Getting Involved FAQs

How do I become a member of the KCL Students’ Union?
All students who are registered at the University are automatically members of KCL Students’ Union (KCLSU). KCLSU also accepts applications from non-KCL students to become Associate Members. These will usually be linked to a club or society, or be an alumnus or the College or a current KCLSU or KCL staff member. Associate Members may attend meetings as an observer but may not stand in KCLSU elections or vote.

How do students raise an issue through KCLSU?
There are many ways in which students can raise their issues to KCLSU, students can:

• Talk to the members of the Student Council. This is the body elected by the students to discuss and recommend solutions for the student issues you raise.
• Talk to your Sabbatical Officer team. There are 4 elected, full-time officers and each of them has their own portfolio.
• Talk to the KCLSU staff. KCLSU employs about 30 full time staff members who are available to help.
• Make use of your Student Centres. There are KCLSU student centres in Boland House, Cornwall Street (underneath the Stamford Street Apartments) and in the Macadam Building for your convenience.
• Talk to your Course Rep. - these are elected on a departmental level to address issues relating to your course.
• Use the KCLSU website. There are numerous links on this site for representation and contact details of all the relevant people – including their email addresses.
• The AGM provides an opportunity to put your points across to the Trustee Board – the team that oversees the running of your KCLSU.
• KCLSU Forums. Often run by the council, these are a chance for you to have your say on a specific topic.

What ways are there to get involved with Representation at KCLSU?

There are many ways to get involved in the KCLSU Democratic Process:

The college has 54 elected positions:

• 4 Sabbatical Trustees are students / recent graduates who take a year out to work full-time for the Union, and who take responsibility for implementing KCLSU policy, gathering student opinion, engaging with and representing students. Each of the 4 Sabbatical Trustees, or ‘Sabbs’ has responsibility for a different aspect of student life. These are elected in the Spring Elections.
• 4 Student Trustees who actively participate in the Trustee board work, whilst remaining students on their respective courses. These are also elected in the Spring Elections (though only 3 positions are available as one Student Trustee, elected internally, remains in the position for 2 academic years).
• 4 Student Representatives on the Academic Board – this is the highest teaching committee within the College. It considers matters with regards to teaching, recruitment and to the College’s rules and regulations. Elections for these positions fall in the Autumn Term.
• 12 National Union of Students (NUS) Delegates are elected to represent King’s students at a national level at NUS Conferences. Elections for these positions also fall within the Autumn Term.
• 30 Members of the Student Council are elected annually in October. Its 30 members are ordinary, full time students providing a vital channel of communication between the students and KCLSU.  Student Council is the number one representative student body whose recommendations, experiences and passion feed directly into the KCLSU Trustee Board. The role description is flexible and offers students an opportunity to work with KCLSU Officers and staff to investigate, highlight and help resolve students' issues.

There are also opportunities to represent your course by becoming a Course Rep. The role of a Course Rep is to represent the views of the students on their course to the academic staff at student/staff liaison committees, meaning they are one of the main channels through which students can exert a measure of control over their own learning experience. Course Reps are vital in aiding the College to ensure the quality of its academic programmes, and in holding those programmes to account. Each course group elects one or more students to be responsible for communicating student views on issues such as workloads, timetables, library facilities and teaching space. A Course Rep may find themselves asked to inform and question staff on issues as diverse as provision of handouts and claims of harassment or plagiarism. This may sound daunting, but don't worry - KCLSU can offer advice and support on any situation you may face, and it is important to remember that College values the Course Rep system and the dialogue it provides. It is in their best interest to listen to students.

Who are the Sabbatical (‘Sabb’) officers and how do they represent the student’s views to the college?

The four elected Sabb positions are as follows:

• President – Chris Mullan
• VP Academic Affairs – Emily Rowe
• VP Student Activities & Facilities – Tony Sebastian
• VP Student Media & Engagement – Peter Ellender

The officers represent the students by:

• sitting on the Trustee Board and taking on board Council recommendations and deciding how to act on them
• sitting on the Academic Board and putting your issues to the Highest academic body in the College (Chaired by the Principal)
• attending weekly meetings with the Principal and other key players in the College Structure and putting your questions to them
• by attending Student Council meetings and giving verbal and written reports on their activities which can then be scrutinised by council

How is the Trustee Board held to account?

