Academic Representatives
Often postgraduate students find that their interests, needs and concerns related to their studies are different to those that they had as an undergraduate. Therefore, the Postgraduate Academic Representative System has been created so that postgraduates can act as a vital link between students, departments, the university and the GSA representing the views of postgraduate students to these bodies. Such representation and feedback is essential for developing and implementing changes that will improve the experiences of both current and future postgraduate students.
The primary role of a Postgraduate Academic Representative is to act as a two-way channel of communication between the University (including departments, support and service providers, the GSA) and fellow postgraduate students. Consequently, they are required to attend various committees at all levels of the University to offer a ‘postgraduate perspective’ and raise any issues or concerns identified by themselves or fellow students. Therefore, an essential element of their work is to develop and maintain good lines of communication with those they study with, in order to find out their views and opinions on all aspects of their university experience, as well as inform students of relevant information and changes regarding their time at York.
Meetings that Postgraduate Academic Representatives will attend include: the department’s Board of Studies and Graduate School Board, the GSA Association Council, Postgraduate Academic Representative Forum and York Postgraduate Forum. Postgraduate Representatives will have the opportunity to submit items to committee agendas or suggest topics for forums. Therefore, if you think a particular idea or concern needs be discussed in these arenas, then you should approach a representative to request that they do so.
Topics which a Postgraduate Academic Representative may discuss and work towards developing for the benefit of you are:
- course content
- assessment feedback
- supervision
- resources and facilities within your department
- changes related to your studies and department general issues and/or developments regarding the university
Find out who your department representative is.
Postgraduate Academic Representative Handbook
The elections for 2011/12 Postgraduate Academic Representatives will take place between the 10th October and 4th November. Departmental specific training for the newly elected representatives will take place during this time preiod. In addtion skills training will be offered to the representatives in the weeks following the end of election period. Further details shall follow once the dates for this training has been confirmed.
