HomeNewsStudents’ association looking to strengthen the voice of UCOL students

Students’ association looking to strengthen the voice of UCOL students

By UCOL on Thursday, 21 February 2019

UCOL student association members Grace Beddis and Karla Davis

Strong engagement with the student body is a big focus for the Association of Students at UCOL (AS@U) for 2019.

AS@U President Karla Davis says the AS@U team are looking to increase their visibility with students, get more students involved with the Association, and add to UCOL’s sense of community.

“We’re looking to get students engaged with the Association more, excited to be on campus, and have an enjoyable time while at UCOL.”

Students can get involved through the Student Representative initiative. Student Representatives act as spokespeople for their class, and are contact people for classmates who may be having any issues.

“Being a Student Rep is about being the voice of your class, and being able to provide a voice for the different cultures that make up that class.” says Karla.

An initiative that Karla is excited about getting off the ground at UCOL is Thursdays in Black, a global campaign that strives towards a world without gender-based violence and sexual abuse. Karla, who is the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) project leader for Thursdays in Black, says NZUSA is working to make the campaign more prominent at tertiary campuses across the country.

“Nationally we’d like each member students’ association to have a Thursdays in Black club or area if they don’t already, and have the skills and support to do it well.”

Karla is joined on the AS@U Executive team by Vice President (Palmerston North) Grace Beddis, Vice President (Whanganui) Frances Watson, and general executive members Brenda Currie, Tash Numan, Kelly Nixey. AS@U is hoping to have an International Student Representative on-board soon, and is on the lookout for a Vice President for the campus in Masterton.

UCOL’s Student Advocacy & Welfare Coordinator Rebekah O'Donoghue and Student Life Coordinator Reggie Boult, are also working out of the AS@U office in Palmerston North, while the Student Life Coordinator Elise Goodge works on the Whanganui campus.

Students interested in becoming Student Representatives or want to be involved with AS@U can contact Karla on Student.President@ucol.ac.nz.


Image above: AS@U Vice President (Palmerston North) Grace Beddis and President Karla Davis. Photograph courtesy of Warwick Smith, Manawatu Standard.
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