Wednesday 16-12-2020 - 17:35

Hi everyone, well what a bloomin year it has been for us all! With the dreaded C word being the centre of everything we do, but hopefully we are starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

You will all have received my December email outlining the Students’ Association achievements throughout Covid-19, and I thought I would share with you some of the ways I have personally been involved to support and represent you and your academic interests.

From my previous role as VP last academic year I have been attending Exec Board with the Principal and other members of exec on a weekly basis as well as in my elected role this year as GCU Student President. This was to inform the University on any live issues that could be acted on swiftly at the highest level. The exec team truly listened to what students wanted and made sure you were at the heart of any decision making.

This included asking for laptops and dongles for students in need and working in partnership with the University on a Digital Inclusion Strategy resulting in the university providing 500 new laptops and dongles for students to borrow for the full term of their studies. After much discussion with students I asked that the name be changed from Digital Poverty to Digital Inclusion so as not to stigmatise anyone in coming forward.

I discussed the extension of discretionary funds for home, UK and International students, with the University increasing the hardship funds and helping out International students on a case by case basis.

I asked for extra support for academic writing and worked in partnership with the University to provide a 24/7, 365 days a year, pilot academic and maths support pilot trialling on 1^st year students.

I asked for study spaces on campus for students struggling at home and worked with the University to provide 3-hour study spaces for students. After chatting to students who lived more than 30 mins commute from the Uni I asked for an extension of the 3-hour study spaces, this resulted in the library increasing study spaces to 4 hours with the ability to extend further if spaces are available.

At the weekly Academic and Student Delivery Experience Group I attend we discussed extra online exam time for students, I suggested extra time per hour with the University agreeing to an extra 15 mins per hour.

I worked with the University and our previous President on the sector leading decision to release Caledonian Court residents from rent contracts. I also worked in partnership with the University to make sure Caledonian Court residents received their deposits back with no quibbles, and residents were only charged for the nights they stayed. Further, the University ensured Caledonian Court Residents who left could hold their accommodation free of charge until Tri B.

GCU have been amazing in dealing with our students in halls of residence and supported self-isolating students with food parcels and wellbeing support. I bought and put together mindfulness care packages on behalf of the Students’ Association and helped deliver them with our fabulous GCU Student Ambassadors.

I have also been involved in the GCU Going Digital Strategy since it began and gave feedback from a students’ perspective.

I provided a daily vlog throughout lockdown to showcase the work myself and the Students’ Association, the University and students were doing each week of Lockdown and adjusting to studying at home.

Alongside Presidents of NUS UK, Scotland, Wales and USI, Presidents of Students’ Unions/Associations, I put my name to a letter to the Education Ministers across the four nations to provide a plan to get students home for Christmas and other religious and significant events.

This is just a sample of what I have been working on and if you want to see more of what I have been up to, follow me on social media or have a look at my Student Voice Reports.

I hope you all have a wonderful festive break and come along to one of the events I have created over the holidays to support students on their own, all students are invited to attend and we even have instant  takeaway vouchers to win. Take some time to yourself, relax and have a lovely time wherever you are in the world and whatever you are doing.

Take Care, look after yourself and check in on each other.

Susan J

Student President