Friday 13-10-2017 - 14:37

Course reps are the elected students responsible for talking to other students on their course about their educational experience at Durham University. We asked some of last year's Course Reps why you should think about running this year.

 Marie-Louise Wohrle, 3^rd year Archaeology & Anthropology, now SSH Faculty Rep:

When I started university, I was incredibly tempted to run for course rep. However, when elections came around, I was actually too scared to put my name down! No one else from my course ran either, so our lecturers asked us to volunteer, and I finally found the courage to apply.

I don’t regret taking the chance one bit now!

Although the course rep tasks from asking all my course mates for feedback and actually speaking up in meetings sounded intimidating at first, I soon figured out what to do, and when to do it. 

Being a course rep really introduces you to your department. You meet the course reps from the other year groups, the people doing administrative tasks, and of course past and future lecturers. Those contacts were  incredibly helpful the entire time I’ve been here, from book recommendations to knowing who to contact for which issues. 

It also helps you get to know your course mates! Between organising feedback,  group study spaces, and more I got to meet some of my best friends.

Last, but not least, being a course rep has helped me become better at speaking in front of groups, more organized, and overall more confident. It is great to be able to represent your year, and it is amazing to actually see the changes you helped make come into effect!

And of course, last year I filled out my for to run for course rep as soon as nominations opened!

 

 Lewis Wright, 3^rd Year SASS, now SSH Faculty Rep:

I was a course rep throughout both first and second year, before successfully applying to become faculty rep for the School of Applied Social Sciences (SASS) this year. I got involved in the role because – first and foremost – I wanted to take on as much responsibility as possible when starting university, and, as well as taking on Exec roles in college, the position of course rep enabled me to do just that on a wider university basis. Along with the responsibility that the position brings, it also helps you to make a very real difference to both your own and your peer’s experience of university, and who would not see the value in that?! I have gained a huge amount from my years as course rep, such as improving my transferable/’soft’ skills, and developing really strong relationships with students, lecturers and other staff with a vested interest in the course. 

 

 

Thomas Musson,  3^rd Year Music, now AH Faculty Rep:

I chose to become a course rep because I value the contribution that students must make in their degree courses and believe that universities must provide an educational service to students that ultimately benefits them, and their wellbeing. Students choose to go to university and pay their extraordinarily high fees so to provide a platform that will lead to future success and prosperity, and therefore, it is paramount that universities must listen to student's concerns, and course reps are essential in that relationship.

As a course rep for the last 2 years, I have been able to encourage changes to the structure and content of many degree modules, as well as introducing new student support systems, all which benefit the overall wellbeing and experience of students at university. Being a course rep is such a rewarding opportunity that our university gives, and so for those that value student's contribution to our degree courses, being a course rep is something to seriously consider. 

Nominations for our 2017-18 course rep elections are now open on DUO!