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Term 2 has come to an end, and what an incredible term it has been. From Change Week, the Cultural Festival and our Guild Awards, it has been so inspiring to highlight and celebrate the diversity, talent and passion of YOU, our amazing students. You make Exeter the amazing community it is, and campus is feeling really quiet without you!
Read on to hear just what your Officers have been doing this term. See our term 2 impact here.
Alex (Guild President)
What are you most proud of?
This term I led on finishing the student section of Exeter’s University Mental Health Charter Application. This was a really important process as the award assessors will give the University a clear set of weaknesses to improve and strengths to maintain if they want to get the charter award. I led on researching students' views through surveys and advisory boards and then writing a 2,000-word student submission and also organising a student focus group for the assessors - so they could understand the reality of mental health in Exeter.
What changes have you created for students?
I think the best changes are the ones created by students, so my most important action has been getting the University to fund student-led projects to improve the student experience. This started with using insights data to develop a framework for key student issues: burnout, cost of living and belonging. Now I have successfully convinced the University to put up to £20K of funding behind student proposals to research and tackle these issues. These will be starting up soon and I’m looking forward to seeing their results!
What has been your best moment from Term 2?
100% the Guild Awards, it was just amazing to see and celebrate all the amazing work done by students in Exeter.
India (Societies and Employability Officer)
What are you most proud of?
Putting together a society finance workshop for society leaders and the Guild Finance team! We worked together to talk through the current processes and got society leaders to design what their version of a great finance processes looks like (for example how we can get expenses paid quicker). It was really great to get students together with the Guild to make real tangible changes to the Guild's finance process to remove barriers and have a more seamless experience with treasuring.
What changes have you created for students?
Working with the Career Zone on a variety of projects, ensuring they are receiving student feedback at all levels! Some of the things I've worked with them on include a working group to lower the gap in graduate outcomes for widening participation students, creative careers week, and running disclosing a disability workshops
What has been your best moment from Term 2?
My favourite moment has to be the Guild Awards! It was so inspiring to see all the amazing work our societies, reps and students do to foster inclusive communities and make real change right here in Exeter!
Kira (Student Living Officer)
What are you most proud of?
I’m really proud of the work I’ve been doing with academics against assault. Academics against assault is a charity founded at Royal Holloway University of London that works to tackle sexual assault on campus and provide support for survivors. This has been amazing to work on and the students running it are doing absolutely amazing work, so I’m really proud of our progress and looking forward to what we can accomplish going forwards!
What changes have you created for students?
I have been working with one of our EDI consultants as well as the commercial services team within the University to get them to conduct a food review of our commercial outlets. This was informed by students telling us that food on campus lacks inclusivity, particularly for halal and kosher diets. The University has committed to improving its signage for halal options and is keen to work with us on improving food inclusivity on campus.
What has been your best moment from Term 2?
It’s not just one moment, but I’ve really enjoyed the work we’ve been doing around classism. Myself, Seb, and India have been putting a lot of work into how we support widening participation students and students from lower socio-economic backgrounds. We’ve got a lot of exciting things in the works, and we’re so excited about the progress we’ve made and where we’re aiming to get to!
Seb (Education Officer)
What are you most proud of?
Our continued work with other Russell Group Student Unions. In particular, the work on International Student's Rights with Thomas has been so amazing. We helped roll out the international student survey and will likely be taking it to Parliament! But more about that soon, so stay tuned!
What changes have you created for students?
This term has been really big for change! For one, I supported the rollout of the New Mitigation System! The old system was incredibly clunky and inaccessible, and seeing it go is already having a hugely positive impact on students.
The other huge change that the other officers and I contributed to was the expansion of Bursary Support to reach even more students! With the cost of living crisis continuing to impact us so hard, this was a much-needed change. You can read more about that here.
What has been your best moment from Term 2?
Without a doubt, it has to be the Guild Elections! Getting to know all the fantastic candidates and seeing all the PASSION couldn't be more inspiring! I honestly can't wait to see all their amazing ideas become reality next year!
Thomas (Communities and Equality Officer)
What are you most proud of?
I’ve spoken about this before, but I think it has to be the workshops and submission writing for the NHS 10-yearplan. An opportunity like this only emerges when there’s a change in Government, which can be quite a long time, so it was really amazing to be able to seize this moment. Usually, charities that represent different groups submit to things like this, but the student perspective can be lacking. It was really great to be able to get student concerns and to submit them, especially hearing from those that will be working in the NHS after university. Your expertise and passion, in combination with everyone voicing their own personal experiences, ensured our submission had really informed proposals and suggestions for the service. By contributing, we’ve made sure the ideas we want to see taken up are given more attention.
What changes have you created for students?
Currently, the University is in the process of applying for an accreditation from the Student Minds charity. Part of that is being assessed on their current wellbeing provision and potentially being given a list of objectives to meet in order to attain the award they’re applying for. I was able to represent students on the parts about intersectionality and our marginalised students, making sure your concerns with the University’s provisions don’t go unheard.
I’ve also kept pushing the University to be more ambitious with getting accessibility resources out (like campus maps) and to ensure curriculum changes and teaching staff keep accessibility at their centre of things. I was also one of the writers for the University’s new mental health strategy.
Outside of the university though, I’ve been doing a lot of work with partners like the Russell Group Students’ Collective and the National Union of Students. I’ve helped shaped their surveys and help write their campaign plans for the near future, which includes international student issues and trans rights. Alongside Manchester SU, I’ve helped with lobbying MP’s against the cuts to disability benefits, which will negatively impact our disabled students’ ability to attend university.
What has been your best moment from Term 2?
It has to be the Cultural Festival Variety Showcase! I found out close to date that I would be hosting it, and it was phenomenal to see everyone’s performances! I love the arts and things that bring people together.
