Developing Support

Just to re-introduce myself – I’m Gary McLachlan, and I used to be Mature Student Rep; and was jointly responsible for forming EMSA in the first place…

However, given there is now a ‘history’ to look back over and review and that my full-time job at the Guild involves supporting EMSA rather than planning it then changes are something I have to help with, and help deliver but not necessarily strategise.

This post is just to let you know that things are still happening, and there will be further news about support and social networks for mature students, student parents and student carers very soon.

Apologies

Apologies for not updating the blog for a while. If truth be told, I only just worked out how to access and post on here.

We are approaching a new year at Exeter and this can be a daunting prospect for new mature students. I am at present working on profiles and contact details for your Mature Student Reps and for your Student Parent Reps.  These will be posted and available to you as soon as I have them available.

Details of EMSA’s plans for welcome week will also follow as soon as I have them sorted.

I hope to have these details posted shortly.

In the meantime, if you are on Facebook you can join the EMSA Facebook group where you will find other Mature Students who study at Exeter University.

Sabbatical Elections

I know you’ve had emails galore from everyone else, encouraging you to vote; but just in case you still haven’t – that you think the candidates have nothing to say about, or to, mature students and student parents, I’d like you to think again.

There are strong candidates in every position; and the new posts of VP Participation and Campuses, VP Academic Affairs, and VP Welfare and Community in particular have impact, or will have impact upon the experience that we as mature students and student parents get from our time at University. 

We have been noticed; our concerns are becoming more apparent to both the University and the Guild – The entire committee have been working hard to ensure we are a visible presence on campus, and that our needs are taken as seriously as those of the ‘ordinary’ student.

The candidates have noted this too, and I’d advise you to read the manifestos online, and chose the candidate you think offers the most positive points on improving the experience for us, the mature and student parents – or, collar the canvassers or campaigners out on campus at the moment, and ask them what they are promising for mature students and student parents! Thank you for your time, the link to vote on the OVS is https://elections.exeter.ac.uk/guild/ – vote by position, rank your candidates according to their manifestos, then confirm your vote with your password and it’s done!

Term 2: First Update

Welcome back from Christmas, hope all is well with all of you and that those of you with exams are finding them OK and not too stressfull…

Due to a lack of attendees, and the problem of getting enough people to man a stall, the Post-Offer Open Days are not having a separate mature student stand this year, but just in case any mature students or student parents do turn up, we’d like to be able to offer them some kind of help/advice/a chance to sit down and chat with current mature students or student parents.

We are therefore asking for volunteers to be on “stand-by” on those days; just in case someone comes, so that the prospective student can visit you – either in your department or for a trip to wherever you normally take lunch, (or anything else you’re doing that day that can be attended by a visitor) and ask anything they need to know, and see how life at University looks from a mature student perspective.

The dates are: 3 Feb, 10 Feb, 17 Feb, 24 Feb, 3 March, 10 March, 17 March, 24 March – you can volunteer for as many or few hours or days as you’re able to offer; and the more people volunteer the merrier

A prospective mature student is interested in shadowing a current undergraduate English Lit. major for part of a day to find out more about the course and campus, so if there’s anyone who’d be able to volunteer for that then please let us know.

Contact for both of these items should be made with Sue Lucas (on the University email as Lucas, Susan)

We’re currently hoping to take part in the Unified annual event run by the Guild, which will run from 10th March to 12th March this year – once again we hope to make whatever event we hold very child-friendly (like the Christmas party) and appeal to students of all ages, so watch out for more news on this soon!

Next year we’re really pushing hard for mature students and student parents to have at least one official Guild/University provided Welcome Week event, to help new mature and student parents settle quickly into University life without feeling quite as excluded as they may have in the past – if anyone has any input at all on what kind of information/talks/services should be provided at this event then PLEASE email me (gjj202@exeter.ac.uk) with your ideas ASAP so that I can feed them through to the appropriate people.