KCLSU holds its Annual General Meeting (‘AGM’) in the second semester (normally in mid-March). This is the opportunity for the students to put their questions to the Sabbatical team to find out exactly what they have been doing in relation to the issues that affect students. Other Business conducted includes financial reports, affiliations, and ratification of policy. All KCLSU members may attend and vote at the AGM, and all associate members are eligible to attend the AGM and any EGMs (Extraordinary General Meetings) as an observer.

How do I go about standing in an election, and what is the election process?

All KCL students are eligible to stand as candidates in as well as vote in KCLSU elections.

There are two Election periods for KCLSU positions:

The ‘Nomination’ period opens in Fresher’s Week and remains open until about a week before the elections take place. Candidates nominate themselves online (you fill out a short form including your name, student ID number, contact details) and include a short statement on why you feel that you will be a good candidate. Your statement will appear on the KCLSU website on the list of candidates so that the students can get a sense of who they are voting for.

The second election period falls in the second semester (usually around late February) and includes elections for both Sabbatical and Student Trustees. The online Nomination process is only marginally different from the first cycle as you will now need 3 “sponsors” or fellow students who support your nominations – so in addition to your own KCL student ID number and email address, you will need to provide these details for the three sponsors too. Again you will need to fill out a mini ‘personal statement’ style response as to why you feel you are suitable for the role. You will be asked to upload a digital photograph of yourself which may, along with your personal statement, be used on campaign material (such as on the KCLSU website, and in the Student Media Publication: ROAR).

Voting for both elections takes place over a 3 day period ending early on a Friday evening. Since 2005 has been entirely online via the KCLSU website using just your KCL Login details to sign-in. As a result, the final tallies are available immediately, and only an hour after the voting closes, are announced by the Returning Officer.

Who runs the Course Rep System?

At present, the Course Rep system is run by the Schools and Departments of the College.

In order to find out how the Course Reps are elected within your department, contact the head of the department. Due to the fact that these are not centrally organised, there is no set method for applying for this position and no set timetable for election. If elections for Course Rep are not being held annually within your department / school, or you are looking for your Course Rep and cannot find them, then please contact the KCLSU VP Academic Affairs, vprepresentation@kclsu.org, who can address this issue at a more senior level.

KCLSU offers guidance and training for all Course Reps.

What does being a Course Rep involve?

Being a Course Rep is a significant position of responsibility with duties involving:

• identifying student issues and needs
• attending and participating in meetings
• raising students' issues and needs at staff student liaison committees
• consulting, involving and reporting to students
• informing KCLSU of any issues that you think should be addressed
• attending training and networking sessions, which offer opportunity to liaise with course reps from other courses
• referring students as needed to the KCLSU Academic Advice service or KCL Welfare
• providing a link between staff, students and the Students' Union
• keeping yourself informed of developments in your department
• promoting equal opportunities

In terms of what issues might be faced, there is no quick solution. Any questions raised by a student in the department are valid; here are a few of the more common ones:

• Course Deadlines
• lecturers changing a deadline without consulting students, then penalising them if they don't meet it
• deadlines too close to exams

• Lecture rooms
• size, seating, temperature and acoustics issues
• overcrowding
• accessibility

• Return of coursework
• assignments not marked and returned before the following assignment is handed in to enable them to make use of the tutor's comments
• inadequate feedback

• Volume of work
• too much or too little

• Assessments & Examinations
• unclear methods
• availability of past exam papers

• Discriminatory practices
• inequality of opportunity

There is no limit to what you will learn as a Course Rep, as it depends on the time and effort you to choose to put in, and the issues you have to deal with. However, there are core skills that the position allows you to develop, including:

• Representation
• Communication
• Organisation
• Negotiation
• Awareness and knowledge of College and Union structures and processes

What does an NUS delegate do?

The KCL delegates are the representatives of the King’s student body at NUS. They attend Regional Conferences (one per semester) as well as the Annual Conference. The delegates put together the package of issues and motions to raise at conferences and, once these are approved by Student Council, they table these for discussion at a regional / national level. The delegates, at the Annual Conference, also get to elect most of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and various other committees, and can actively take part in holding the NEC to account.

