A number of distressed students have been contacting me over the last few days because they have received letters from the university informing them that their bursaries are being cancelled.
This is absolutely disgraceful.
For many students the bursaries are a vital source of money that allows them to study at Reading.
Your students' union will be taking action on this.
As the university is closed until the 5th January I am unable to find out any more details. Once we know more we will let you know what we plan to do.
In the meantime please join the facebook group and invite all your Reading friends to join too.
If you have been affected by this please don't panic, we have a team of expert independent advisors who will be able to help you. They will be back at RUSU from Monday, you can come into the union to talk to them, ring up for a chat, or send them an email and they will get back to you. Find our more here - Student Advice
I will be keeping you updated on what's happening via this blog and the facebook group.
The students' union is here to ensure that you are represented - we will make your opinions known to the university, but we will need your help.
If you have any questions, and suggestions or simply want to rant please email me or contact me on facebook.
Shivam x
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Cancelled Bursaries
Library
In week 8 we'll be launching our library campaign.
For many years now students have been demanding a better library, one that is open when they need it, one that has the book that they need and one that has enough space for them to work in.
This year we are determined to make sure that the university fully address the short comings of the library.
If you have something to say about the library then please leave a comment at the end of this blog - your voice will help us win this campaign!
Shivam X
The story so far...
WOW, it's been an amazing term - I didn't know that one person could have so much to do!
Hopefully you'll agree (although I'm sure a few of you wont) that we've had quite a good term.
Freshers week started the term off with a bang - more students sign up to clubs and societies than the previous year! We had a great RAG week, we developed our fantastic Give it a Go scheme which saw about 200 students try out a new sport.
We've made the library a top priority for the university. It will be open until midnight on weekdays from the summer term (and then for all the other terms too). There will be additional study space made avaliable around the university during the exam period. But we're still not happy with weekend library hours - and will be piling the pressure on the university next term to do something about it!
We've brought a farmers marke to campus, we've lobbied the university about social space in the new hall developments and we've given housing talks to over 1000 freshers.
We had 120 people come to our AGM - a bit of a record! It was great to see so many people who care about the direction of RUSU, who want to know what we're doing and how they can get involved in it all.
But next term is going to be even better! We're revamping our democracy meetings, producing some amazing video's so that you can better understand how we work and, of course, we'll be running loads more campaigns, putting on tonnes of great events and continuing to provide you with great services, advice and opportunities to get the most out of your time at Reading.
If you have any comments or questions please leave a comment on my blog, or email me
Enjoy the holidays
Shivam x
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Elections
First all sorry for completely failing myself assigned task of posting everyday for a week! In the run up to the elections things here were even more hectic than normal!
As most of you will probably know this week is voting week in the RUSU elections. Make sure you check out our Meet the Candidates minisite to find out more about the people running.
We'll be announcing the result in Mojo's on Friday from 7pm - everyone is welcome.
The elections are really important - the people you vote for will run RUSU next year. Their manifesto priorities will become RUSU's priorities - so make sure you vote!
This week I'll also be;
- meeting with students from Health and Social Care department to discuss the closure of their department
- Meeting with the University to talk about the library
- Going to the University Board for Teaching and Learning
- Attending the Catering Management Committee
- Starting work on a best practice guide for JCR's
- advertising Student Feedback Forum
- all the usual things like replying to emails, talking to students and supporting the other Student Officers
If you have something to say about the Union, the University or even life in general please get in touch.
Take care,
Shivam xx
As most of you will probably know this week is voting week in the RUSU elections. Make sure you check out our Meet the Candidates minisite to find out more about the people running.
We'll be announcing the result in Mojo's on Friday from 7pm - everyone is welcome.
The elections are really important - the people you vote for will run RUSU next year. Their manifesto priorities will become RUSU's priorities - so make sure you vote!
This week I'll also be;
- meeting with students from Health and Social Care department to discuss the closure of their department
- Meeting with the University to talk about the library
- Going to the University Board for Teaching and Learning
- Attending the Catering Management Committee
- Starting work on a best practice guide for JCR's
- advertising Student Feedback Forum
- all the usual things like replying to emails, talking to students and supporting the other Student Officers
If you have something to say about the Union, the University or even life in general please get in touch.
Take care,
Shivam xx
Malayasian Night
First of all appologies for not posting in a while. I'm going to make up for it by posting (or at least trying to) every day this week!
Last Friday I went to Malaysain Night, an event hosted by the Malaysian, Singaporian and Brunei Society. It was fantastic! I had such a good time. It also reminded me why I love my job so much - it is so inspiring to see students put so much effort and enthusiasm into a project like this. Everything about the event was done by students.
