Student Reps. Success Stories
Matthew Granger
Student Rep for Sports Management
Matthew is a third year Sports Management student at Unitec, and this year is his first as a student representative. Matthew has been doing a stand out job as a student rep, particularly with his use of a departmental facebook page. He frequently posts about industry opportunities and asks for direct feedback from students on relevant topics surrounding the department. Matthew took up the role as a student rep. this year because he saw an opportunity for the department to grow and wanted to personally see that the issues of students were being solved.
The “Sport @ Unitec” Facebook group has been running for 2 years now. It connects alumni and current students onto a single forum in order to open up networking and potential job opportunities. Matthew has done a great job managing the queries and comments he receives from his peers.
Matthew’s advice to fellow student reps: “Don’t be afraid to try different things, and to ask for help from your department and/or the USU.”
Leeann Jefferies
Student representative for Osteopathy
What was your most challenging experience as a student rep?
I was a student rep. when the Osteopathy course moved from Mt. Albert to Waitakere, so that was a very challenging time to portray the student opinions. The students felt like they weren’t been listened to, what we were told from higher sources before the move was not delivered and the staff that we had to direct our complaints to were struggling as they were having similar issues or were the “meat in the sandwich” between students and higher management. It was difficult to navigate the complaints in a way to maximise the benefit for the students around bureaucratic changes. A frustrating experience to say the least.
What was your most rewarding experience?
When you feel like you’ve helped to make a change and actually improve the course for those following on behind you.
How has being a student rep. made you more involved in the Unitec community?
I feel that I have a stronger involvement with the lecturers, and their roles within the programme. I’m more proactive and direct if I meet people, especially from the USU, about student issues and how things are affecting our cohort of students. Sometimes you can feel very detached as a student, and in being a student rep. I’ve learned who is who within the institution.
What made you volunteer to be a student rep in your first year?
The girl who was our student rep. had some personal issues that came up and asked if I could help her out, so that’s how I became involved. I took a lot of the work load off of her shoulders.
What lessons have you learned from being a student rep. that you can apply to your career in the future?
I’ve learnt a lot about how large institutions work; invaluable considering there’s so many around. It’s beneficial to understand how the wheels of change work, which battles you can fight, and which are best left for another day.
What’s your favourite thing about being a student rep?
I think it’s important to give back. This is a great way to keep involved with the course and give back to the students and institution.
Megan Smith
Student representative for Bachelor of Construction
What was your most challenging experience as a student rep?
We had a class last semester in which assignment were just marked incorrectly, or weren’t given enough time for completion. It seemed that things were going to total disarray and chaos. I was with the programme leader for about three weeks trying to sort things out. There ended up being so much pressure on the lecturer, that our assignments and exams were too easy, and marked to easily, which through off the legitimacy of the course. So that was certainly a challenge and really stressful.
Which was your most rewarding?
It’s neat when I sat on our programme committee and they were talking about what exactly had gone wrong with that programme. They noted that I had done a really good job, the lecturers recognised that I had put a lot of hard work into the course and it was a nice pat on the back. So getting some recognition for your hard work is really rewarding.
What skills have you picked up from being a student rep. that you can apply to career knowledge in the future?
One thing I’ve definitely learnt is how to deal with adults and superiors constructively in a professional environment. Also, I’ve learned how to phrase issues in a non-confrontational way, as not to offend people. If you approach people without being accusational, they end up being a lot more responsive. Even when you’re angry, it’s important to stay calm
Why did you initially volunteer as a student rep?
The rep. prior to me left because she had a baby and didn’t come back at the beginning of this year. She asked if I could take over from there. A lot of our courses have changes since the last group has gone through the programme, so there are lots of hiccups, and we’re trying to improve the course. We come off looking like a really demanding cohort, which isn’t exactly the case, it’s just a “bad time”.
What advice do you have for new student reps in 2012?
To know your lecturers! You’re not going to be an effective student rep. if you’re not willing to go the extra mile. You have to attend class to understand the problems and relate to everyone. You also have to know the rules, and some of the academic statute in order to recognise when something doesn’t sound right. You have to be proactive with the issues that are brought to you. Also remember that the USU is always here for back up.
How has being a student rep. connected you to the Unitec community?
I definitely know the lecturers within my faculty a lot more than the average student. So if I have a problem myself, I know exactly where to go. I mean, the other day I had a coffee with the programme administrator for a bit of a catch up and a chat, and not many people can do that.
What personal lessons have you learned from student representation?
Particularly for me, our degree is really male based, I learned not to let anyone tell me that I can’t do something. The guys tend to push a bit, so it’s taught me that I’m just as capable of doing anything they can. It’s taught me some self confidence as a female in a male dominated industry.