Education President
Matilda Copley
Your Education President is responsible for improving your academic experience at St Mary’s!
educationpresident@stmarys.ac.uk
Get to know Matilda...
What I studied
I studied BSc Psychology
My favourite thing about St Mary’s
My favourite thing about St Mary’s was being part of an amazing community
What I’m looking to achieve this year
I am hoping to ensure students have fun within their education, have a manageable workload and have the best academic experience.
One tip for making the most out of St Mary’s
One tip to making the most out of St Mary's would be to get involved in everything you can! Even if you have never played a sport before or had an interest in a particular hobby or society, now is your time to try something new.
My best Simmie memory
My best simmie memory is scoring a goal on varsity and going out to celebrate that night. It was such an achievement from never playing football before university to ending my experience on a high.
My manifesto aims 👇
Improving Mental Health Services
- Advocated from 4-6 counselling sessions where students can get even more if needed.
- Now qualified to deliver Wellbeing Skills for Student Leaders workshops which will be delivered during Smart Study Week
- Helped with promoting student services wellbeing activities, especially in wobble week
- Hosted multiple mindful sessions, including pottery painting, mindful colouring, bracelet making, sip and paint with more to come during Smart Study Week.
- Hosted a Dodgeball Tournament for Dyslexia Awareness Day to fundraise for the British Dyslexia Association, raising £400.
- Personal tutors now use STEP which should help students and them see when they need to meet up etc and they can track how their students are doing
Increase Faculty Socials
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These were held in induction weeks – very successful. Currently in the middle of planning one for Christmas but we are working out the budgeting etc.
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I want subject Chairs to attend socials where possible – this would be great for them to get feedback but also connect with students they are representing.
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There will be faculty socials in Reconnect Week and potentially end of the academic year socials.
Ensuring Fair Workloads
- Currently working on bringing the new EC guaranteed policy of providing students with 1 or 2 guaranteed EC, shortening the application and making sure students find out before a deadline not afterwards.
- Ensured deadline dates are not the same time as other academic commitments as policy for academic staff is that they must send out all assignments etc for that semester, 2 weeks into the semester. This allows staff to see if they need to change the dates of assignments if they clash and also allows students enough time to prepare and time manage.
- Targeted interventions for those with learning disabilities or whose first language isn’t English – working with the library to support and promote these.
- In discussion of seminars being drop in tutorials for upcoming assignments
- Workshops of how to use AI ethically are now being hosted during Smart Study Week, delivered by our own Student Advisor.
Improve Student Feedback
- Working on closing the feedback loop via a Student Voice Newsletter or Instagram – the aim is that students are made aware of the changes regarding the SU, including petitions.
- 100% course rep recruitment – we currently have very high numbers of course reps which is great to see. Need to push some extra to ensure 100%.
- WhatsApp Group Chats have been made for each faculty with the subject chair and course reps for easier communication between both.
- Drop in sessions with myself are being held in Smart Study Week
Expanding Postgraduate Opportunities
- Successfully held multiple postgraduate faculty socials
- Postgraduate webinar being held in Smart Study Week to expand career opportunities
- Currently planning a postgraduate specific career day for the end of the academic year
- In support of the postgrad VP achieving their manifesto
