Student Academic Link

The Open University Students Association (OUSA)
in the West Midlands

Regional Forum

JOB DESCRIPTION

Student Academic Link

In order to become a SAL, you have to be studying a course in the faculty that you are interested in as well as resident in the Region. If you are interested, please inform your Regional Forum officers and/or members (through an email, details supplied if necessary, etc.) and tell them that you are interested in filling in a specific post.

What does a SAL do
Basically, SAL's are an extra support for our fellow students in matters relating to their academic queries of their studies. SALs pass information on, not only onto students, but we do pass on any information that might be relevant to the OU so that our studies may be as beneficial to students as possible. Please also note that we do not replace tutors, the OU study counsellors, or Student Support Links but merely specialise in passing academic information to and from students, to keep students informed, and keeping OUSA informed of Academic issues as and when they arise, as well as a basic form of suppport should students need it.

STUDENT ACADEMIC LINKS INFORMATION

General Information
1) Candidates for the post of Student Academic Link must be studying a course appropriate to the post for which they are applying
2) Candidates may only apply for one Student Academic Link post in each election period
3) No member shall serve as a Student Academic Link for more than four full terms of one year
4) There is no bar on candidates for these positions holding another position in OUSA
5) Please note the Equal Opportunities statement contained on the nomination form

1 Student Academic Links (SALs) _ Outline of Role
1.1 This role has been introduced into the OUSA structure to enable us to respond to feedback from students indicating that they would like OUSA to put considerably more emphasis on providing them with support related directly to their studies.
1.2 The whole emphasis of the role of SALs is "to provide students with a point of contact for academic based issues". There is provision for each Region and Sub Region to have a SAL for each of the following faculties: - Arts, Education and Language Studies, Health and Social Welfare, Management, Mathematics and Computing, Science, Social Science and Technology.

2 Relationship to the current OUSA Structure
2.1 OUSA has for sometime had a network of Student Support Links (SSLs), one per Region, whose primary function is to provide information and support to students who encounter problems or difficulties in finding their way around the University_s systems, procedures and requirements.
2.2 The SSL role is general rather than being related to issues of detail concerning a particular course or faculty of study and comes under the remit of Vice President Student Support.
2.3 The SSL role was developed in recognition of the fact that the central function of Student Support would be considerably more effective with _elements_ of that function spread throughout the Regions. The existence of SSLs in Regions, working with both the Regional Forum (RF) which elected them and Vice President Student Support, has greatly improved our intelligence about key student issues; strengthened the effectiveness of our relationship with the OU at Regional level; strengthened our own organisational coherence by further enhancing the role of RFs within our structure; and perhaps most importantly of all, enabled us to provide a more accessible and relevant service to students.
2.4 The SAL network falls under the remit of the Vice President Education. However, there is a substantial role to be played in co-ordinating, supporting and developing the SALs structure if we are to achieve the benefits we hope from its establishment. The role of Executive Committee Member for SALS was therefore created to work alongside VP Education.
2.5 SALs and SSLs can therefore be seen to be complementary roles mirroring the complementary functions of our Vice Presidents Education and Student Support. In many cases the question as to whether an issue is academic/education or general/student support is quite clear cut. However, there are the inevitably grey borders around which at times it is very difficult to make a categorical decision. Rather than have protracted debates on where an issue truly lies, for the most part we have relied heavily on a constructive partnership between those carrying out the roles of Education and Student Support. We would very much like to encourage that same approach in the Regions and RFs are ideally placed to foster that approach.

3 Place within the OUSA Structure
3.1 In accordance with the OUSA Constitution, SALs are elected by the Branch/RF Officers and are voting members of the RF. RFs provide an important forum for linking SALs across the Region and assimilating this role into our Regional structures. As with other positions elected by RFs, RFs will have the general responsibility for supervising the activities of SALs.
3.2 All SALs are co-ordinated and supported by the Executive Committee Member for SALs under the general direction of Vice President Education.
3.3 Additionally, Vice President Student Support provides assistance in promoting an effective relationship between the new SALs structure and Student Support, whilst VP Representation will perform a similar function in respect to the relationship with the Central Reps system.
3.4 The Executive Committee Member for SALs is an ex-officio member of the Education and Representation Standing Committees.

4 The role in more detail

4.1 Key Tasks:-

To be a point of contact for students ensuring that they are dealt with promptly and in line with OUSA policy asking advice from Lead SAL/ECM SALs as appropriate.
To ensure SSL contact details are available to students and publicised within the Region.
Be aware of the OU Faculty Staff Tutor and ensure that good working relations are maintained.
To work closely with the Lead SAL to ensure that identified issues are passed to ECM SAL/VP Education.
Introduce yourself to Regional Executive Committee Member and Lead SAL by attending Regional Forum meetings.
To be active on First Class SAL Conference, if possible.
To work with other RF post holders: Student Support Links, Disabled Student Link.
Be active! Remember that there are opportunities to meet with students at Course Choice Events, Induction Meetings, Residential School, Tutorials, Societies and face to face at Branch Meetings. Introduce yourself as a Faculty SAL
To provide an information resource within OUSA on academic based issues which can be used to inform Branch, Regional, Executive Committee and Conference debates
To provide an information resource within OUSA that can be used to improve the effectiveness of our system of representation on Central Boards and Committees
To raise the profile of OUSA amongst students of the faculty in that Region and promote the role of SALs
Generally to assist OUSA in effectively representing the interests of students to their University

4.2 Desirable qualities:-

Helpful, approachable and objective ensuring that enquiries are dealt with professionally being aware of issues of confidentiality and OUSA policy
Knowledge of issues affecting study in the faculty concerned
Understanding of OUSA objectives and structure
Knowledge of OU systems
Ability to maintain confidentiality where required
Good communications and listening skills
Ability to report issues clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing
Willingness to use FC Conferencing system IF having the necessary hardware

4.3 Time Commitment

Attendance at RF Meetings (numbers vary in different Regions)
Attendance at RCC Meetings where asked by the RF to attend
Attendance at any training events which are organised for SALs.

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