Student-Staff Liaison Committee (Postgraduare Research Students)
Terms of Reference and Constitution
Origin
The Student-Staff Liaison Committees (SSLC) are a central pillar of the student representation structure and were implemented to establish effective communication between students and academic staff.
Purpose
The University of Southampton and the Students’ Union are committed to working in partnership to provide effective structures for student feedback and representation. The purpose of the SSLC is to consider issues raised by students, which would enhance their student and education experience, and provide action and feedback in response.
Responsibilities and activities
To establish effective communication between students and academic staff.
To consider issues which would enhance the student experience, including, but not limited to:
quality of training and supervision
progression review experience
the provision of pastoral, study skills support and general student support
learning environment, resources, facilities, and study space
campaigns and issues raised by the Students’ Union
To ensure that student representatives have access to data collected from students that could impact on the shape of the education experience, including, but not limited to:
Feedback on mandatory training: Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety, Ethics, Orientation to Teaching & Demonstrating (OTD), Data Management
The Doctoral College and SUSU Experience Survey
Any Faculty/School surveys
To refer all issues which cannot be resolved by the academic team within the School/Faculty to the relevant Professional Service or senior academic for investigation, review, and response.
To ensure that the Academic Co-Chair investigates and responds to all School or Faculty-related points and monitors all feedback raised by students to ensure responses are provided.
To review SSLC activity for the year (last SSLC meeting of the year in the Summer Term) as per the guidance found in the Academic student Representation Policy.
To report to the Faculty Graduate School Subcommittee.
Reporting arrangements
Minutes of the SSLC will be reviewed by the Faculty Graduate School Subcommittee.
Minutes of the SSLC will be shared with the Students’ Union Representation Team via the Student Voice SharePoint site.
Constitution
Co-chairs:
Elected SUSU PGR Faculty Officer.
Faculty Director of Graduate School (FDoGS) or nominee (usually Deputy Director of Graduate School).
Student Representatives:
SUSU Faculty PGR Programme representatives, as appointed internally
Academic representatives:
Deputy Director of Faculty Graduate School
Doctoral Programme Director
Professional Services representatives
Faculty Graduate School Team Leader
Committee Administrator
Additional optional attendees:
CHEP DC representatives to provide advice on professional training and development
PGR Senior Tutor
Students’ Union Representation Team may attend any relevant SSLC to provide support and guidance
Representatives from the Library and iSolutions should be approached by the Committee Administrator in advance of each committee meeting, to ascertain whether there are any written updates which should be shared with the Committee
Representatives from the Library, iSolutions, and other Professional Services may be invited to attend if both Co-Chairs agree
Quorum
The SSLC will be quorate with one third of membership plus one in attendance.