The event started with some AMAZING food. We were then treated to some dancing and then a play that was written, directed and acted by students. Not only was it great drama but it gave me a fantastic insight into Malaysian culture - I left with a much greater understanding of Malaysia.
It was also brilliant to see so many students there - I believe that there were over 200 people there. More societies should put on events like this, events that reach out to as many different people as possible. We have students from all over the world here at Reading (over 1/3 of our studens are from outside the UK). University is the perfect time to learn more about different countries and cultures.
Shivam x
Last Friday I went to Malaysain Night, an event hosted by the Malaysian, Singaporian and Brunei Society. It was fantastic! I had such a good time. It also reminded me why I love my job so much - it is so inspiring to see students put so much effort and enthusiasm into a project like this. Everything about the event was done by students.
The event started with some AMAZING food. We were then treated to some dancing and then a play that was written, directed and acted by students. Not only was it great drama but it gave me a fantastic insight into Malaysian culture - I left with a much greater understanding of Malaysia.
It was also brilliant to see so many students there - I believe that there were over 200 people there. More societies should put on events like this, events that reach out to as many different people as possible. We have students from all over the world here at Reading (over 1/3 of our studens are from outside the UK). University is the perfect time to learn more about different countries and cultures.
Shivam x
Live from Cafe Mondial
I'm writing this from Cafe Mondial where I'm holding the first 'Tea with the President' session. This is where you can come and have a cuppa with me and tell me anything you like - from how your course is going to what you think we should do to improve our communications. If you fancy sharing a pot of tea with me in the future then you can find the dates here; Tea with the President
I've set up a twitter account so that you can find out more about how I spend my days (at work) one of the questions that we get asked all the time is 'What do you do all day?'.
This week we are trying to find out how we can better communicate with you - so please tell me. Leave a comment on my blog, one comment will be drwan at random and they will win two tickets to the union or comedy night.
Take care,
Your President
Shivam x
I've set up a twitter account so that you can find out more about how I spend my days (at work) one of the questions that we get asked all the time is 'What do you do all day?'.
This week we are trying to find out how we can better communicate with you - so please tell me. Leave a comment on my blog, one comment will be drwan at random and they will win two tickets to the union or comedy night.
Take care,
Your President
Shivam x
End of the Week
We had Student Voice, one of our democracy meetings, on Wednesday. We got loads of great feedback on how we can better communicate with you. We had the premire of the new videos we're going to use to let you know what we've been up to - once we've sorted out a few copyright issues they will be on the RUSU website and facebook group!
We're really keen to know how you would like us to communicate with you - what works, what doesn't. Would you like us to use facebook, emails or flyering? We know that communication is an area that we really need to improve on - so let us know what you think.
We've also unveiled the 'Wall of Change'. This is the large board on wheels in RUSU, we'll be posting difference questions on it and we want you to post your response (using post-it notes) you can answer the question, or just post a general comment.
Other things I have done this week;
- Went to the Halls Management Committee meeting
- Met with JCR committee's to talk about the new JCR committee training programme
- Went to Wolveerhampton and voted to reform the NUS (http://stage.officeronline.co.uk//news/276019.aspx
- Met with Jennifer Ghandhi (Director of Student Services) to talk about all sorts of student things
- finanlised campaign training for the candidates in the RUSU elections
- talked to loads of people about running in the RUSU elections
- listened to 'Single Ladies' by Beyonce a few too many times - it's my new favourtie song!
lots of love,
Your President
Shivam xx
We're really keen to know how you would like us to communicate with you - what works, what doesn't. Would you like us to use facebook, emails or flyering? We know that communication is an area that we really need to improve on - so let us know what you think.
We've also unveiled the 'Wall of Change'. This is the large board on wheels in RUSU, we'll be posting difference questions on it and we want you to post your response (using post-it notes) you can answer the question, or just post a general comment.
Other things I have done this week;
- Went to the Halls Management Committee meeting
- Met with JCR committee's to talk about the new JCR committee training programme
- Went to Wolveerhampton and voted to reform the NUS (http://stage.officeronline.co.uk//news/276019.aspx
- Met with Jennifer Ghandhi (Director of Student Services) to talk about all sorts of student things
- finanlised campaign training for the candidates in the RUSU elections
- talked to loads of people about running in the RUSU elections
- listened to 'Single Ladies' by Beyonce a few too many times - it's my new favourtie song!
lots of love,
Your President
Shivam xx
Conferences
I've spent most of the last week in the midlands at conferences.
