Course reps/ Student Action Groups

Academic representation is a partnership between the University of York Students' Union and University departments. Together, we aim to ensure that students contribute directly to the processes of reviewing, maintaining and enhancing the quality of the academic experience here. You can go to academic reps with any feedback about best practice, concerns or suggestions about how the department or aspects of your programme are run.

There are three types of academic reps:

• Course Reps act as the voice of their cohort and work with staff to make improvements to their course. By gathering student opinion, Course Reps become specialists in course-based issues, helping to identify and tackle problems that arise.

• Department Reps take on a leadership role and support Course Reps to make positive change to the department as a whole. Department Reps are also invaluable contacts at the University of York Students’ Union and take part in University-wide projects that improve the student experience.

• Faculty Reps work behind the scenes ensuring that the student voice is heard at all levels. By sitting on high-level committees, they influence University-wide decisions as well as pushing forward their own manifesto projects.

You can apply to be a course rep if you’d like to represent the views of your fellow students and have a say in how your programme is run.

All academic representatives will be given regular departmental support and resources to support their role from a named contact within Student Services. This is provided during the recruitment process, induction and through the term of each role. Please contact Student Services for more information.

Course Representatives are also responsible for ensuring that students are properly represented in regular monitoring of quality within the Department, including the ‘Annual Programme Review’ and ‘Periodic Review’ every 5-6 years.  PG Departmental Rep is invited to attend the PG Teaching Committee; they can invite one of the PG Course reps to attend in their place if they are not able to attend a PGTC meeting.   

For the department’s academic representation information please visit our Student and Learner Representation webpages.

PG Student-Staff Forums are informal meetings which are arranged for all PG course representatives to meet to raise issues with members of staff within the Department. Staff who attend these meetings are involved in supporting the student and learner experience and maintaining the quality of the teaching and learning provision; these typically include Programme leadership and student support in addition to the PGTC Chair. In response to the University requirements regarding the operation of Student-Staff Forums, minutes from the postgraduate Student-Staff Forums are received by the PG teaching committee.

If you attend Departmental meetings as a Course Representative and the meeting clashes with a timetabled session, you will not be counted as 'absent'; however, you will be required to inform your lecturer of your whereabouts during this time. Representing your peers at the PG Teaching committee  is relevant evidence towards transferable competencies containing elements such as communication and interpersonal skills, and leadership, management and team working.

An Academic Representative noticeboard is also located in the Student Services resource area.