EVoC Student Union Elections 2009
Do you think college life could be improved?
Have you got something to say but don’t know how to say it?
Stand for student governor and really make your voice heard.
This opportunity only comes up once a year, so make the decision to get involved…now!
Poster
Background information for prospective student governors
Thank you for considering standing for election as a student governor. This briefing sheet is to give you some background information about the College and the Corporation (Board of Governors). It also suggests ways in which you might benefit from becoming a college governor and outlines what the College’s expectations are of the student members of the Corporation.
Sussex Downs College (SDC) was established in 2001 by the merger of Eastbourne College of Arts & Technology and Lewes Tertiary College. A second merger with Park College in 2003 made us the biggest College in Sussex and one of the largest colleges in the South East. We now have approximately 6,000 mostly full-time students under the age of 19 and around 10,000 adult learners. The College has over 1400 staff and an annual turnover in excess of £40 million.
Governors play an active, challenging and significant part in developing the mission, direction and the educational character of the College. They monitor progress and are responsible for approving the annual estimates of income and expenditure. There are currently twenty Governors on the Corporation, representing the different categories of membership which are listed below. You will find further information about individual members of the Corporation in the Governance section of the College’s website.
The Governing Body currently has a determined membership of twenty, consisting of:-
Staff members 2
Student members 2
Principal 1
External members 15
Staff and student members are nominated and elected by the groups which they represent. The “academic staff member” is nominated and elected by members of the lecturing staff; the “support staff member” is nominated and elected by the non-lecturing staff. Two student members are elected, one from the Eastbourne campus and one from the Lewes campus.
Meetings of the Corporation and its Committees usually take place on Wednesday evenings starting at around 6pm. The Corporation meets at least termly and each of the Committees also meets at least once a term. As a student member, you will attend meetings of the full Corporation and also the Curriculum and Standards Committee. The venue for meetings alternates between Eastbourne and Lewes. The College will reimburse you for any expenses you incur in travelling to meetings.
You will also be required to attend occasional training events; the most important of these is the annual away day for Corporation members which is scheduled for Wednesday 14 October 2009.
Advantages of being a Student Governor
1. Gives you the opportunity to find out more about the College and how it is managed.
2. Gives your CV a boost; employers and universities are looking for students who have had this sort of experience.
3. You may be nervous initially but speaking at Corporation meetings will help you to develop self confidence.
4. You have an opportunity to influence the way the College is run and to bring about change.
5. Helps you to develop an understanding of how boards and committees work which could be very useful later in life.
6. Gives you job satisfaction – you feel you are helping someone else by being a spokesperson for the student community.
Expectations
1. Make every effort to attend Corporation meetings; there will be at least three during your term of office (they are held on Wednesday evenings starting at 6.00pm and the venue alternates between Lewes and Eastbourne). You will also be expected to attend meetings of the Curriculum and Standards Committee – again these are three per year. After each meeting, there is a buffet supper in which you are encouraged to indulge! This will give you an opportunity to meet and talk to other members of the Corporation.
2. To participate in induction and training activities for members of the Corporation. You will be expected to attend an initial induction session with Richard Coombs (Clerk to the Corporation), which will take approximately one hour. You will also be invited to have much shorter meetings with John Blake (Principal) and Jonathan Morris (Executive Director Finance). There is a Training Day for all Corporation members on Wednesday 14 October and you will be encouraged to attend at least one other training event where you will meet student governors from other colleges.
3. To attend, if possible, other college functions to which Corporation members are invited e.g. Awards evenings, Drama / Music productions, Student Conference.