The first was the Students' Unions Evaluations Initiative (SUEI) conference on Tuesday in Birmingham. SUEI is a bit like ofsted for Students' Unions. It assesses Students' Unions using set criteria and indicates areas for continuous improvement. It will help us identify areas that we do well and also shows us the areas that we need to improve. The conference was really useful as it provided an opportunity to see what other SU's are doing - we came away with a lot of new ideas! We're being assessed for SUEI later in the year - I'll keep you posted on our progress. If you want to find out more about SUEI go here: http://www.suei.co.uk
My second conference was the NUS Higher Education Conference in Coventry. Again this was really useful, I went with Vicky, our VP Education and Richard, our Chief Executive.
Again the conference provided lots of opportunity to learn about the work that other SU's are doing. It also gave us the chance to be further informed about the current debates happening within higher education, such as improving teaching and learning and higher education funding.
After an impassioned, if slightly alcohol fueled speach by NUS president Wes Streeting I have become re-energised about the 'Broke and Broken' campaign which is calling on the UK government to thoroughly review the current fudning model which is 'broken' and which is leaving students 'broke'. There is a national lobby of parliment at the end of term and I'm determinded that Reading will be well represented!
I also went to an interesting session about student parents and thier expereince in Higher Education - one of the things I talked about in my manifesto was helping student parents - we've got a new nursery being opened soon, but we still need to do more to help these students. If you have any ideas then get in touch, leave a comment or email me .
I'm off the the NUS Extraordinary conference on tuesday - this will hopefully see the ratification of the new NUS constitution that will make our National Union the dynamic campaigning organisation that we need.
As ever get in touch if you have any comments about the union, the university or life in general .You can get my email address from the notice boards :)
Your President,
Shivam
The first was the Students' Unions Evaluations Initiative (SUEI) conference on Tuesday in Birmingham. SUEI is a bit like ofsted for Students' Unions. It assesses Students' Unions using set criteria and indicates areas for continuous improvement. It will help us identify areas that we do well and also shows us the areas that we need to improve. The conference was really useful as it provided an opportunity to see what other SU's are doing - we came away with a lot of new ideas! We're being assessed for SUEI later in the year - I'll keep you posted on our progress. If you want to find out more about SUEI go here: http://www.suei.co.uk
My second conference was the NUS Higher Education Conference in Coventry. Again this was really useful, I went with Vicky, our VP Education and Richard, our Chief Executive.
Again the conference provided lots of opportunity to learn about the work that other SU's are doing. It also gave us the chance to be further informed about the current debates happening within higher education, such as improving teaching and learning and higher education funding.
After an impassioned, if slightly alcohol fueled speach by NUS president Wes Streeting I have become re-energised about the 'Broke and Broken' campaign which is calling on the UK government to thoroughly review the current fudning model which is 'broken' and which is leaving students 'broke'. There is a national lobby of parliment at the end of term and I'm determinded that Reading will be well represented!
I also went to an interesting session about student parents and thier expereince in Higher Education - one of the things I talked about in my manifesto was helping student parents - we've got a new nursery being opened soon, but we still need to do more to help these students. If you have any ideas then get in touch, leave a comment or email me .
I'm off the the NUS Extraordinary conference on tuesday - this will hopefully see the ratification of the new NUS constitution that will make our National Union the dynamic campaigning organisation that we need.
As ever get in touch if you have any comments about the union, the university or life in general .You can get my email address from the notice boards :)
Your President,
Shivam
Bursary Update
There is a statment about the bursaries on the university website (unfortunately my blog won't let me link to it)
The University is NOT cancelling any bursaries. The letters were sent out by the Student Loan Company who administer the bursaries for the university.
I think anyone who has had to deal with the student loan company will not be suprised to learn that the mistake was entirely theirs and not the University's!
Having spoken to a number of people from the university it is clear that the university is extreemly sorry that this happened.
RUSU will be raising our concerns with the Student Loan Company - it is unacceptable that this mistake was allowed to happen. I will keep you posted as to thier response.
As ever, if you have any questions then please get in touch.
Your President,
Shivam
The University is NOT cancelling any bursaries. The letters were sent out by the Student Loan Company who administer the bursaries for the university.
I think anyone who has had to deal with the student loan company will not be suprised to learn that the mistake was entirely theirs and not the University's!
Having spoken to a number of people from the university it is clear that the university is extreemly sorry that this happened.
RUSU will be raising our concerns with the Student Loan Company - it is unacceptable that this mistake was allowed to happen. I will keep you posted as to thier response.
As ever, if you have any questions then please get in touch.
Your President,
Shivam
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