#SayYesToJess for a better Postgraduate experience
You can view my entire manifesto here!
You can follow my campaign on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Hi all!
My name is Jess and I am running to be your next VP Postgraduate Officer this year. I am currently studying MA Media and Broadcast Production after graduating from Politics BA(Hons) at Queen's in 2018. I have been involved in all aspects of student life over the last five years during my time at Queen's. Currently, I am the Union Speaker and chair all QUBSU Council meetings. I am also Station Manager of Queen's Radio, and have been involved in the management committee for three years. I've acted as a course representative both at an undergraduate and postgraduate level, dealing with issues regarding academic year changes, accessibility issues for international students and course content. I've also acted as a peer mentor throughout my time at Queen's. In my final year, I was elected to QUBSU Council as an AHSS representative and supported motions regarding the introduction of a Postgraduate sabbatical officer, bilingual signage on campus and establishing a Trans part-time officer. I have always put student experience at the forefront of everything that I have done and will continue to do so if elected.
From my own experience as a Postgraduate student, and from talking to others, more needs to be done to tackle the unique issues we face, which include: issues surrounding burnout and stress, supervisory relationships, excessive workloads with bunched deadlines and a lack of community. I have put mental health at the core of my campaign, ensuring that actions are taken to combat the impact this has on students, and improve their time at university both academically and socially.
These problems aren't just exclusive to Postgraduates, they also impact Undergraduate students as well and ultimately dissuade many from continuing their studies into Postgraduate level. My manifesto can be broken down into five key points:
- Reforming Exceptional Circumstances
Currently, Queen's has a process for considering extenuating circumstances in regards to exams and coursework that is outdated and not fit for use. It requires the student to gather sufficient evidence, submit to their School Office, and wait for the School Exceptional Circumstances Committee's outcome - which could be rejected. This additional stress and pressure put on students sometimes outweighs the pressure of acquiring sufficient evidence. I will work with VP Education and VP Welfare to reform the current exceptional circumstances procedure, and that students are treated more like students rather than customers. I will also work to ensure that disabled Postgraduate students are properly assessed and allocated services within Disability Services in Queen's.
?The introduction of the Postgraduate tuition loan made coming back to university more accessible for many students, but the fees are increasing year on year, with the loan no longer covering the cost of a PG degree at Queen's. Students are relying more heavily on obtaining external loans from their bank, or working longer hours in their jobs and not performing to the best of their abilities. Working alongside with NUS-USI, I will lobby the newly formed Stormont Executive to introduce a cap on Postgraduate tuition loans, ensuring that we keep Postgraduate education accessible to anyone who wishes to study. I also wish to lobby the university to introduce Disabled Student's Allowance for International Students, something they are currently not entitled to despite paying higher tuition.
Postgraduate students are far more diverse than those who typically study at Undergraduate level. Many Postgraduate students are mature students, are part-time, commute, or are parents or carers. Currently, both the Union and the University operate on a 9 am to 5 pm time schedule, leaving many students unable to avail of the services. I will work with Estates to ensure that facilities like The Graduate School are open 24/7 for those looking for a place to study or relax, especially around assignment deadlines. I will also lobby the university to ensure timetables are optimized to their full potential, ensuring that students do not have to take one-hour classes over a two-day period, etc.
First-year PhD students are often dropped into the deep-end when it comes to beginning their Doctorate journey, with many struggling to amalgamate themselves into an entirely new academic structure. I will lobby schools within Queen's to develop and share detailed and thoroughly organised assessment schedules that are available to students ahead of deadlines to ensure they are fully prepared for their reports or presentations. I also wish to work with schools and The Graduate School to ensure that policies are in place to offer consistent and sufficient supervision to all PG students in order to get the maximum benefit from their supervisory relationships.
Postgraduate students often struggle with loneliness and a lack of community during their time at university due to their workload and other factors. As part of my mandate, I wish to engage more with students who are underrepresented in the Student's Union, particularly those in STEM subjects who often go without a full constituency on QUBSU Council, and bring my drop-in sessions to the MBC, David Kier Building and Computer Science Building to make them more accessible. I also wish to collaborate with Student Voice and VP Campaigns and Engagement to deliver workshops on how to form and run campaigns, and how to create motions that can be submitted to QUBSU Council. I will also work with the newly elected Postgraduate School Representatives and bring any issues forward to the Executive Management Committee and Council forward for reform.
Vote Jessica #1 for VP Postgraduate on February 24th & 25th on www.qubsu.org
I hope I can count on your vote, I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have at any point throughout the campaign - just send a message to one of my campaign's social media pages.
Download Manifesto
Facebook: @jessforpg
Twitter: @jesslawrenzo
Instagram: @jessforpostgrad