StARs (Student Academic Representatives) are the first line of student representation within the University. They are responsible for ensuring that your voices are heard by your department and work to enhance your teaching and learning experience. It's up to you, the students, to make sure that your StAR knows what concerns you - whether it is the availability of resources, contact hours with lecturers, pastoral support from personal tutors; anything and everything academically-orientated.
StARs operate at programme level within each department - there should be at least one for each year of a degree; i.e. a StAR to represent the views of Part 1 Physical Geography students, another for Part 2, a third for Part 3, etc.
They have a number of ways in which they deal with your feedback.
Firstly, your views can be raised as issues at the regular department level Staff-Student Liaison Committees; there are staff representatives on these committees who help work out the best ways to resolve issues that have been highlighted.
Secondly, StARs have a responsibility to flag recurring or common issues to their Education Representatives each term via a short bullet-point style report. There are two elected Ed Reps in each of the five faculties within the University, and these ten individuals are able to deal with issues and provide feedback at a faculty level. The Ed Rep team also work closely with the Vice President Education throughout the year to drive positive change for the student body. For more information, visit the Education Reps homepage.
Finally, StARs always have the support of the Students' Union, in particular the Vice President Education. This ensures that issues from right across the University can fed into the Students' Union and raised at University-wide meetings.
If you are interested in becoming a StAR visit The Hub in your Students' Union and ask to speak to Tommy Gilchrist, Vice President Education, or email him at t.gilchrist@reading.ac.uk
StARs_Key_Information
