The Big Choice Referendum

Replace Part Time Officer’s with paid student researchers

GSU Believes:

  • It is vital to understand the needs and views of students who face additional barriers whilst studying
  • Students who face barriers to their learning often face similar barriers in engaging with their SU
  • The lived experience of students who face additional barriers whilst studying is essential to understanding these students’ needs and views
  • These needs and views are essential to inform Officer campaigns, SU activity, and the SU’s recommendations to the University to improve students’ experiences at Greenwich
  • It is the responsibility of the SU to ensure that our structures and processes are as accessible and engaging as possible, for as many students as possible
  • It is important that these views, and subsequent recommendations, are championed to the University in a format which is robust, and which enables long term changes for the benefit of students

GSU Further Believes:

 

  • Students currently struggle to maintain their academic commitments alongside financial commitments (such as part-time jobs) in addition to taking on a voluntary role as a representative 
  • Students who face additional barriers whilst studying should not be asked to provide unpaid labour
  • Employability and opportunities are important to Greenwich students
  • It is important to provide students with an opportunity to make change on their own behalf, as well as providing opportunities for skills development
  • The SU should be providing paid opportunities for students to research the needs of their peers, specifically when they are asked to do so beyond their course.

GSU Resolves:

  • Replace Part Time Officer positions with paid student research roles, with a role title that is to be confirmed
  • Review and replace Part Time Officer positions from all governing documents
  • Student researcher roles will be guaranteed up to eight hours work per week, and paid a living wage fortnightly
  • Student researchers will be supported through SU student staff line management processes within the Representation Team
  • Recruitment of student researchers will include a student panel, the form of which will be determined by current Part Time Officers and students
  • Student research findings will be reported to the Greenwich Assembly (or equivalent) and findings will be used in the development of campaigns and other representation and reporting across the SU
  • Develop job descriptions, role titles, recruitment plans and mechanisms for the roles alongside current Part Time Officers
  • If the SU faces financial barriers to this implementation, liberation (women, disabled, LGBT+, BAME) student researchers should be prioritised
  • For the final mechanisms, role title, and recruitment plans of student researchers to be approved by Trustee Board as part of the by-law changes to be submitted in May