Latest Minutes
Staff Forum - Monday 14th November - View them here>>
Management Group - Monday 24th October - View them here>>
University News
The University will officially close for Christmas at 1pm on the 23rd December and reopen on the 3rd of January.
Staff Update
Although he has been with us a while Mark Whelan has been appointed as Deputy Bars and Entertainments Manager.
Lauren Curtis will be leaving her post as Community Liaison Coordinator for the Student Community Partnership as she will be taking up a new role as a Widening Participation Co-ordinator within the University of Bath.
As you will know from the previous newsletter Tim Cobbett has recently joined the Advice and Representation Team, here is a little bit of background about Tim.
TIM COBBETT
Prior to my arrival at Bath I have been busy accumulating the CV that one would expect of someone with a highly developed sense of ambition; that ambition being to ensure I never had to work in the private sector. I started out organising Edinburgh University’s Freshers' Week programme in which I used my introductory speech to make about 65% of 5,000 students laugh by telling them a joke about a supermarket. Sadly I lost the joke from my repertoire when Safeway’s were taken over by Morrison’s.
I was then an education sabbatical at Edinburgh in the period that is now known, at least to me, as the ‘golden age’ of top quality student representation – the mid noughties. I attempted to convince students and academics alike that academic representation was relevant and important with all the zeal of a missionary during the crusades but thankfully, without the need for quite so many human-rights abuses.
I used this as a springboard to cultivate the phenomenon commonly called ‘hyper-geekery’ and worked for Universities and the Quality Assurance Agency on projects such as the impact of the learning environment on the way that students learn, the benchmarking of quality across the sector and the sharing best practice from higher education sectors overseas.
At the same time I also continued my involvement in the student movement after being elected to the Executive Committee of NUS Scotland, much to the annoyance of those who I had annoyed whilst a sabbatical, which is to say everyone. I also took part in some institutional QAA reviews as a student auditor.
More recently I have been at the University of Gloucestershire, first as a learning support assistant in student services and then as Democracy Co-ordinator of the students union there. If you ever want to feel good about working here, I’ll tell you about Gloucestershire.
At the same time as the later role I was also working part time in the constituency office of the Wells Lib Dem MP Tessa Munt. I was in charge of using the medium of replying to peoples letters to defend the indefensible in Coalition Government policy, which I found worryingly enjoyable.
Now having moved to a new area, and given a new lease of life by the fact that I know longer feel quite so responsible every time Government cuts lead someone I know losing their job or a service that they rely on, I start as Representation Co-ordinator.
It is a new role designed to add to the capacity and capability of the representation team. I will be taking a specific focus and responsibility for representation at the faculty level; including the training and briefing of faculty reps to help them be effective at the University committee’s they attend within their faculty. I’ll also be providing support to our Academic Exec committee.
I also hope to be able to support our efforts in working with the student reps and officers in providing well researched and evidence based representation through conducting background research/analysis of good practice on issues relevant to our students, and using this information to brief reps, officers and the SU staff team as appropriate.
Thanks for having me, and I look forward to getting to know everyone.
Current Project Updates
Shadowing Project- Charlie Slack
Over the next few weeks, you may be aware of University senior managers following students around - this is for the university 'Shadowing Project' which pairs up students and key staff to enable both to understand a little more about each others lifestyles. The Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research (Jane Millar) will be shadowing students on the 6th December, and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor Learning and Teaching (Bernie Morley)will be shadowing on the 25th November. All will probably appear in the SU at some point.Charlie is co-ordinating this for the SU and can answer any of your questions.
LPO Newsletter - Alex Poole
There is still some space left in the LPO newsletter for upcoming events, these can either be towards the end of the semester or the beginning of next Semester. Or any that are an ongoing regular activities. Please remember most LPO students aren't regularly on campus. If you have any concerns or queries please get in touch with me
ap328@bath.ac.uk and we can work something out. The aim is to have a finalised copy of the newsletter by the end of next week so can I have things ASAP. Thanks.
Student Enterprise 11 - Siobain Hone
For the 3rd year in a row the Enterprise area of the SU have run the Student Enterprise Shop Competition aka Student Enterprise 11. Student teams had to pitch for the right to trade for a day in an empty shop in town with a £200 start-up loan and a local business mentor for advice and support. Training sessions run through SORTED and by SU staff prepared the teams who had to produce financial and marketing plans together with a signed-off risk assessment. Winners are the team who make the most profit and that team will get to keep their winnings. The competition celebrates Global Entrepreneurship Week and finishes with a Grand Finale on Friday 25 November in the Guildhall where each team does a presentation reflecting on their learning.
