Class Reps

Class Representatives are elected student volunteers, tasked with enhancing learning and teaching at every level of undergraduate and postgraduate study. They work directly with teaching staff, providing feedback on the student learning experience within their School.

There are over 400 class reps who represent students of year groups, areas of study, or specific modules. To find yours, contact your School President.

Class Reps have the power to advocate on curriculum, assessment, progression, achievement, guidance, support, teaching, learning resources, among other things. They are trained by the Director of Education (DoEd), and work closely with their School President to deliver changes and act on student feedback. Class Reps sit on their school's Student Staff Consultative Committee (SSCC).

How to Become a Class Rep

Any matriculated student can run to become a Class Rep!

Undergraduate (UG) Class Rep nominations were held in Week 1 of Semester 1. Voting took place in Week 2 via the online elections portal.

Students are able to self-nominate for Class Rep elections and are expected to write a short personal statement indicating to their peers why they deserve to be elected as a representative. They can also choose to run for one of the other roles listed below.

Postgraduate (PG) Class Rep elections differ, instead beginning in Week 4, to accommodate the later starting date of PGR students and allow PGT students more time to settle in. Voting takes place after nominations close in Week 5.

Questions about Class Rep Elections can be directed towards School Presidents, Faculty Presidents or the Director of Education.

Role Descriptions

Undergraduate Class Rep

Role Description (PDF)

Being a Class Rep allows you to develop valuable skills, such as negotiation, advocacy, public speaking, and time management. You are heavily involved with both staff and students in your School as a result, so if you are looking to get stuck in this is a great opportunity. Class Reps are eligible for the Proctor's Award and the Class Rep Awards, which recognise outstanding contributions made by students in developing learning and teaching, and the student learning experience.

Postgraduate Class Rep Role Description (PDF)
Sustainability Rep Role Description

The School Sustainability Representatives (SSR) are a unique representative role in each School. They are elected during the same cycle as Class Representatives, but their position differs. SSRs underpin a pillar in the University’s strategy to become net zero carbon by 2035. They bridge between the Environmental and Sustainability Board, the Environment Team, and the Student Association to promote, drive, and support sustainable change in their academic school. The SSRs are line managed by the School President and supervised by the Environment Team’s Sustainability Coordinator. The SSRs meet with the Environment Team monthly and report back to the School President to liaise about best implementations in the particular school.

SSRs are responsible for running sustainability themed events, campaigning for sustainability in the curriculum, and being an agent of change in their schools. Their work can include everything from panel events, to workshops, analysis on school energy efficiency, liaising with estates and the council, and creating green reading lists.

They have the chance to network with professionals, academic staff, and students from across the university and will gain experience in event organisation, campaigning, and become educated in being an agent of change for sustainability. For more information, please contact the Environment Team's Sustainability Coordinator, Hannah Bowey, by sending an email to [email protected].

School Roles

The School Roles are additional representative positions within Schools, each with a different focus and which develops different skills. You can find more information in the role descriptions below. Reps with School Roles support School Presidents in specific areas of their remit, to ensure that a wide number of events and opportunities are provided throughout the academic year.

Each position is supported by a specialised training session and support network, in both the Students’ Association and the University. Positions are filled during the normal Class Reprsentative Election.

Role Descriptions

Careers & Employability Rep

The aim of this position is to represent your School’s students on employability and careers matters. The Careers & Employability Rep will improve their School’s careers services, host events with support from other reps and coordinate feedback on careers/employability. The role holder will have the power to lobby and influence careers services in their School, Faculty and St Andrews more broadly.

Role Description (PDF)

Skills you can expect to learn and develop

  • Coordinate and plan events, gather feedback and improve your communication skills
  • Increase organisational skills and flexibility
  • Gain experience working with a diverse team of other reps
  • Gain a better understanding of the University and Careers Centre
Secretary

The aim of this position is to support your School’s feedback processes and your School President. The Secretary will maintain an organised administrative system on behalf of the School President and attend SSCC meetings to minute them. The role holder will be in control of ensuring ‘you asked, we did’ feedback loops are maintained, so that students are aware of academic representative successes.

This Rep acts as secretary to the Student Staff Consultative Committee (SSCC) meetings, and supports the facilitation of Class Rep meetings by coordinating any administrative elements such as organising the meeting, inviting participants, and setting the agenda. They minute the meetings and formalise the document for wider circulation to students and staff where appropriate.

> Role Description (PDF)

Skills you can expect to learn and develop

  • Develop the ability to minute and improve your communication skills
  • Increase organisational skills and flexibility
  • Gain experience in teamwork
  • Get a better understanding of meeting etiquette and develop highly transferrable skills
Community & Events Rep

The aim of this position is to improve your School’s sense of community and maintain the connections between students. The Community & Events Rep will host social events with support from other reps, maintain their School’s academic rep social media channels and support other School Role holders. The role holder will have the power to improve the sense of community within their School and focus on creating a unified environment.

> Role Description (PDF)

Skills you can expect to learn and develop

  • Develop the ability to coordinate and plan events, gather feedback and improve your communication skills
  • Increase organisational skills and flexibility
  • Gain experience in teamwork
  • Develop social media and advertisement skills
Disability & Academic Support Rep

The aim of this position is to promote and support mentoring schemes available to students in your School. The Mentoring Champion will recruit mentors for the CEED Mentoring Scheme, run events to help mentee-mentor matches get the most out of their pairing and offer feedback. The role holder will have the power to lobby and influence mentoring services in their School and potentially run their own ‘Transition to Honours’ mentoring scheme (if applicable).

> Role Description (PDF)

Skills you can expect to learn and develop

  • Develop the ability to coordinate and plan events, gather feedback and improve your communication skills
  • Increase organisational skills and flexibility
  • Gain experience in teamwork
  • Get a better understanding of mentoring schemes and your School's students

2021 Reforms and 2022 Updates

We undertook a review of the pre-existing 'Expansion Pack' system in March 2021, led by the Education Executive. The review recommended a number of changes, which we have put into place to improve the Class Rep experience, better support our School Presidents and create more fulfilling roles. You can see the review's executive summary here.

In 2022, the Education Executive Committee opted to make all of the School Roles directly elected by the students of each school. (Previously, School Role holders were co-opted from the existing elected Representatives). The Online Learning and Mentoring Champion roles were also removed.