Read this article to find out the updates from the first Scrutiny Panel of the 2023/24 Academic Year.
Scrutiny Panel is where full-time GSU Officers are held accountable for the work they are doing and given advice on how to proceed with their campaigns based on the needs of members. The Panellists are composed of Jason, a student trustee, and four student leaders selected from academic representatives, society leaders and Liberation Chairs.
After each Panel, the Chair provides a report to members. Jason reports:
The first scrutiny panel of the academic year took place on Wednesday 6th September 2023. All except one panel member was present due to sickness. It has been acknowledged by the panel, that as a result of preparations for Welcome Week, whilst preparations would have started, these would be in their initial stages. The panel were impressed by the Officers’ campaigns as they aim to impact a diverse range of students including both undergraduate, postgraduate, home and international students amongst others. Constructive expectations, guidance and ideas were provided to the officers, to enable thorough scrutiny of each of the Officer’s campaigns going forwards, so that they are accountable to their promises. As a panel, we will continue to monitor the progress of the officers according to the clear expectation and evidence guidance that we have provided and will ensure that not only are the officers kept accountable, but their ideas and hard work will create a legacy to positively impact students for years to come. We look forward to seeing the development of their ideas in the next meeting and will provide an update then.
After each sitting of the Panel, Officers are set a series of actions to be achieved either before or by the date of the next sitting, along with an overall rating. You can find the outcomes for each Officer below:
Anuj - Approve
The Panel have requested the following actions to be taken by the next meeting:
- The objective of the meeting
- The outcome of the meeting
- Put a meeting in your diary for your next Extenuating Circumstances campaign action as soon as possible.
- Make a document articulating your vision for what the International Advice sessions look like, such as location, timings, and format, and evidence this in your next documents.
- Get in touch with Library services as soon as possible about removing hidden costs, and show us your meeting objectives and outcomes in the next Panel.
Laziz - Motivate
The Panel have requested the following actions to be taken by the next meeting:
- The objective of the meeting
- The outcome of the meeting
- Evidence your meetings with the Business Faculty, and provide us with more information on what the sessions will look like.
- Include a budget breakdown for your Disabled Student Coffee Mornings for the next session.
- Begin consulting students of faiths other than Islam about their spaces and report back by your next meeting.
- Include information about your meeting with Pete Taylor on prayer spaces.
- Submit more evidence of your communication with the Head of Sustainability in your next document.
The Panel have requested the following actions to be taken by the next meeting:
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The objective of the meeting
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The outcome of the meeting
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Include detailed information on the format, staffing and goals of the Hub drop-in sessions in the next documents., with the aim of implementing this as soon as possible.
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Provide information about dates and times of meetings with the Engagement and Opportunities departments with regards to the Reducing Loneliness goal as soon as possible.
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Put in a meeting with the Global Team at GSU as soon as possible to make progress on the Advice Workshop for International Students, and evidence this in your next document.
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Provide information on institutional comparisons and data evidencing student demand for the free Medway bus by the next meeting.
The Panel have requested the following actions to be taken by the next meeting:
- The objective of the meeting
- The outcome of the meeting
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Recommended that you network with staff in the Wellbeing Team at the University to raise your awareness of their services for your 'Running with Sodiq' campaign.
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Provide more information about the process you are going through to research your spaces.
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Provide more details about the outcome of your meeting with the Head of Commercial at GSU about the food diversification campaign.
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Provide more detail on your plan around the Students of Colour Speak Up campaign, including meetings planned, your research into current modules re: the BAME Awarding Gap, and work with stakeholders and staff at the University.