dorep

International terrorism expert, Scottish Information Commissioner, former head of Lloyds TSB, Cabinet Secretary for Education, and loads of world-famous academics.

Just some of the people who'll know your first name.

The DoRep, or Director of Representation, is one of four sabbaticals who collectively manage the Students' Association. Although a large proportion of your time will be spent dealing with students directly, your main responsibility is to represent the needs of the entire student body to the University.

Alongside the Association President and the Rector's Assessor, you'll be one of  three student voices on the University Court (the highest governing body of the University). You'll be in regular contact with the Principal's Office - a group of eight people led by Professor Louise Richardson to make the key decisions about the future of St Andrews - as well as the Rector, the Deans, the Directors of the Library, Development, Admissions, Widening Participation and various other heads of departments.

As DoRep your main priorities will be education, education, education. It is up to you to hold the University to account in making sure that the quality of learning and teaching is as world class as our reputation. As the line manager for the School Presidents, you will be responsible for organising the class rep elections, managing a training programme, and organising a twice-semesterly forum with the Rector, Proctor and the Deans. You will also sit on all of the committees within the University relating to learning and teaching, as well as being heavily involved in reviews of all the academic departments within the University.

You'll also ensure students in St Andrews have a strong voice at the national level, by researching and responding to government policy and engaging the wider student body in key debates. With changes to international student fees on the horizon, a Higher Education Governance Review in full swing and an impending Scottish election, the next twelve months are going to be vital in shaping the future of higher education, and it will be up to you to make sure St Andrews' voice is part of that debate. 

You are also responsible for student welfare issues, and will work closely with Student Services on issues from the sexual health clinic to feedback on the academic calendar change and how it has affected the student body. You line manage the Equal Opportunities and Welfare committee of the SRC, and help them to run campaigns such as Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance (SHAG) week, Disabilities Awareness and Gender Equality. You also work with various other student welfare groups such as Nightline, SRSH and Mental Wealth. 

In addition to being the first point of contact for School Presidents and members of the SRC, you should also be able to treat with sensitivity and confidentiality the individuals who might occasionally ask for advice on academic matters, personal issues or appeals against the University.

Another important part of being a sabbatical is working with the rest of the team. Most of the time you'll be working closely with the Association President, but the fluid nature of sabbatical jobs means that you'll also work on a variety of joint projects with the other sabbs, staff and volunteers. The most important of these will be the redevelopment of the Union building - the biggest strategic operation the Students' Association has undertaken for more than thirty years.

There is great scope to play to your strengths, and to focus on what you really enjoy and are good at. The role is incredibly diverse - in the same day you can have a one-to-one meeting with the Principal, design a marketing campaign on feedback and assessment, give direct input into the architects working on the Union redevelopment, and write to members of parliament on tuition fees.

This is a difficult job, needing huge amounts of patience, creativity, and dedication. However it's also a really important job, and one in which you can achieve a lot and gain a lot of new skills and real life experience.

If you're interested in running for Director of Representation, or just want to find out more about the role, I would strongly urge you to come and talk to me (Amanda) about it. Send me an email on dorep@st-andrews.ac.uk to set up an appointment.