Are you passionate about giving students in the School a voice on issues like learning and teaching, community, and support? Christopher Campbell is the 2024/25 SoPA Undergraduate Representative, and in this article he shares enthusiasm for the role he is about to undertake.
If you are keen to be a representative, details of opportunities for UG, PGT and PGR students can be found below.
Christopher – School UG Representative
I’m Christopher (he/him), in the 4th year of my Theoretical Physics MPhys. I’m also honoured to be the elected undergraduate representative for SoPA this year, which means I represent the School as a whole at the student council and the University.
I really enjoy working with others to improve the student experience within the School. I view organisational and administrative challenges somewhat like physics problems — complex and interesting to tackle! I’m looking forward to tackling those challenges and helping you however I can, be it advocating to the University, bringing up issues with School staff or just giving advice. I’m also excited to work on student support and the curriculum with staff.
Programme representative experience
Before being School Rep I was a Programme Rep for all three years, which means I represented other people on my degree and year. Programme Rep is a great role which inspired me to nominate myself as School Rep. Besides finding out so much about how the University works and getting to know the School’s leadership (they’re really nice), as a Programme Rep you’re part of a great team of reps all working together to make this degree better. It’s a great feeling.
Applications are open and it’s a role where you can invest as much or as little time as you like, so I encourage you to apply. No experience required. Programme Reps are the people who fix issues directly with lecturers and it’s much less scary than it sounds, so come join the rest of us reps!
I’ll probably be seeing many of you around the JCMB and I’m present on various platforms, but otherwise if you’d like to ask me anything just send me an email (c.c.w.campbell@sms.ed.ac.uk) or visit the School’s wiki page (which will soon be updated for 2024/25!)
Nominations for Programme Representatives
Each year we ask for students to volunteer as Representatives for Physics and Astronomy degree programmes (ideally we need student reps for all years of all programmes). Student representatives consult with the year group to get an understanding of issues to raise at SSLC meetings (Student-Staff Liaison Committee) which is the main forum for staff and students to discuss matters and work together on understanding the issue and where possible identify solutions. Representatives will then feedback outcomes and decisions back to students.
Issues which are raised usually concern support resources and facilities in the School, timetabling, and sometimes wider issues relating to facilities on campus.
· Undergraduate students
If you are interested in becoming a representative for your year and degree, complete the nomination form by Friday 27 September 2024:
· Taught and research postgraduate students
The School needs a PGT Representative and a PGR Representative. If you are interested in becoming a representative, complete the nomination form by 12.00pm Wednesday 2 October September 2024:
PGT and PGR student nomination
