PERIODIC REVIEW VISITS: AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A STUDENT PANEL MEMBER

Would you be interested in joining a panel of staff and students to evaluate taught courses and the quality of the student learning experience in a review of an academic department?

There are a few vacancies for student panel members to participate in a Periodic Review in 2012-13 on the panels of 8 review visits taking place from December to July 2012/13. The Periodic Review is an important part of the University's monitoring and review of taught courses.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

We will appoint student panel members who have the following abilities and attributes:

• Experience in representing the views of students
• Knowledge of and interest in the welfare of students and their concerns
• An effective, confident communicator and team worker, with good spoken and written skills
• An ability to work within agreed procedures, deadlines and confidentiality
• Be able to give constructive feedback
• An ability to use and interpret evidence from variety of sources
• The commitment to complete the duties of a panel member

A STUDENT PANEL MEMBER WILL:

• Have a chance to make a difference to the learning experience of students in another department
• Gain experience of working with staff as part of a team, participating in meetings with a range of staff and students and acting as a ‘critical friend'
• Gain an insight into how taught courses are managed and improved
• Receive £100 upon completion of your duties (less tax)
• Be able to use this experience to count towards the Sheffield Graduate Award
• Have the support of the Students' Union and Learning and Teaching Services throughout the process.

DUTIES OF A STUDENT PANEL MEMBER:

• Attend a friendly and informal briefing session on the role of student panel member (1-1.5 hours)
• Read through information sent in advance of the visit, thereby becoming familiar with the provision to be reviewed and able to identify potential challenges, good practice and innovative learning and teaching to be explored (4-5 hours)
• Attend a briefing meeting in advance of the visit with other panel members at which the conduct of the visit and issues to be explored are discussed (1-2 hours)
• Actively participate in all meetings throughout the visit with staff, students and the panel (10-11 hours)
• Have a particular focus on student support and the student learning experience
• Reach a series of conclusions as a group with the whole panel
• Comment on a draft report and to provide feedback on the process (1 -2 hours)

If you are interested in this role, please contact Rachel Handforth in the Students' Union (rachel.handforth@sheffield.ac.uk) for an expression of interest form.