October - Train, Recruit, Elect and Interview

USW Snowsports at our Societies Fair. Photos courtesy of Rachael Roberts.

I was forewarned that October would be a busy month for me. It's when we try and sort out a lot of things at once here at USWSU. From getting SVRs and Course Reps in position to promoting Student Council positions to getting societies on the go. All whilst trying to attend meetings at all the different campuses of the University of South Wales. In all, it's been a month of ups and downs for me as I look back at the last thirty odd days:

• Presented the Academic Manifesto, along with the sabb team to Vice Chancellor Julie Lydon.
• Organised the Societies Day held at the ATRiuM on October 2nd along with the Cardiff Societies Officer Rachael Roberts. In attendance were Tequila Radio, USW Snowsports, Yoga Society, ATRiuM Christian Union and the new ATRiuM film society.
• Got trained up with Panopto, the lecture capture system USW uses. We're looking to use it for Course Rep Training so refresher training is available online.
• As part of the Learning Environment Review steering group, I've been spreading the word about the survey that was recently released on UniLife to students and I gave my input into the wording and structure of the survey.
• Met with students wanting to set up a Drama Society and a Musical Theatre Society and helped them with administration and getting their society off the ground (a point actually in my manifesto! Way!)
• Attended Associate Trainer Training which will feed into the Course Rep Training will be undertaking in the next couple of weeks.
• Sat on the panel for interviews for Student Voice Reps in Cardiff and Treforest and helped decide some of this year's SVRs.
• We had our by-elections. I helped give out nominations pack to those who ran in the election in the Cardiff Region and answered any questions they had. We now have 4 elected Student Council Officers which unfortunately isn't enough to be quorate and effect decision making. Therefore I'm now in the process of trying to find more officers. If you're interested please email vicepresident.cardiff@southwales.ac.uk ASAP.
• We had our GOAT (Go Out and Talk) day at Newport City Campus where we received significant feedback from students about the SU provision there and how much money they thought we received from the University.
• Said goodbye to Sara Correia, our Integration Co-ordinator who left to join Swansea Students' Union.
• Met with Emma Robson from Cardiff Digs and sabb officers from Cardiff SU and Cardiff Met SU about how we could work together on projects such as Keep Cardiff Tidy and Accomodation.
• Helped deliver the Student Voice Representative Training and participated in some of the games in the evening (there was free food which assured my attendance!)
• We had an emergency Trustee Board meeting to discuss the financial state of the Students' Union. We're currently in some difficulties and looking to restructure to make the Union sustainable and fit for purpose in the future. We'll be releasing more info on this in the coming weeks.
• Met with Mark Cadwallader along with the sabbs and our CEO to get a better insight into the University's strategic plan to see where the Union could tie in to this going forward.

The Tequila Radio crew at the societies fair. The station is now 5 years old.

So that was October. In truth I think I should have spent more time this month going out and talking to students in the three Cardiff buildings - ATRiuM, Cromwell House and Atlantic House and this is definitely something I'll look to work on in November. This is especially important based on the situation with ATRiuM 2A and how any Students' Union facility there might look. Hopefully I'll see you then.

Laters,

RQ