Name:
Jack Flaherty
My role:
Faculty Representative for Arts and Social Sciences (FASS)
My priorities for the 2024–26 term:
My first priority is ensuring students' voices are heard within FASS and elsewhere in the OU. I will continue to push for increased tutorial availability, so more students are able to attend live tutorials. In addition, I want to ensure that the OU responds to the challenges of Generative AI by creating policies and guidelines that ensure academic integrity and allow students and staff to benefit from the advantages of it. We also need to increase the library resources available to students to ensure they can access all the books and readings they need for their studies.
My last priority is increasing student access to the vast archives of materials that the OU has assembled over the years. The OU has produced award-winning documentaries, books and world-renowned materials. Students should have access to these materials while they are studying. The OU should be a world-leading open-access institute.
What I've been up to and what I’m currently working on:
I have continued to expand FASS Connect. During the last SLT term, I worked with my fellow student leaders to voice our displeasure at the proposed Campus 2030 plans. Alongside the International Student Representative, we worked on finding ways to increase the number and variety of different events hosted by our fellow students.
What I’m studying:
I'm on my third level of a BA History degree. I'm taking A327 and A328 this year. I have a keen interest in the 19th century, and I'm working on several research projects when I have any free time.
What I do when I’m not studying:
I am a support worker at a homeless lifehouse. I'm also an active editor of Wikipedia, where I try to add citations to replace those pesky citation-needed tags. I'm also working on a few other historical research projects that take me to the dusty libraries and archives, which is my happy spot. With history all around me, I write historical fiction too.
My top study tips:
If you come across something interesting to you in your studies, research or study it even more. Don't think you are being sidetracked. While it's tempting to focus on just the TMAs, it's those rabbit holes that may have a greater impact on you.
How to contact me:
Email: oustudents-FASS@open.ac.uk
Please note that a handful of Association staff team members have access to this mailbox.
Twitter / X: @OpenFASS