Led by our Chief Executive, Beth Metcalf, along with Dan Moloney (Director of Engagement), Alison Lunn (Associate Director: Finance and Compliance) and Jessica Smith (Associate Director: Services and Projects), our super staff team is as follows:
Business Services
Business Services is the new name for our amalgamated Operations and Resources teams. They are the first voices you’ll hear if you contact the Association directly, as they look after the main Association email account, answer the phones and help to moderate our forums. They are in charge of managing the OU Students Shop and making sure all merchandise sold is to a good standard. The team also helps to process all the OU Students Educational Trust (OUSET) applications, as well as providing training and support to all our Degree Ceremony Volunteers.
The team also have a handle on our finances and budget setting, as well as those important subvention negotiations with the University. They also make sure that the Student Association office is all ship-shape, and ensure our volunteers are reimbursed quickly for any expenses related to their roles. They are supported by VP Administration (currently vacant).
ousa@open.ac.uk
oustudents-resources@open.ac.uk
Community
The Community team is all about creating a vibrant and thriving network of OU students to help them succeed in their OU journey. They support a variety of societies and clubs that OU students can join and create opportunities for students to chat with each other through Community Drop-In sessions and meet-ups.
Events and projects such as Freshers and University Challenge are also organised through the Community team. They are supported by VP Community & Engagement, Olivia Hughes.
oustudents-community@open.ac.uk
Digital Communications
This is the team that feeds the information from the Association to you. They are in charge of our branding, social media channels and the website. Check out their online magazine The Hoot and you can even get involved and submit your own blog! They are supported by VP Community & Engagement, Olivia Hughes.
oustudents-media@open.ac.uk
Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Student Welfare
Our EDI and Student Welfare team work hard to ensure your learning experience with the OU is as smooth as possible as well as working with the OU to improve your study experience. They manage our Library Study Volunteers (supporting students living in secure environments) and our Talk Campus affiliation. These services are there to help you get the most from your studies, provide a listening ear to any problems you encounter and can offer words of encouragement during difficult times.
We also support our three current groups: OU Pride (LGBTQIA+ group), the Disabled Students Group and our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Group who are there to be a supportive network for you throughout your OU journey. They are supported by VP Student Welfare (currently vacant) and VP Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Ross Throne.
oustudents-support@open.ac.uk
Executive Support and Staff Welfare
This team are key to ensuring that do things how they need to be done. They keep the organisation running through organising all of our official governance meetings, taking and sharing minutes and generally ensuring the office runs smoothly!
oustudents-exec-support-staff@open.ac.uk
Strategy and Insight
This team looks after our organisational strategy and support our research efforts to ensure that we are giving you the support and information you want and need to enhance your student experience. This team support our annual membership survey and hold focus groups throughout the year to ensure we are providing the right services for our diverse student body.
oustudents-insights@open.ac.uk
Student Advice and Individual Representation
Our Student Advice team provide free, independent, and confidential advice to current students and anyone who has recently graduated or withdrawn from their studies. Through the Individual Representation service, students can access direct case support when they are going through a complaint or appeal, being investigated for academic misconduct, or have been referred to the Central Disciplinary Committee. Our Advisers are here to provide a listening ear, represent your views, and help you resolve issues so that you can move forward in your student journey, as well as signpost you to relevant services.
oustudents-studentadvice@open.ac.uk
Volunteering and Representation
The Volunteering and Representation team work alongside our outstanding student volunteers. They support the creation of new roles, planning training and support for all volunteers, and they ensure that volunteers feel looked after and are able to perform in their roles. The team are also tasked with supporting and empowering the Student Representatives, who are key to ensuring that the student voice is heard at all levels of university governance and are crucial to our strategic objectives. They work hard to create a volunteer community that is welcoming, open and supportive of each other. They are supported by Deputy President, Andrew Wilson, VP Student Representation, Nichola Connoly, and VP Student Voice, Katie Hickmott.
oustudents-volunteer@open.ac.uk