback on the work of the Student Leadership Team, this will remain a work in progress until we are satisfied it is how we would like it to be. Therefore, we are grateful for any feedback, positive or negative on this.
Some of the core reasons for changing the format, to make the report more relevant and digestible, will always provide competing pressures on how much information the report provides. To overcome this, we have tried to make the report concise, but with links to more information for those who have a particular interest in certain aspects. We will continue to review how this is working, acknowledging that some want more information than others.’
If you have any comments on this, please comment below or email Gareth.
Assessment content
Student was concerned over the content for an assessment. They were advised to send concerns to the tutor and course module team.
Student Admissions
Students encountered problems with enrolling onto next modules. They were signposted to the Admissions team.
Social media conversations
Freshers 2023
Our President, Deputy President and Head of Community kicked off Freshers 2023 with a collaborative event with the OU in Wales in Cardiff on the 21st of January 2023.
Advent Calendar
December saw the return of our much-loved advent calendar on our student magazine, The Hoot.
During the month, amongst many other exciting events, our VP Engagement defrosted Michael Bublé ahead of the hosting a Twitter disco!
Graduations
November saw our Deputy President attend his own graduation ceremony in Newport. Gareth achieved a First-Class Honours Degree in Law, and thoroughly enjoyed attending the ceremony in both a personal capacity and representing OU Students alongside our President.
Christmas Break
Our Student Leadership Team enjoyed a much-deserved Christmas Break during this period, though we are not sure there were many more excited than our VP Engagement.
Improving the future experience for OU students
Gareth attended a workshop with some of the senior managers at the OU looking at what is good about the OU and where they need to improve over the coming years to improve the experience for all OU Students.
We need you!
The Student Leadership Team are working on a variety of projects, and some would like your feedback!
Michael, our VP Admin, would like to know your thoughts about what the Association can do, to better support societies and clubs? Please email Michael with your feedback.
Both Tommy, FASS Rep, and Kara, Student Council Rep, are really interested on what you think might be the best way to tackle ongoing mental health struggles, or to improve support within the OU? Please email Tommy or email Kara, to share your thoughts.
Cazz, our VP Community, would really welcome your thoughts on possible names for the new student chat platform. You can contact Cazz via @_Open_Community with your feedback.
Mohai, our International Rep, would like to hear from you about the typical waiting time for module books delivery? Please email Mohai with your answers.
Other news
Elections
November saw the results of our by-elections, intending to fill the vacant roles on the Student Leadership Team. We were delighted to welcome the following to the team:
Kara Dique – Student Member of Council
Natalie Baker – VP Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Nigel Patterson – Faculty Representative for STEM
Kaz Murphy – Faculty Representative for Open & Access
Tommy Rowlands – Faculty Representative for FASS
Student Voice Week
November is always one of the busiest, but most enjoyable, months at the OU Students Association as we co-host Student Voice Week with the Open University. With our VP Engagement, and others, helping design the week, the Association delivered three successful sessions based around: the development of our Environment & Sustainability policy; increasing awareness of the work and priorities of the Student Leadership Team; and increasing the sense of community with OU Students. Additionally, our Scotland Representative, Paul, took over the OU in Scotland Twitter account, asking students how they would like to engage with us more.
These sessions were well attended, with feedback used to help develop our thinking in critical areas of student engagement. The week was kickstarted with a joint opening plenary by our Deputy President and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Students, Liz Marr, who accurately said that ‘student voice is not just for Christmas, but is constant at the OU’. You can catch the reflections on the week in an episode of the Association’s podcast, The Association Conversation Station, by our VP Engagement, Deputy President and Liz Marr here.
Environment & Sustainability
This quarter saw some exciting developments for our Environment and Sustainability Working Group. In November, we received a spectacular number of applications for one of six new volunteer opportunities to sit on the working group, providing a strong student voice in discussions, and we are delighted to say that the six successful volunteers have now been inducted and are fully contributing to the work of this group.
January also saw the Working Group agree the Association’s Action Plan on Environment and Sustainability. This plan focusses on the impact the association has on environmental sustainability; the engagement with students on these issues; creating an Environmental Sustainability policy for the Students Association; and working with the OU on meeting environmental sustainability targets.
Teaching Excellence Framework
During the last few months, Gareth has been leading on compiling a submission to the Office for Students as part of the Teaching Excellence Framework process. This process, in which Gareth was supported by staff and volunteers, provided a student’s perspective on the quality of student voice, student engagement and student outcomes at the OU.
Associate Lecturer Engagement
Our new VP Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Natalie, and our new Faculty Rep for FASS, Tommy, joined Gareth to deliver a session on student mental health and wellbeing to Associate Lecturers as part of their personal development programme. Utilising their own, lived experiences, they discussed the how the differing approaches of the tutors affected them, both positively and negatively, during their studies. They also discussed the various support services available through the Students Association and answered any questions that they might have.
Auschwitz
The President and the Head of EDI and Student Welfare were given the opportunity to join the ‘Lessons from Auschwitz’ programme hosted by the Holocaust Education Trust and Union of Jewish Students. The programme consisted of three online tutorials and a visit to Auschwitz Birkenau and Auschwitz Birkenau II. This was a very sobering and eye-opening experience designed to raise awareness of the experience of Jewish people and why anti-semitism has no place in modern society.
Strategy Planning
In December, we had our first team meeting as part of the planning process for our new Students Association Strategy. With the current strategy due to end in the Summer of 2023, this meeting brought together members of the Student Leadership Team and the Board of Trustees to begin to review aspects of the current strategy, with feedback being compiled that can be added to other research strands to inform the next strategy. This work was enjoyed by the team, and they are excited for the next piece of work in this area.
Inspire Adult Learning Awards
Our President, Deputy President and Wales Representative represented OU Students and the Inspire Cyrmu Award Ceremony as part of Adult Learning Week in Wales. Celebrating the success of mature learners in Wales, this event highlighted the importance of lifelong learning.
STEM EDIA Student Panel
Margaret, our President, and Lou, our VP Engagement, alongside another student, were panel members at a STEM Equality, Diversity, Inclusivity and Accessibility event at the end of October. They answered questions from the faculty around EDIA including what EDIA means to them, what is the most pressing issue for students in terms of EDIA and how the faculty can look to further support students. They raised the importance of accessible resources and timely presentation of alternative materials but also more widely of the importance of continuing to raise the profile of women in STEM. The faculty found their feedback useful and informative. Lou continues to provide a student voice in this area as a member of the STEM EDIA Student Panel Advisory Group.
Student Resignations
Unfortunately the Student Member of Council, Kara Dique and the Faculty Representative for Business and Law, Benjamen Mansell have left their roles this February.
Podcasts
50th Celebration – Men of the Association – Featuring Gareth and Nigel.
Student Voice Week Review – Featuring Gareth and Lou
50th Celebration Review – Featuring Margaret
Please use this comment box below to provide any comments you may have on the report: