Hi fellow students
I hope you are well. I am Charon the current WELS Faculty Rep standing for re election. I thought I would tell you a bit about myself. I am a mature student studying in the school of Education Childhood Youth and Sport at this time I am studying a BSc in Sport and Fitness. I have previously completed my BA (Hons) in Primary Education and a Masters of Education in Inclusive Practice my dissertation was completed on Understanding Dyslexia in an on line learning environment. I have two sons aged 24 and 30 years old and 3 cats who invariably join on line meetings. I am a carer to my 24 year old who is Neurodivergent as am I.
My Manifesto
The issue that I believe is significantly impacting students within the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education, and Language Studies and the wider Open University is the awarding gaps among our students. The focus of Access and Participation is currently on students studying with mental health challenges, Black students, and those from areas identified by the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), which highlights regions with significant social deprivation. The faculty’s emphasis is particularly on addressing the awarding gaps for students studying with mental health challenges and how we can support their academic journey. I plan to continue presenting information on supporting students with Mental Health Challenges to improve their academic outcomes within the faculty and wider Open University. I intend to develop this material for use in training for the Student Support Team and to incorporate it into Associate Lecturer training across the Open University. I will be presenting on this topic to Open University staff at the Faculty’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Festival in late April. To further support our underrepresented groups with their academic journey, I have been championing student voice and co-creation in module assessments. Additionally, I have been sharing top study tips on OU Connect and have presented on this topic during Open SU Welcome Weeks in September and January. A current project I am involved in is Turnitin. I have written a HOOT article on this and have co-created a video for the Open University, so students have a better understanding of how to use it and what the report outcomes refer to.
Thank you for your consideration
Best wishes
Charon
Lovely article Charon