See
www.bath.ac.uk/student-enterprise and the BANTER Bath Entrepreneurs fb page for more info.
Investing In Volunteers - Anna Boneham
The Volunteer Centre are busy setting in motion interviews linked to the renewal process for the Investing in Volunteers Award. This award will ensure the SU are following good practice linked to all of its volunteer roles. The week beginning the 21st November will see some SU staff and volunteers going through face to face interviews with the IIV assessor, as well as asking for questionnaires to be completed from a certain number of volunteers. The SU will then get feedback on wether any areas need developing and actions put in place before then being awarded with this kitemark. If you've any questions please email Anna on
A.Boneham@bath.ac.uk
Student Involvement in STEM Activities - Lisa Benjamin
Lisa Benjamin recently attended a workshop on Student Involvement in STEM activities - Is it a good idea, what works and how can we make it better?
The workshop focused on different models of involving students in STEM outreach projects:
- Using student volunteers
- Paying students
- Giving students academic credit
There was also a session on employability training.
If anyone would like more information about the workshop talk to Lisa Benjamin
l.benjamin@bath.ac.uk, and as a side note they served particularly delicious hummus and feta sandwiches and fancy crisps!
Social News
Birthdays
Happy belated Birthday to John Morgan (21st Nov) David Howells (20th Nov) and Mark Whelan (15th Nov)
Christmas Party
The Christmas Party will take place on Tuesday 20th Dec at The Cork. The sign up list for the Christmas Party is in the SU Kitchen. Please make sure you have signed this by Friday 25th November.
If you have any ideas of games or things we can do at the party please do let Helen know. The party does not official start until 7.30pm however some people will want to do something straight from work as not worthwhile going home. An email will go out about this closer to the time.
Discounts
For any of you who like 'Gap' you can download a 30% discount voucher here. This is valid until the 27th of November.
Don't forget all staff are able to purchase an NUS Extra card. This could save you a few pennies around Christmas.
Skills and Talents
Did you know that your fellow staff members have the following skills and talents.
Carol: Weaving
Amy: being Crafty (anything craft related)
Tim S: Drawing (with crayons)
Tim C: Stand up comedy
Polly: triple dismount.. !
Fiona C: Fight dancing
Lisa B: American drag queen terminology
Alex P: Knows 200 Types of tea
Charlie: Guerilla Baking
Geraldine: Soft Furnishings
Becky G: Dog trainer specialising in Pet Dogs through positive reinforcement method
Helen F: Card Making
Carrie: Jewellery Making
Sabb Reunion
The sabb reunion will take place on Friday 6th January from about 6pm - all staff would be welcome but there will be a small charge for those having food and drink. More details to follow.
Get to know you- Carrie Blake
Full Name: Carrie Blake
How long have you worked at BUSU? Eight months and it's been hectic, challenging and very rewarding.
What is your favourite film? It's probably Billy Elliot. It captures everything about the North East perfectly: its rugged beauty and the humour, strength and pride of its people. It has great shots of where I grew up (Durham). I remember friends at school whose Dads were involved in the Miners Strike and how it divided everyone. The last three seconds is one of the best moments in any film. All that and the acting is superb.
Who is your favourite band? Snow Patrol would be my "cooler" answer. I have to admit to loving a bit of old-school Madonna though - sad, but true.
What place in the world would you most like to visit? India. The history, fashions, crafts, music, country and whole culture looks fascinating. Now, they know how to do weddings! I am slightly reluctant to go as I don't know anyone that hasn't been and got really ill though.
What did you want to be when you were younger? A vet - and then I watched (All Creatures Great and Small) what they have to do to help cows give birth...
One funny fact about you? I have interviewed JK Rowling and over 100 other successful Scottish women (including Lulu, Lorraine Kelly) as part of a PR campaign I thought up about inspirational Scottish women. I got it on the front pages and double page spreads in the Scottish national media like the The Times, Daily Mail and Sun - it went viral. It was very exciting at the time as for a week the whole Scottish media was saturated with the campaign and discussing Girlguiding in a positive way. My favourite answer was JK Rowling's response to what she liked about Scotland and she said "the men are handsome, the country is beautiful, the whiskey is delicious..but don't eat the macaroni pies".