Stand as a Student Governor?

Interested?

Just download a nomination form.

What is the time commitment for a student governor?

The Board of Governors has five full meetings a year. There are occasionally away days which are all day meetings taking place at a location away from the university, sometimes with an overnight stay. Governors will also need to find time to prepare for meetings, usually by reading through the papers that are normally distributed a week before.

What qualifications do I need to have to be a student governor?

No formal qualifications are required.

What training will be provided?

Training for the position is not provided by the Students’ Union, however the university do make available training opportunities for student governors, often at locations away from the university.

What sort of people will I meet?

The Board of Governors is made up of a number of people with interests and experiences from outside the university. At the same, through meetings of the Board, there will also be regular liaison with senior management of the university.

What are the benefits?

The experience and knowledge that can be gained from being a governor of a large complex institution like UWE cannot be easily replicated elsewhere. You will benefit from the experience and skills you develop from working with people with a wide range of backgrounds in many industries. You will have the opportunity to make personal contacts with a number of influential people.

What will I learn?

You will learn about how strategy of a higher education institution in developed and put into practice. You will also learn about a number of future developments at UWE. Many of the items discussed by the Board of Governors are highly confidential and sensitive, and you must be prepared to keep this confidence at all times.

What support will I receive?

Support for the Governors is provided by the University’s Secretariat and the Clerk to the Board of Governors. For this elected student position, support is not directly provided by the Students’ Union.

Who will be my main points of contact?

For governor business the Clerk to the Board of Governors will be an important contact. You will also work with the SRC President, who is also a governor.

Who is eligible to be a student governor?

Any UWE student studying during the 08/09 academic year may be nominated as a student governor.

Why do we have student governors?

Student input is vital to the running of the university at all levels. Student governors are in such a position that they are able to give student opinion and thoughts on projects, initiatives, and strategy long before they put into practice. In order that university can have confidence in its understanding of the student opinion, the student governor is one of a number of positions that are available to students on university committees.

Are there any other student governors?

Yes, the SRC President also serves as a student governor.

Where can I find out more information about the Board of Governors?

More information on the governors and their roles can be found on the Secretariat web pages

Are there any other meetings that I need to attend as a governor?

Possibly. There are a number of sub-committees of the Board of Governors, and these occasionally have positions that become available. The student governors will on occasion fill these positions, however this is not guaranteed.

Do I get paid for being a governor?

No, the governor is an unpaid position, however you are able to claim expenses for costs directly associated with your role as a governor. The role of student governor is exempt from the Students’ Union attendance allowance scheme for student representatives.

How long does a student governor serve for?

Student governors are elected for one academic year, so the term of office officially terminates on 31st July 2009.

What happens at governors meetings?

Governors meetings can cover a wide variety of topics ranging from the University’s buildings and estates, to key matters influencing learning and teaching. Prior to each meeting a pack of papers will be distributed that governors will be required to read in order that the discussion at meetings is appropriately informed.