Hi, I’m Jimmie and I am running for Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Rep and would love to be able to be a part of the Student Leadership Team to help bring about positive changes for all students. I have a keen passion for Arts and Humanities and have studied Photography, Media, History and Psychology in the past and I am currently in my first year of my degree studying Social Sciences.
This is a summary of my key points as I know manifestos can be a big read.
I Want To:
My Main Issue:
Too many students feel isolated studying from home.
My Goal:
Let’s make The Open University more community-oriented!
Below is my full Manifesto if you want to read it all and if you have any feedback, I’d love to hear it.
Thank You, Happy Voting and Good Luck to Everyone Involved.
My Uncropped Campaign Photo
Candidate Question 1 : Why are you standing for the role? What qualities do you bring that would make you a great or effective student leader?I am standing for the role of Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Representative so I can be an active voice of change at the Open University.I am a hard worker who works well as part of a team or independently. I will always push myself to achieve my goals, but with helping others as the main focus in my life.I have spoken to many FASS students in my two modules, as well as at Student Union events, clubs (including OUPIPS, where I am treasurer), and when I volunteered at a graduation ceremony. Through this communication, I have listened to the concerns and issues students face, and armed with this knowledge, I will work with the University faculty members and Associate Lecturers to bring about positive change for the betterment of all students.
With this change, I promise to communicate updates on actions taken and to always listen to concerns and issues students face, whilst trying my best to see that any problems get swiftly resolved.
Key actions I already have in mind from listening to fellow students are; greater communication between the faculty and its students, including more timely responses to questions and concerns, as well as trying to have more tutorials and options for more in-person events.
I will do my best to always uphold the principles of the OU by continuing to push for equality, diversity, and inclusion, which is important to me being someone who was recently diagnosed with ADHD, and to continue the great work done by the current FASS Rep, Jack Flaherty, by continuing to champion support for students to help increase student wellbeing, and by advocating for the best consistent academic practice.
I believe FASS is the backbone of the Open University, that Arts and Humanities are key areas in education and even with governmental change in focus towards other areas of learning, we will still shine and show that FASS subjects are to be championed and are just as important in modern life as they ever were. As a former photography student and current social science student, I have a vested interest in FASS continuing its success.
I am determined to succeed and to make the Open University a better place as I go through my studies, and I would love for you to be able to help me make that possible by electing me to be a FASS Rep.
Nori Says “Please Vote Jimmie For FASS Rep!”
Candidate Question 2 : With consideration to the role you are standing for, please describe an issue that you think is affecting students at The Open University.
A huge issue affecting students at The Open University is connectivity. Many students can feel isolated whilst studying from home, and I feel improvements could be made to ease this.
FASS holds lots of great events, but they are seemingly advertised late, with little attention being paid to whether students get invite links to the rooms on the day of the event or to whether the events will be recorded and if so, where they can find the recording. I would love to see a change so that students can easily see a list of upcoming events and know as early as they can to plan their calendars around them, with a clear indication of whether they are recorded and where to find them after the fact. I would love students to have the opportunity to have more tutorials, maybe at times that aren’t so rigid, so students around the world can have the chance to attend. I would also love to see more face-to-face meetings available so students can meet and connect whilst learning.
This lack of connection reaches outside of FASS and into the link between the OU and SU. This link is not implemented well, meaning that some students don’t even know about the Student Union or how to access it. The Student Union holds events and sessions that can help people not feel alone; they range from study groups that help people find time to concentrate with others at the same time to get their work done, to specific meetings for support groups, including LGBTQIA+, BAME and Disability groups, all whilst supporting the values of EDI. They have a great range of support hubs, a student newspaper (The HOOT), and even a social network (OU Connect). This wonderful place allows you to meet others going through the same issues you are, and it helps you not feel alone on this study journey. All these activities and people are out there, and yet as a student, I barely see anything about them when I do my weekly studies, there’s a few forums on student home, but these can be quiet. So, I would love to work to see more integration between the two, so people can experience the wonderful world of the SU to help get through this life-changing experience of studying together-apart, whilst maybe getting involved in volunteering to make things better for each other.
As my dog Nori in my picture says, Please vote for me. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580782005723
Let’s make The Open University more community-oriented!
Improve communication & response times across the board
My Uncropped Campaign Photo
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