Complete the survey online now

thestudentsurvey.com

and have a chance of winning a £400 Eurostar voucher

Every year, the National Student Survey is launched to find out the views of final year students about their time at Anglia Ruskin. This survey concentrates on 7 key areas; Assessment & Feedback, Organisation & Management, Learning & Teaching, Personal Development, Learning Resources, Academic Support, and Overall Satisfaction. This gives the university a real clear indication of where the problem areas are and allows them to put action plans in place to improve the situation for future students. Being a national satisfaction survey, the results have a clear effect on the national league tables and inform prospective students about Universities before they apply.

Every year, the Students’ Union runs a campaign alongside the University to lobby final year students to fill out the survey. We also do our own analysis on the results and use these to scrutinise the University to make changes in the much needed areas that you point out. Over the past few years, the University have fallen short from the national average scores in Organisation and Management, Assessment and Feedback and Overall satisfaction.

Helen Valentine, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Anglia Ruskin University was recently quoted at a staff day saying “You won’t find another Students’ Union in the country working so hard on the NSS. They produced a very thorough and precise report before us, and we are very grateful for the efforts they put in.”

Last year the Students’ Union ran their campaign with a holiday theme, encouraging people to fill in the survey for a chance to win Thomas Cook vouchers. This campaign won the award of NSS Campaign of the Year 2009 as decided by Ipsos Mori, The NSS facilitators. This year sees an even bigger and more vibrant campaign, with the tagline “How Was Your Journey?” The theme this year is around transport, utilising a train- stop theme to demonstrate the questions that are asked within the survey. You will see the Students’ Union out and about with their station set up, lap tops for you to fill in the survey and free giveaways including coffee from the 15^th March.

“I’m very excited about this campaign. Last year was great, and we managed to significantly increase surveys being filled out particularly in the faculty of Health and Social care. This year sees an even more exciting campaign with bigger and better prizes and incentives. We will be giving students the chance to fill out the survey at our “Train Stop” locations around campus, making it really accessible for all final year students!” says Matt East, President of the Students’ Union.

The NSS 2010 is open until 30^th April, so make sure you fill yours out for the chance to win a Eurostar Trip to Paris!

Firstly we’d like to thank everybody who voted. Over 1500 votes were cast – the highest in the history of Anglia Ruskin Students’ Union. Every result was incredibly close, proving that every vote really does count.

View the results with total numbers of votes click here

Here are the results and the new officer team for 2010/11*

Full Time Officer Positions

President

Matthew East

Communications Officer

Simon Ruggles

Academic Affairs Officer

Elizabeth Dobson-Mckittrick

Student Experience Officer Cambridge

Kelly Sweeney

Student Experience Officer Chelmsford

Maiken Andreasen

NUS Conference Delegate

Maiken Andreasen

Chloe Brown

Lisa Pool

Kelly Sweeney

Part Time Officer Positions

Cambridge

Clubs and Societies Officer

Stephen McGoldrick

Publications and Communications Officer

Michaela Schubert

Welfare Officer

Hannah Contable

LGBT Officer

Alexander Ramsay

International Students’ Officer (representing non-UK- students)

Amit Gupta

Social & Events Officer

Jennifer Hunt

Chelmsford

Clubs and Societies Officer

Peter Jerman

International Students’ Officer (representing non-UK students)

Unathi Sicwebu

Environmental and Recycling Officer

Phillip Wing

Welfare Officer

Marie  Worley

Accommodation Officer

Peter Cackett

Education Students’ Officer

Emma Hobbs

Peterborough

Mature Students’ Officer

Lesley Watts

Nursing Officer

Jessica Marsden

Clubs & Societies

Mark Jacobs

*The close of acceptance of results complaints is Friday 19^th March

Student Rep feedback from the Student Experience Committee, relating to the University’s computers

Full rep feedback here

Login times

The IT Help Desk are reporting login times are now good, a few individual machines are causing problems, but they are working on these with ISMS (Information Systems and Media Services). The delays occurred because the computers were storing student profiles. The IT Help Desk can solve this problem now so if you experience a lengthy login, please report it to the IT Help Desk.

Students finding it difficult to locate a computer to print off work quickly

The library now have five standing height PCs and will install five more when the furniture is delivered (mid-March). They are also in process of installing PC availability screens and working with ISMS and Estates on this; these are ready to go out, pending some software configurations by ISMS.

The inappropriate use of recreational websites during busy periods

Julie Walkling (Director of Student Services), Joe McIntyre (ISMS) and Roddie Shepherd (Library) are getting together to work on this issue in the next fortnight. ISMS have created a Fair Play poster which has gone up in open access areas that will hope raise awareness.

Access to specialised software that is only available on high demand computers

This was raised at the S&T Faculty Board and the S&T Learning and Teaching Committee. Matt East (SU President) is also meeting with an IT technician from the S&T faculty on Tuesday to find alternative ways for students to access software remotely. (Currently licensing restrictions means that certain software installed on individual computers cannot be used this way; however, if the software is installed on the server, it will negate likening issues.) Watch this space!

Access to University pages from halls of residence

Ajay Burlingham-Böhr (Director of ISMS) is working on this and we think the problem has been resolved. Do let us know if you are still having problems.

Students leaving themselves logged in when they are not using the machines

ISMS are working on restoring auto logout; this was originally in place, but stopped working in November. Unattended computers will log out after 30 minutes.

Number of computers

The library plan to install the 25 additional PCs (mainly in the Quiet Study areas) by mid-April. 20 additional computers are also available in Sinclair until the end of April.

