A student representative plays an important role in communicating between the students and the college. They give feedback, represent, and communicate on student and college matters. They are not the boss of the class but they act as a representative leader.
A student representative (SRC) is elected by the peers, this group of students who are members of SRC represents all students within the school. They take views to meetings and bring positive change. They work as a democratic group that takes decisions and represents the student body in school. They also organize ways for their peers to participate in and enjoy their school or college life. The primary role of a student representative is to collate, listen effectively, and communicate with the teachers or staff on the behalf of all students.
The benefits of being a student representative
The student body is made up of extremely busy people, they are often busy with their work and lives at home in order to do their studies. For this reason, an individual may try to become a representative when possible. Here are some following reasons for being a student representative –
- Having opportunities to make high level decisions and to influence.
- Sharing different ideas and information
- Trust by helping everyone and trust to improve, “giving back” to the course
- This gives the student representative a wider opportunity to link to the student body if the student is studying at a National center.
- Helps in making good networking.
- Socializing and meeting other fellow students/ student representatives.
Responsibilities and roles of the student representative
- At least 70% of meetings have to be attended either by video call or in person. The meetings may be divided if there is more than one representative in a committee.
- Reading of papers, agenda, and the minutes of the meeting. This can also be divided if the representative is more than one in a committee.
- Bringing the experience as a student.
- Contribute the views in the meetings or discussions over anything.
- Consult fellow students to give feedback on any issues during the meetings. Normally, this will involve discussion plans with students with direct contact with them.
- Carrying all the possible outcomes given at the meetings.
- Present, uniform, and behave – be positive about all the role models.
- Active member in the school community which includes band, sports, choir, debating, and many more.
- A student representative has to attend school or college on daily basis.
- They have to be punctual always.
- They have to build harmonious relationships within the school.
- Be approachable so that anyone can share their views with the representative easily.
- Make an active member in raising funds for charity and other organizations.
- A representative has to be the advocate for students’ voices.
- Attend all the SRC meetings.
- Attend all the SRC functionality which is mostly out of the school hours.
- A student representative should be a good public speaker.
- They have to organize events such as advertising, cooking and making posters, and many other events to communicate with them or make a bond with them.
- Talk with the administration staff and teachers regarding the upcoming events.
What skills a person has to become a student representative?
As they benefit personally but also it is very crucial to become a student representative. This requires a some of the skills and experience as a student representative –
- Committee experience
- Negotiation skills
- Lobbying experience
- Leadership experience
- Communication skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working skills
- Help in improving the course
- Motivational experience
- Presentation skills
- Organisational skills
- Improve the skills
- Positive contributions to make for the fellow students
- Skills of employability
- Get special pieces of training
- Help to develop the partnership or communication between the staff and students easily
- Get a support
- Good at making networks with different people
- Listening skills
- Be a part of a team
How to involve in this?
There are two ways in which students can involve in SRC modeling. Moreover, students can simply volunteer and can assist Student Representatives with various projects, campus events, and activities. The two methods in which the SRC model involved voting are –
1. Positions for voting – Mostly the student elections are held in the month of March or April of each year and positions start from 1 July. Although, to fill the casual vacancies throughout the year the expressions of interest are run as needed to fill them.
2. Volunteering and positions for non-voting – The members of SRC always looking for energetic students. For non-voting positions, either pop out on campus for student representatives or chat with them to get in contact.
Conclusion
A student representative (SRC) represents the student body and takes decisions for them. SRC is the group of students who are elected by their mates themselves. They work democratically and communicate, collate, and listen effectively to all the views of students and bring out positive change in it by taking these views to the meetings with staff members.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is it worth it to be a student representative?
Ans: Being a student representative is worth it as it is a great opportunity for the staff and administration and also to become the voice of the students. Also to meet the students across the different universities at social events. As a representative, they develop and learn many skills that will help later in their employability.
Q2: Does the SRC also get any payment for their work?
Ans: SRC members will not have any expectations of seeking financial or remuneration and the university from the gratification resource, this happens in the terms of SRC Constituent 1. The support provided by being the SRC remains a privilege in terms of higher education under the of 101 of 1997, as amended.
