What is a Faculty Officer and what do they do?

A Faculty Officer acts as the “glue” between the Class Reps, The Faculty Deans and the Union. The role will usually involve representing the interests of class reps to the Dean directly. They sit on University Committees and make sure that students are at the heart of decision making whilst bringing any issues to the attention of the Faculty.

Faculty Officers also form a key link between class representatives and the Students’ Association. They sit as full members of the Union’s committees which reports to the Student’s Union Executive Board. They will form a direct link to the President – Education and Welfare

Boost your skills and training

Being appointed as a Faculty Officer is a fantastic opportunity for those who wish to represent their fellow students at the Robert Gordon University. Not only will you be involved with top level University staff as well as students, you will have the opportunity to really boost your CV and your career opportunities.

The skills you will develop as a Faculty Officer include team building and team working, negotiation, time management, working on initiative, networking and putting forward student issues clearly to name but a few. Of course you will receive full training in these areas as well as being fully supported by University staff and the Student’s Union throughout the year.

Make a little extra money

The Faculty Officer role is an important one. The University acknowledges that this is a substantial commitment and pays an honorarium of £150 per semester for semesters 1 and 2.  Not only does this payment seek to compensate you in some way for the time and effort you are putting into the position, but it is also a way of the University demonstrating its commitment to the importance of the role.  This payment is not a wage and it is hoped that the benefits listed above will also attract you to the position.

Faculty Officer Duties

• Attend and contribute to the Student’s Union committees (twice a semester meetings which reports to the Union’s Executive Board).

• Ensure that class reps attend Student Staff Liaison Committees of the Schools within their Faculty and play an active role in disseminating information to and from these meetings.
• Regularly meet with your Dean of Faculty to give and receive new information
• Make Regular contact with the President – Education and Welfare at the Students’ Union

• Attend Deans’ and Principal’s meetings with Student Reps which meet once per academic year and play an active role in these meetings.

• Attend University Committees where student participation is necessary.

• Attend and contribute to class rep training.

• Meet and regularly communicate with class reps within your Faculty.

• Help promote certain Student’s Union activities (such as Teaching Awards and The Student Achievement Awards) within the Faculty.

• Help promote mechanisms to improve teaching and learning such as the National Student Survey and Feedback Questionnaires.

• Attend the Faculty Officer Training events

• Attend initial induction meeting with The Union and Faculty staff to plan for the year ahead.

• Become the enthusiastic and positive link between Class Reps, your Faculty and the Students’ Union.

What you will get out of the role

• Extensive training and development of essential transferable skills; including negotiating, team working, communication skills, time-management and constructing effective reports.

• Become an active participant in your Faculty.

• Be responsible for leading student representation in your Faculty.

• Be part of a team that works together and has extensive support from the Student’s Union and Faculties to contribute to positive change at Robert Gordon University.

• Help to make things better for your fellow classmates and students in general.

• Being part of the decision making process of the Student’s Union and in particular helping to shape RGU:UNION strategy on Faculty issues.

• Being part of a wider Student Representation Program such as social events, training events and the Student Achievement Awards.

• The Faculty Officer role is an important one and can take up to 40 hours a semester to fulfil.  However, the University acknowledges that this is a substantial commitment and pays an honorarium of £150 per semester for semesters 1 and 2.  Not only does this payment seek to compensate you in some way for the time and effort you are putting into the position, but it is also a way of the University demonstrating its commitment to the importance of the role.  This payment is not a wage and it is hoped that the benefits listed above will also attract you to the position.