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School Student Experience Group (SSEG)

Meets: Once per term

Student Rep membership: Chair Rep (Chair); all other Student Reps

Key staff membership: Head of School; Director of Teaching and Learning; Director of Student Experience; Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange; School Administrator

Reports to: School Teaching and Learning Committee and Student Experience Forum

Purpose: The School Student Experience Group is a key meeting for Reps and senior members of school staff. The meeting is chaired by a Student Rep and may meet termly or more frequently in some schools

‘Student experience’ is a broad term that covers a wide range of issues affecting students’ experience of teaching and learning. In general, it is most effective to address issues at the lowest level - within the School if at all possible. However it is important to note that some issues are best dealt with through other routes. In particular:

• Academic matters, including the delivery, assessment and review of courses and modules are best dealt with through Boards of Study, where there is also student representation
• Campaigning issues are best raised through the
• Issues should only be taken to university committees and meetings that are relevant across schools or concern central university policies and provision

Issues discussed at recent SSEGs include: New appointments; space/social space/study space; assessment and feedback; printing; library resources; workshops/open seminars; Study Direct; student surveys/NSS action plans; careers/work experience; school communication/blogs/social media; IT/clusters/software; lecture capture; lab training; estates/building issues/access; timetabling/exams/teaching; school social events; submission and return of coursework; academic advising; induction and re-induction; staff training; book bundles/swaps; uploading of teaching materials; assessment schedules

Further information: Organisation of the University 2017/18 (10.7) p.75 

Boards of Study

Meets: Once per term

Student membership: Students agreed by the School; Student Reps, both undergraduate and postgraduate

Key staff membership: Academic subject lead; course and module convenors

Reports to: School Teaching and Learning Committee

Purpose: Within Schools, each subject area or department has a Board of Study which oversees how individual courses are delivered, managed and their quality assured. These are the committees dealing most closely with each Student Reps’ academic subject area and relevant Reps are expected to attend. Staff contacts in each school can confirm Board of Study subjects and Rep membership

Issues discussed include: Proposed changes to existing modules/assessment/teaching patterns; proposals for new modules; module evaluation questionnaires; feedback; reading packs/learning resources; module content

Further information: Organisation of the University 2017/18 (10.4) p.71

School Teaching and Learning Committee (STLC)

Meets: Once per term

Student Rep membership: One undergraduate and one taught postgraduate Student Rep

Key staff membership: Director of Teaching and Learning (Chair); Director of Student Experience; Heads of Department

Reports to: University Teaching and Learning Committee

Purpose: School Teaching and Learning Committees oversees the quality and management of teaching and learning in each school, including approving changes recommended by Boards of Study and responding to issues raised by external examiners, Annual Course Review and School Periodic Review

Issues discussed in recent meetings include: Revisions to curriculum; approval of changes to modules and courses; discussion of changes to the academic year; external examiner reports; NSS results; departmental action plans; exam board matters

Further information: Organisation of the University 2017/18 (10.9) p.77 

School Research Degree Committee

Meets: Once per term

Student Rep membership: At least one postgraduate research Student Representative

Key staff membership: Director of Doctoral Studies (Chair); Heads of Department; key staff with interest in research supervision

Reports to: Doctoral Studies Committee

Purpose: School Research Degree Committees monitor provision for research students and post-doctoral researchers, including arrangements for the appointment of supervisors and for the support and training of research students and for the management of Associate Tutors

Recent issues discussed include: Sussex research funding/bids; Research Council funding; school research strategy; reports from faculty on research leave; research support applications; open access policies; research webpages

Further information: Organisation of the University 2017/18 (10.6) p.74 

School Meetings

Meets: Once per term

Student Rep membership: All Student Reps in the School

Key staff membership: Head of School (Chair); All academic and professional services staff in the School

Purpose: School Meetings are to disseminate information, encourage discussion on issues of common interest and take soundings on proposed University policies. Positions agreed or views presented at such meetings will not be binding on Heads of Schools and School Meetings will be advisory to Heads of Schools rather than formal committees of the University.

Further information: Organisation of the University 2017/18 (10.1) p.69