Staff-Student Liaison Committees

What are SSLCs?

Staff Student Liaison Committees are small groups of staff and student representatives who meet periodically to discuss items concerning teaching and any other aspects of GGE that affect students. There are separate committees, each representing a different area of teaching: the Geology SSLC, the Geography SSLC, the Applied Environmental Science and Environment and Sustainability SSLC and the PhD Student Liason Forum. In addition there is a combined SSLC meeting once each year involving the members of each of the separate course SSLCs.

What is the purpose of the SSLCs?

The SSLCs provide a formal forum for communication between students and staff, in which items raised by the students (or by the staff) can be discussed, and improvements to academic or administrative procedures proposed. The SSLCs also provide the forum in which items such as module reports and course evaluation summaries are scrutinised by the student representatives.

What is the composition of the SSLCs?

Geography SSLC: 2 student representatives from each of the three years of the three Geography principal courses (Geography, Physical Geography and Human Geography), 2 student representatives from the Geography Subsidiary course, the Geography Courses Coordinator and the three Geography year tutors (one of whom will normally also be the Courses Coordinator). Additional members of the may be invited to attend for specific items.

Geology SSLC: 3 student representatives from the third and fourth years, 2 from each of the first two years, and one from the subsidiary course, the Geology Courses Coordinator, plus one additional member of staff. Additional members of ES&G may be invited to attend for specific items.

AES and E&S SSLC : 2 student reps from each year, the AES and E&S Course Directors and staff representing subjects contributing to AES and E&S.

PhD Student Liason Forum: The Postgraduate Tutor and all PhD students.

MSc Student Liason Forum: The MSc Course Director and all MSc students.

Joint SSLC: Student representatives from all the SSLCs listed above, Head of GGE, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Quality Assurance Tutor, GGE Administrator. 

Who convenes and chairs the SSLCs?

The timings of the SSLCs are determined by the GGE administrator and the Quality Assurance Tutor as part of the GGE Committee Cycle. The SSLCs are convened and chaired by the respective Course Coordinators. The PhD student forum is convened and chaired by the Postgraduate Tutor. The joint SSLC is convened and chaired by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

How often do the SSLCs meet?

The Geography, AES and E&S and Geology SSLCs, and the PhD forum meet once per semester.

How are students informed about the operation of the SSLCs?

Information is provided in the GGE Student Handbook and Postgraduate Handbook, and via dedicated SSLC notice-boards.

How are student representatives selected for the SSLCs?

Students are asked to volunteer as representatives at the start of each year. If more students volunteer than are required, students vote to select representatives from the volunteers. Students selected as representatives in their first year would normally continue to serve in their second and third years

How do students raise items for discussion at the SSLCs?

Students may give items to their year representatives, or submit them directly to the relevant SSLC convenor. Representatives seek input from students prior to meetings via the SSLC notice board and via announcements in classes.

What standing items are on the agenda of the SSLCs?

Undergraduate SSLCs have the following standing items: Matters arising (resolved and unresolved) from the minutes of the previous meeting; Matters relating to each year of study; Module evaluations and reports. The PhD Student forum has the following standing items: Matters arising (resolved and unresolved) from the minutes of the previous meeting. The Joint SSLC has the following standing items: Matters arising (resolved and unresolved) from the minutes of the previous meeting; Report of meetings of SSLCs.

How are items from the SSLCs communicated back to students?

Minutes of the most recent SSLC meetings are posted on the SSLC notice boards and on the intranet, and students may approach their representatives, or the convenor of the relevant committee, for additional details. Minutes of earlier meetings are available on the Intranet, or from the Office.

How are items from the SSLCs communicated to the Department for action?

All staff receive copies of the SSLC minutes. The convenor of each SSLC passes items to relevant tutors or committees with recommendations for action. Course Management Committees and the Teaching Committee have "Matters arising from the SSLCs" as a standing agenda item.

How is GGE's response to items from the SSLC monitored?

The minutes of the SSLCs record actions taken by GGE as matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting, and record what items remain unresolved. Items unresolved from previous meetings must be carried forward to the agenda for the next meeting and the Quality Assurance Tutor must be notified. Unresolved items are reported by the Quality Assurance Tutor in the Joint SSLC's Report of Meetings of SSLCs.

How is the operation of the SSLC monitored?

The GGE Administrator with the Quality Assurance Tutor is responsible for monitoring and assuring the occurrence and effective operation of SSLC meetings by checking the minutes of each meeting.