Breast Feeding

Clinics and support:

• Monday 1-3pm – Baby Cafe (Exwich Community Centre)
• Tuesday 11am-1pm – 1-2-1 Clinic (West Exe Children’s Centre, call 453 440 for an appointment)
• Wednesday 12-2pm – 1-2-1 Clinic (West Exe Children’s Centre, call 453 440 for an appointment)
• Thursday 10:30am-12pm Baby Cafe (West Exe Children’s Centre)
• Friday 12:30-2:30pm – 1-2-1 Clinic (West Exe Children’s Centre, call 453 440 for an appointment)

Breast Feeding Support Line:

• If you are a breast-feeding mother and are experiencing any problems, however big or small, please call for some quick friendly advice, support and encouragement.
• 07707 167 776
• Lines are run by West Exe Breast Feeding Peer Supporters and are open daily between 9am-3pm, outside of those times you can leave a message as your call will be returned as soon as possible.

University Transport Survey

The University is interested in measuring University of Exeter staff and student customer satisfaction with Public transport to, from and between Exeter based campuses (Streatham and St. Luke’s) through the D bus/ Public Transport survey. 

 

It is open to all staff and students who are based at Streatham or St. Luke’s campuses.

 

Click here (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/N66XPPD) to fill in the survey.

 

Everyone’s contribution is valued, it is not limited to those who currently use public bus transport to travel to University campuses.

 

Filling in the survey gives you a chance to win:

1. 13 week Stagecoach Exeter Megarider (value £140.00)
2. A Stagecoach Spring Term Exeter Unirider (value £115.00)
3. Pinhoe Organics Fruit Bags for 3 prize winners
4. A voucher for a trial bag of Linscombe premium organic vegetables.

Deadline for filling in the survey is 23^rd December 2009.

The prize draw will be held on 11^th January 2010

Guild Annual General Meeting

The Meeting

The Students’ Guild Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Wednesday 9 December from 12-2pm in the Lemon Grove (Lemmy). This is your chance to have your say on what the Guild does for you and to approve the Annual Report & Accounts, the Budget and the Plan for the year. The deadline for submitting motions is 12 noon on Thursday 3 December. Motions can be submitted online, here. For information or advice on writing a motion speak to one of the sabbatical officers or drop in to the GI Hub on the first floor of Devonshire House next to the Advice Unit and The Works.

EMSA is submitting a motion relating to Society contact with memberships through Facebook, since we are concerned that this excludes more mature students and student parents than an email contact would. If you have any personal issues that you feel need raising or to vote on that motion then come along.

Student Trustee
At the AGM we will also be electing a new Student Trustee to the Students’ Guild Trustee Board due to a resignation. For more information please visit the GI Hub.

Elections Officers
At the next meeting of Democracy Committee on Thursday 3 December a new Senior Elections Officer (SEO) and Senior Deputy Elections Officer (SDEO) will be elected. Any current student can stand for election. The skills you will develop in this role include time management, conflict resolution and communication skills which would look great on your CV. Experience of elections is desirable but training will be provided. For more information please visit the GI Hub or email Jen Stoneman.

D is for Dire… Survey

Just how Dire is the D Service on campus?

Should the University be paying for this ‘service’ at all? Given they do pay; should they negotiate a penalty clause, as the local council do for their supported services? Any other thoughts? How long is your average wait for an overcrowded bus? Do you drive rather than use the bus?

TELL US MORE… Comment below.

Access Students’ Open Day

Undergraduate Mature Students or Student Parents are welcome to volunteer to Sue Lucas, to assist for a couple of hours on Wednesday 25th November…

“in particular to meet students as they arrive at the Peter Chalk Centre at 1.30pm prior to the presentations on applying, finance and Flexible Combined Honours taking place in Newman C, 1.45 pm – 3 pm.  There will be around 60 Access to HE (Humanities) students attending.”

Guidelines for Volunteers: http://exmsa.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/volunteer_guidelines.pdf

Committee Meeting 30/10

Committee Meeting minutes from 30th October 2009. Link [PDF]

and in other news, Kim’s contractions started today… so we should soon be able to announce the latest junior member of EMSA