Words by Luke Ford, first year Course Rep for Sports Therapy and Course Rep of the Year Winner
My Course Rep Experience
Why I'm a Course Rep
I put myself forward to be Course Rep for Sports Therapy at the start of this year as I felt that I could use my previous experience to help my course develop and help others on my course if they had any problems or queries throughout the year. This role has allowed me to work with my Course Lecturers, the SU and my Institute Rep to sort out problems, to feedback to staff and to always be there just to support my course whilst developing the link between myself and the SU.
Top Tips for 1st Year Course Reps
- Always attend training. The SU and University has outstanding training for all volunteer roles to help you understand and gain ideas which allows you to develop and recognise what the role is all about.
- Talk to other Course Reps from other courses. Talking to other Course Reps from other courses allows you to advise eachother and help to develop your role as Course Rep.
- Always pass comments on from your coursemates. Making sure you are always ready to deal with any queries and questions your coursemates have for you and take their comments and queries to higher level staff members if needed as you cannot always deal with the issue yourself.
- Continuously feedback to the SU and your Institute Rep. Feeding back to both the SU and your Institute Rep allows you all to be on the same script throughout the year, meaning they are able to support you and help you throughout, making your role easier.
- Lastly, remember you're there to help your coursemates with any course related queries and questions they may have.
How to manage your time as Course Rep
This year I have found it very easy to manage my time as Course Rep with everything else going on at University because I do not necessarily need to put a load of time beside for this role. This role allows you to focus on your studies and socialising at the same time. On the other hand, you need to make sure you are always there to listen out for feedback and problems that need to be fed up the chain to your Course Leader/Institute Rep or across to the SU, depending on the issue. The Course Rep role is flexible throughout the year with sometimes it being busy especially around Course Management Meetings which happen twice a year and just after exams. The SU and your Institute Rep fully support you in this role throughout the year, meaning you have people to turn to if needed.
Why I love being a Course Rep
I love being a Course Rep for Sports Therapy as I feel I have a responsibility to my coursemates to perform well in this role, with all of them supportive of me and know that I care for them, whilst looking to develop in this role and make their life easier on the course. Throughout the year I have kept on top of things and I believe all my coursemates appreciate how much I do in this role and know that I am always there if they need anything.
I have been fully motivated and determined to perform in this role this year and would like to carry on doing this next year, developing my role further and making sure that I keep persisting if there is a problem. In September I plan to develop the role further and have already put plans in place with my Course Leader to help develop and try to recruit the new 1st year Course Reps by giving a presentation and have asked if I am able to help them and advise them into their new role in September. I believe this will then help the link between all years on the course.
Course Rep of the Year
This opportunity has been such a good opportunity for me and it has been a pleasure to represent the 1st year Sports Therapy students this year. It has given me a huge confidence boost and allowed me to gain links between our course.
I had the pleasure of attending the Union Awards back in May 2018 thanks to my coursemates who nominated me for the Course Rep of the Year Award, and I was shortlisted to the final 6 for the award. I was very honoured to be just shortlisted and believed that I was just at the Awards to have a good time and didn't believe I was going to win Course Rep of the Year. However, as the night went on, my name was called out and I had won Course Rep of the Year. I still can't believe it.
Thank you to all my coursemates who nominated me for the award with the following comments:
"Luke has been an outstanding Rep for us all this year and never gives up and has sorted many issues out such as kit."
"Luke being passionate and determined to make change for all to benefit from."
It has been a huge honour to represent my course this year and the Course Rep of the Year Award topped it off, especially being the only first year to be nominated, it was such a privilege to know that my coursemates appreciate my work and dedication to the course.
I would recommend any student to become Course Rep as it is such a rewarding role which allows you to help others.