We hope that you have been able to access all of the information you need to effectively carry out your role. However, sometimes there will be things that are not obvious or you might be unsure about and so we have pulled together some Frequently Asked Questions about the Class Rep role.
I am elected as a Class Rep what happens now?
How do I find out about Class Rep activities, meetings and events?
Why do Class Reps have inductions sessions?
What happens if I cannot attend an induction session?
Why are Class Reps trained?
Is there a difference between induction and training?
Why is training in two parts?
What happens if I miss training or cannot attend?
What meetings do I have to attend?
What if I can’t attend a meeting?
I need help completing my check in, what should I do?
A classmate has approached me with a personal issue, what should I do?
I’m concerned about a fellow classmate’s safety, what should I do?
Do I always have to speak to the Students’ Association to solve problems?
Congratulations on being elected your Class Rep, shortly you should begin by signing up to your Class Rep Induction which will cover what you can expect from your role and what will happen this year. You can do this by checking out the Class Rep Get Started page for further information.
All Class Rep activities, meetings and events will be updated on the Class Rep Get Involved Page so we recommend checking this regularly for information on what you should engage with. We will also email you regularly to provide you with updates and remind you of actions that are to be taken. In addition to this Class Rep Information is always shared in the Class Rep Facebook Forum and on the CitySA Facebook page.
Inductions have been set up to support Class Reps in getting started by giving you a chance to learn more about your role and what to expect over the year. We will go through the CitySA systems and how to use them and you will also have the opportunity to ask any questions.
The first round of induction sessions will run from mid-October to the start of December with new sessions available every week so you can sign up at any point to complete your induction. If you are having problems signing up or none of the dates/times available suit please get in touch with the team – citysa@cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk
With any role we want to ensure that you have the knowledge and skills necessary to carry it out effectively. The Class Rep training is accredited by Student Partnership in Quality Scotland (sparqs) and is designed to help you identify ways of improving the experience of your class. At the end of the year you will receive a certificate from sparqs which is recognised by employers and a fantastic demonstration of your commitment and skills.
Yes, your induction session will introduce you to the college Class Rep systems you will use this year such as Meeting formats, College Questionnaires and Class Rep Check Ins. Training on the other hand focuses on the skills you need to use these systems successfully including how to provide effective feedback.
To make sure that you get everything you need out of Class Rep Training without having you tied into a 3 hour zoom session, sparqs (our training provider) has opted to split training between an online module and an online session. The online module will cover theory-based information and the online session will allow you to practice some of these theories with your peers in an interactive way.
Whilst training is free to our Class Reps there is a cost associated with it for the SA so we ask that if you commit to a training session please make every endeavour to attend. We of course understand that you may not be able to attend for reasons out with your control we only ask that you let us know as soon as possible so we can update the trainer and support you in re-booking your session – citysa@cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk
There will be a number of meetings throughout the year both organised by the Students’ Association and your lecturers. It is essential that you attend your class rep induction meeting as this will give you all the information you need going into your role as a class rep. For more information visit the Get Involved section of the module, also keep your eyes out for CitySA emails and posts in the Class Rep Forums.
If you can’t attend a meeting please try to find someone else in your class to head along on your behalf, they should let the meeting facilitator know when they arrive. If you are unable to arrange this then you can check the Module for meeting summaries and actions you may have missed. If you have any further questions about a meeting you have missed please contact citysa@cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk
If you need assistance in completing your Check In you can request to make an appointment with the team. Someone can support you over the phone, through zoom or face to face – which ever suits you best.
You can speak to a Student Engagement Officer who will signpost you to the appropriate service relevant to your issue, see Key Contacts in our Get Started Page. Failing that you can head along to the Student Services desk (2nd floor at City Campus and Ground Floor at Riverside Campus) where the team there will be happy to assist you.
As a Class Rep you are not expected to support students with personal issues but you can and should sign post them to the Student Services who will be more than happy to assist them. They are based on Level 2 of City Campus and Ground Floor of Riverside.
As a Students’ Association representative, it is your responsibility to alert a member of the Staff Team of any serious concerns you have about the welfare of any student or students you are working with. The staff member will consider the information you have provided against the College’s Safeguarding Policy and decide on a course the best course of action to support the student.
No, the Students’ Association actively encourage and empower students to effect change in the college. In the first instance you should speak to your lecturer or guidance lecturer and work your way up from there. If you feel you need support to make change happen you can contact the Students’ Association at any time.