Student Staff Liaison Committee (Taught Programmes)

Purpose

The University of Southampton and the Students’ Union are committed to working in partnership to provide effective structures for student feedback and representation.  Student-Staff Liaison Committees are the central pillar of the student representation structure and were implemented to establish effective communication between students and staff. The purpose of the SSLC is to consider issues raised by students, which would enhance their student and education experience, and provide action and feedback in response.

Responsibilities and Activities

The responsibilities and activities of the SSLC are as follows:

• To consider issues which would enhance the student experience, including, but not limited to:
  • quality of training and supervision
  • progression review experience
  • the provision of pastoral, study skills support and general student support
  • learning environment, resources, facilities, and study space
  • campaigns and issues raised by the Students’ Union’s
• To establish effective communication between students and academic staff.
• To ensure that student representatives have access to data collected from students that could impact on the shape of the education experience, including, but not limited to:
  • Feedback on mandatory training: Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety, Ethics, OTD, Data Management
  • The Doctoral College & SUSU Experience Survey
  • Any Faculty / School surveys
• To refer all issues which cannot be resolved by the academic team within the School / Faculty to the relevant professional service or senior academic for investigation, review and response.
• To ensure that the Academic Co-Chair investigates and responds to all School or Faculty-related points and monitors all feedback raised by students to ensure responses are provided.
• To review SSLC activity for the year (last SSLC meeting of the year) as per the Academic Student Representation Policy.

Membership

Co-Chairs:

SUSU Postgraduate Research Officer

Director of Faculty Graduate School

Student Representatives:

Faculty PGR Programme Representatives as appointed internally

Academic Representatives:

Deputy Director of Faculty Graduate School

Doctoral Programme Directors

Professional Services Representatives:

Faculty Doctoral College Team Leader

Committee Administrator


Additional Optional Attendees:

• Students’ Union Representation Team may attend any relevant SSLC in order to provide support and guidance.
• Representatives from the Library and iSolutions should be approached by the Committee Administrator in advance of each committee meeting, to ascertain whether there are any written updates which should be shared with the committee.
• Representatives from the Library, iSolutions and other Professional Services teams may be invited to attend if both Co-Chairs agree

Frequency and Timing

The Student-Staff Liaison Committee will meet at least three times per year.

Reporting Requirements

• Minutes of the Student-Staff Liaison Committee will be reviewed by the Graduate School Committee.
• Minutes of the Student-Staff Liaison Committee will be shared with the Students’ Union Representation Team Via the Student Voice SharePoint site.

Terms of Reference Review

Date of last review:....... June 2024

Date of next review:...... June 2025

Governance Structure

The Student-Staff Liaison Committee (Research) reports to the Doctoral College Committee and Students’ Union Representation Team.