What Campaigns are run within the NUS structure?

There are a number of Union campaigns that come under the NUS as well:

• The Anti-Fascism Campaign – this highlights the surge in electoral support for the BNP over the past decade, culminating in the largest vote for a fascist party in British history at the last general election. Campaigners urge activists to raise awareness around this threat and encourage everyone opposed to the BNP to register to vote. Campaigners outline the worrying growth of the BNP’s vote and effective strategies to stop them before they make a major national breakthrough.
• Black Students’ Campaign – this is the largest organisation of Black students in Europe and represents all students of African, Asian, Caribbean and Arab descent. They campaign and lobby to raise awareness on issues affecting Black students at a local and national level. Black students elect the national officer and committee, and pass policy at the summer conference. This policy shapes the Campaign’s work to ensure the Black perspective is fully integrated into the fabric of all student unions and societies.
• Disabled Students’ Campaign – this is a self-organising, autonomous, Liberation Campaign for students within NUS who self define with a disability. It has its own full time elected SWD officer, SWD conference and SWD committee. As a movement, the Disabled Students’ Campaign believes that students with disabilities often face social barriers, and consequentially the campaign aims to promote equality.
• Ethical and Environmental Campaign – this supports many schemes that immediately benefit the environment and that are aimed at establishing a “greener” society. These changes can be achieved through construction work that adheres to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) specifications, but also through encouraging student union operation to be less carbon intensive. Moreover, the Campaign supports initiatives that push for international modifications in policies towards global warming.
• International Students – this campaign represents all international students studying in the UK at local, national and international level on all issues affecting international students.
• LGBT Campaign – The NUS Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual (LGBT) campaign is the national representative voice for LGBT students. They provide support to LGBT societies in students’ unions as well as organising campaigns, training and networks at a local and national level. The LGBT are a domestic campaign: they hold two conferences annually, attended by delegates from Students Union LGBT societies which elect the national LGBT committee and pass policy for it to act upon. The LGBT are currently campaigning on a wide range of issues including homophobia in education and the ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood.
• Women’s Campaign – this campaign has worked on issues such as access to abortion, anti-racism, childcare, personal safety, reclaim feminism, healthcare, the welfare state, women’s rights worldwide, equal pay, rights at work, women in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, violence against women, sexual harassment, sexual assault, rape, gender stereotyping, sweat-shops, free education, the war on Iraq, and many more issues that directly affect women’s role in society.

KCLSU organises a full training programme for the elected NUS delegates.

What is the function of the KCLSU student representatives on the Academic Board?

Student representatives act as the student voice on Academic Board; they have full speaking rights and work closely with the President to agree arguments and statements. Under the current terms of reference one postgraduate and one undergraduate are elected to represent Health Schools and Arts and Sciences making a total of 4 elected positions. The Academic Board is the body responsible for the academic work of the College in teaching and examining and in research. The Academic Board reports to the College Council and the Council may not make any decision on academic matters until it has solicited the opinion of the Academic Board. The Student Representatives feed back into the Student Council who are always concerned with Academic Board decisions that directly impact on students.

What does the Student Council do?

The Council gathers feedback from students, debates important issues, looks to future needs of students and helps to enhance the University experience as a whole. Within itself, Council organise a number of elections to fill a number of vital roles:

First, there is the position of Council Chair – who directs the progress of the Council meetings, facilitating discussions and aiding in drawing conclusions, as well as calling Council to order and delegating responsibilities among the members and committees.

Secondly, there are a number of Forums and Scrutiny Committees within Council and the Convenors / Chairs are elected from amongst the Student Council. These are positions of responsibility where successfully elected candidates will get the opportunity to Chair meetings, lead discussions, drive research and produce viable results.

In the 2007-8 academic year the Council’s various sub-committees conducted studies into, and produced full reports on issues such as Widening Participation onto the Medical Programmes, the Communications issues faced by students who undertake International Placements in their course, the roles and responsibilities in the Personal Tutor system of the College and the challenges faced by Live at Home Students. Each report included a detailed study and often results of extensive student surveys and research and were all concluded by a series of recommendations aimed both at the College and KCLSU for ways to improve the Student welfare experience of the affected students. These recommendations are passed forward to the Trustee Board who decide on how to proceed with these.