News Article

Irene September Update

Irene, Vice President Education, has her September Update for you!

September Reflections: A Whirlwind Month of Excitement and Progress 

As we step into October, it is hard to believe how quickly September flew by! The campus is buzzing with energy as all our students have returned after a well-deserved summer holiday!  

Exciting Updates on Our Objectives 

I have been busy working on my aims this past month, and I am thrilled to share some highlights! 

Objective 1: Welcoming Activities for Every Intake 

Our RSU team pulled off a spectacular Freshers’ Festival, filled with an incredible lineup of activities designed to bring together the community at Roehampton. Here’s a glimpse of what we offered: 

  • Engaging Inductions in collaboration with the colleges 

  • Networking Sessions tailored for diverse student backgrounds, including LGBTQ+, postgraduate, disabled, and neurodivergent students, BAME students, and international students 

  • Fun Socials like board games nights and a vibrant boat party 

  • Unique Workshops such as chicken care sessions and gardening taster experiences 

  • Exciting Events including the Pryzm Roehampton x St Mary’s Crossover, College Cup Kickoff, and a Desi Night featuring DJ Sahil 

  • Grand Finale at the Fresher’s Fair followed by a Silent Disco at the Union Bar! 

I am currently in the planning stages to have additional welcome activities for our next intake in November. My goal is to ensure that every student has the chance to dive into the Roehampton community, just as the September intake did!  

Objective 2: Wellbeing Wednesdays 

I am excited to announce that *all undergraduate classes will officially finish before 1:00 PM on Wednesdays! This change allows students to fully embrace our Wellbeing Wednesdays! 

For our first Wellbeing Wednesday on October 2nd, we have an amazing lineup of activities planned: 

  • Mental Health Champions Training 

  • African Drumming Workshop 

  • Confidence Webinar 

  • Casual Games with Esports 

  • Lyrics Lounge at the Union Bar to wrap up the day 

 Each week, we will keep you updated on upcoming activities through our social media channels and your student inbox newsletter. Stay tuned! 

*All undergraduate classes with the exception of computing will finish at 1:00pm, this is because computing is scheduled for 10:00am - 2:00pm, if students on this course would prefer to have their class from 9:00am - 1:00pm, this is a possibility, depending on the opinions of those on the course*  

Collaborating for Student Success 

Beyond my personal objectives, I have been collaborating closely with RSU President Imran Shafiqi and VP Welfare Adam Fewster to tackle our shared goals.  

Here’s what we’ve accomplished together this month:  

  • Initiated discussions about an oyster card campaign with student unions across London to advocate for discounted travel for all students. 

  •  Participated in a Pub Watch meeting in Putney to secure a “Positively Putney” discount membership for Roehampton students, while also engaging local pub and club owners for exclusive student discounts. 

  • Partnered with the Student Futures Team to complete plans for the upcoming Student Part-time Jobs and Support Fair on October 16th  

  • Reviewed hundreds of applications to create part-time job opportunities on campus through the Roehampton Students’ Union  

Engaging in University Governance 

In addition to working on my personal and our team objectives, I also attended my first Student Education Committee meeting, where I shared our objectives and voiced student needs. Additionally, I took part in our second Senate meeting alongside colleagues and key university staff to address pressing issues affecting our students. To add more, we have our first Trustee Board Meeting of the year!  

A Surprising Highlight 

Lastly, I had the incredible opportunity to deliver the commencement speech for both the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and my own graduating class from the School of Education and Psychology. It was an experience I never anticipated but one that I will never forget!  

As we move forward into October, I am excited about what lies ahead. Thank you for being part of this journey with us! Let’s make this year unforgettable together! 

 

Books of the Month:  

  • Surrounded by Idiots – Thomas Erickson  

  • The Mystery of Consciousness – John R. Searle   

  • The Power of Now – Eckhart Tolle  

Published: 03 Oct 2024 13:14 , Last updated: 04 Oct 2024 10:22