So far this week...

Yesterday we were out on a Strategy Planning Out-Day, which proved to be very successful with many ideas, suggestions and potential projects coming to light...

Today...
I've been planning what I'm currently calling the 'Student Out-Reach Week', in which I'll be spending a lot of time out and about round the Brayford Campus, going directly to students and finding out a little about how they feel about the Union, what they like about how we communicate and what they think can be improved.

Students are essentially our reason for existence, so I feel keeping up to date with what specifically they want from the Union is important, however so nothing is lost in translation keeping a finger on the evolving preferences of communication is essential to fully representing the student body.

Tomorrow...
A busy day for me tomorrow, with an Exec meeting, then an economics test, and then I'll be around photographing at the Housing Event at the Engine Shed organised by the Union.

It'll be a really great help to anyone looking for accommodation for the future, particularly for first years (like me!)  - there are many local accommodation agencies coming, so come for a chat and see what's on offer!

The rest of the week...
The rest of the week will be relatively quiet as far as meetings go, but I have a lot of organisation and work to do for the week after with regard to my Out-Reach project, so I'll be keeping busy!

I've also been thinking about my plans for next year, with the elections opening soon... I've been considering whether I want to run, and trying to establish out of the new Officer Structure where I'd best fit in...

Following on from what will have been a relatively short term as Student Officer this year, I'm now pretty sure I'll be running for Campaigns Officer, as I feel the position will lead on nicely from the groundwork around communication I've been looking into this year.

With Campaigns, I'd still be able to continue improving and looking further into communications, whilst being able to encourage and support students to manage their own projects and campaigns; I can see there being great scope for students interested in political campaigning right the way down to simply wanting to offer suggestions to the Union - in which I think with my experience so far I'd be capable of supporting them.

Keep an eye out when we hit elections for my manifesto, as I'm sure if I do decide to run I'll have thought of many more opportunities in which I could support and represent students!

Enjoy they time we have before semester B! :)
Big love,
-Joe

1st day Back...

I arrived back in Lincoln on Friday at around 1:45, and straight to the office it was! :)

After having a chat some some of the other officers about various developments that'd been going on over Christmas, I activated my shiny new staff account and began putting together a more specific plan of how I want to work towards improving communication...
Over the next few weeks, hopefully a lot of you will be seeing me around, in various roles!

englishinguiabasico.wordpress.com

Some of the suggestions that have come up so far are; more publication of facebook groups for schools so that all students with facebook can join, coffee meetings with students who want to chat about anything and posters to improve the rep system, with photos and contact details of reps - something I myself was looking into as a Faculty Rep.
I'll be trying to find out through what methods people actually want to be contacted by, and how they'd prefer to approach the Union, and I'm sure some of the suggestions above will prove to be very popular!

Welcome back everyone!

[Also, my new e-mail address is: jhicks@lincoln.ac.uk - email links on this page will be amended soon.]