At Chester Students’ Union we aim to empower students voices. One way that we do this is through our Student Voice Representatives (SVRs) and Student Voice Partners (SVPs).
Our SVRs and SVPs enable students to be involved in academic decisions and create positive change on their courses and beyond by shaping the student experience.
What is a Student Voice Rep?
SVRs represent the views of students on their course and enable student voices to be heard through Student Voice Meetings, which allows them to influence change on their courses and within the University. This is done through collecting feedback from their course and working with our SVPs and academics to bring about change to ensure students are receiving a quality education.
Want to be an SVR for your course? Speak to your lecturers and they’ll be able to point you in the right direction. You can also email studentreps@chester.ac.uk to find out more.
FAQs
What do SVRs do?
SVRs are an important link between students and their academic departments. They have the responsibility of making sure your lecturers and course leaders are aware of any student feedback and communicate back any responses given back to students too. They attend student voice meetings to communicate this feedback.
What training do SVRs get?
CSU provide training for all SVRs and have also created a SVR handbook for reps to refer to within their role. Throughout the year, CSU may also provide reps with additional training or opportunities which will help to improve their CVs!
Why should I be an SVR? What are the benefits?
There are so many benefits to being an SVR! There are loads of skills you can pick up throughout the role, including communication skills, leadership skills, collaborative problem solving, and lobbying for positive change for students. You work will also be recognised as volunteer work too, so you can log your hours with the volunteering team. You’ll also be eligible for nomination for the SVR of the Year award at our annual Awards ceremony.
I’m an SVR! How do I collect feedback?
The way you collect feedback is up to you! Here’s some ideas: create a course group chat, use Microsoft Forms to gather anonymous feedback, email/message students directly (with consent), or hold a drop-in session where students can come and find you. You’ll be added to a Teams channel where you can record your feedback for your department and CSU to see.
What type of feedback do SVRs collect?
SVRs can gather feedback on a wide range of issues that relate to your student experience. Key themes include: teaching, assessment and feedback, learning opportunities, academic support, learning community, learning resources, module-specific issues, and student voice.
Find your SVR
Want to know who your SVR is on your course? Fill out this quick form and we’ll email you with their details. If there aren’t any, maybe you could take on the responsibility yourself!
What is a Student Voice Partner?
SVPs represent students’ voices at a School level to help empower students feedback within each school by working in partnership with SVRs, students and school level senior management. Their role is to work in collaboration with Chester Students’ Union to improve the student learning experience by helping develop and lead on opportunities for the academic and wider experience, whilst contributing to building a stronger, connected community.
Keep an eye out at the beginning of each academic year for more information about becoming an SVP. It’ll be advertised on our social media as well as on our Careers page. You can also email studentvoice@chester.ac.uk to find out more.