We’re putting you first in everything we do.  All of the changes below have come from your suggestions

Commercial Services You Said, We Did’s March 2010

You wanted better less repetitive music at Flirt! in Cambridge
We introduced new DJ’s, rotated DJ’s and monitor their play list more

You wanted better themes at Flirt! in Cambridge
We introduced new themes; ‘F’ Flirt, Toga, A.B.C, Festival and more

You wanted more hot foods in the Chelmsford Bar
We now offer Panini’s, calzone’s and Pot Noodle!

You wanted more healthy foods in the Chelmsford Bar
We now offer wraps and salads

You wanted more ethical choice in the Cambridge Shop
We increased the range of fair trade products

You wanted better value for money in the Cambridge Shop
We started a great value meal deal

You wanted better more art supplies in the Cambridge Shop
We introduced new ranges of paints, inks, brushed and sketch books

Where can I vote?

If you can vote in person here is a list of ballot stations

Cambridge

Students’ Union Office, 1^st Floor Helmore

Library Entrance

Open 10am – 5.00pm, Monday to Wednesday and 10.00am – 4.00pm on Thursday.

Chelmsford

Ground Floor Tindal Building

Ashcroft Reception

Open 8.30am – 3.30pm, Monday to Wednesday and 10.00am – 4.00pm on Thursday.

Peterborough

Students’ Union Office, Thorpe Road Room 8

Open 10.00am – 3.00pm, Monday to Thursday.

Fulbourn

Main Reception, Victoria House

Open 10.00pm – 3.00pm, Monday to Thursday.

This is a brief intro into why, how and where to vote

From the 8^th to the 11^th of March you will be able to vote in the Students’ Union elections.

Anglia Ruskin Students’ Union is an independent organisation managed by students who are voted into post by other students, like you.

The Union’s sole aim is to make your University experience an enjoyable and rewarding one.

Each year we hold an election, the election is where you can vote for the students to run Anglia Ruskin Students’ Union.

You can get involved! You are automatically registered to vote in the election so you can make sure the students that best represent your views end up in charge.

Read the candidates manifestos here:

Key things to remember;

1. Every student is entitled to vote
2. The election is where you can make your voice heard
3. You can vote online via E-vision on the 8^th and 9^th March
4. The results of the election will change your university experience

How?

When students are voting, either on paper or online, they are asked to use a system called single transferable voting. This system allows candidates with the majority of backing, whether they are voted as first or second choice, to be elected in meaning it is more representative.

To watch candidates manifesto videos have a look at the elections pages here, the candidates running for each position will able to answer your questions here.

Full Time Officer Positions

President

Mark Crouchman

Matthew East

Communications Officer

Sarah Channing-Wright

Simon Ruggles

Academic Affairs Officer

Mary Ayinde

Elizabeth Dobson-Mckittrick

Jenny Harangozo

Student Experience Officer Cambridge

Chloe Brown

Ozlem Cansiz

Kelly Sweeney

Student Experience Officer Chelmsford

Maiken Andreasen

NUS Conference Delegate

Maiken Andreasen

Chloe Brown

Lisa Pool

Kelly Sweeney

Didka Zheleva

Part Time Officer Positions

Cambridge

Clubs and Societies Officer

MCGOLDRICK, Stephen

Publications and Communications Officer

SCHUBERT, Michaela

Welfare Officer

CONSTABLE, Hannah

LGBT Officer

RAMSAY, Alexander

International Students’ Officer (representing non-UK- students)

GIUPIA, Amit

Social & Events Officer

HUNT, Jennifer

Chelmsford

Clubs and Societies Officer

JERMAN, Peter

International Students’ Officer (representing non-UK students)

SICWEBU, Unathi

Environmental and Recycling Officer

WING, Phillip

Welfare Officer

WORLEY, Marie

Accommodation Officer

CACKETT, Peter

Education Students’ Officer

HOBBS, Emma

Peterborough

Mature Students’ Officer

WATTS, Lesley

Nursing Officer

MARSDEN, Jessica

Clubs & Societies

JACOBS, Mark

Fulbourn

No nominations

If you’ve missed the nominations deadline but still want to be involved with the union come and see us at the SU Office.

As many students often find it difficult to see an Adviser during the day, the Cambridge SU Advice Service will be piloting early evening appointments on Wednesday 10th March and Wednesday 17th March between 5pm and 6pm.

If you would like an evening appointment with Edna or Tessa on these days please contact the Students’ Union office to arrange one. Please note that this service is not currently available to Chelmsford students.

Find out more about the Advice Service as well as general opening times and appointment booking details on the Advice Service page

From today we are accepting nominations for the 40+ officer positions available at the Union.

Anglia Ruskin Students’ Union is run by five students elected by you. These students have either taken a year out during their studies or immediately after finishing their degrees. Anyone can stand for one of these positions and they are full time paid positions. There is no other job in world where you can run an organisation with 25,000 members and a turnover of more than a million pounds before you’ve even graduated. It is a fantastic opportunity. As well as the 5 full time positions there are over 40 part time voluntary positions available which you can do alongside your studies.

To find out more about what an officer does have a look at the list of positions and their job descriptions: http://angliastudent.com/elections/officer-positions-available/

To run for an officer position you will need to complete a nominations form, you can download that here: http://angliastudent.com/files/2010/01/pre-nomination-pack.pdf

Want to see what an officer does day to day? Have a look at some officer testimonials here

We’re always open to answer any questions regarding the elections, either pop into any SU office or just leave a question in the comment box below

Bar Staff
AV Staff
Ents Staff
Security Staff
Shop Staff

Closing date for applications is 10th March
Collect an application from any SU office