Sabbatical Officers
The Sabbatical Officers work full-time for a year out-with their studies to implement the Council’s policies and to represent Council, and students, on a day to day basis to the University and on a National Level.
President
The President of the SRC has overall responsibility for the running of the organisation, and making sure it is working for the best outcomes for students, and supporting them during their time at University.
They are the most senior representative of students to the University, and sit on a number of committees – most importantly Senate and Court the two ruling bodies of the University. It’s their job to make sure students voices are heard, and that the ‘bigwigs’ sit up and take note.
The president is also the figurehead of the organisation and will be working with external bodies such as the Coalition of Higher Education Students in Scotland and the Aldwych Group to ensure Glasgow University students views are heard at the national level when appropriate.
Vice-President (Media and Communications)
Craig Angus
VP M&C responsible for the preparation and distribution of any publicity or publications the SRC wishes to produce. This ranges from the Guide and the Diary – publications given to each new student at the University – to regular publicity about the services the SRC offers, or the elections taking place.
It’s also important to make sure that any issues relating to or affecting students are discussed and debated in local and national media. By maintaining links with the outside press through the VP Media and Communications, it is possible for the SRC to help students from an even greater number of platforms.
They also support the student media at Glasgow, which are editorially independent but still funded and supported by the SRC. VPMC ensures they have the best working environment possible and that the media complies with media law.
Finally, the VP Media and Communications organises Media Week: a week full of workshops and talks for anyone planning on starting a career in the media, or simply interested in what goes on behind the scenes in newspapers, ad agencies, television networks and more.
Vice-President (Learning and Development)
Razvan Balaban
The Vice President (Learning and Development) is responsible for the academic side of student representation and represents the SRC on all committees with a focus on student education. The VP-LAD oversees and supports the work of the council’s Faculty Convenors to enable high quality academic representation in all areas of the university, and will consult regularly with the convenors to maintain an overarching view of student representation at Glasgow. A large part of the VP-LAD role is to oversee the training and support of the local level student reps.
However, the remit of the VP-LAD is much wider than academic issues and also encompasses developmental opportunities relating to volunteering and employability provided by the SRC. As such, they are responsible in the first few months of office for coordinating the SRC’s Freshers’ Week activity and ensuring a varied, diverse programme of events. Throughout the rest of the year the developmental side of the role is focused on overseeing the SRC’s volunteering opportunities provided by SVSS, seeking to expand the variety of schemes on offer and open up volunteering to a wider audience.
Vice-President (Student Support)
Jess McGrellis
VPSS exists to promote the welfare of all students within the University of Glasgow and beyond. This year, the role took on responsibility for clubs and societies for the first time; overseeing the affiliation process; granting funding applications; supporting the organising committees of those societies and promoting inter-society co-operation on different events.
A huge part of the job, as with all four sabbatical officers is based around their representative function. The VP SS maintains strong links with University Services and the International office, as well as defending student interests at university committees, supporting student halls committees and tackling problems which come up through the advice centre with separate bodies such as SASS, the Student Loans Company, local Community Councils and the police.
They are also in charge of the SRC welfare weeks which deal with subjects from mental health, sexual health and environmental issues to accommodation, money, and fundraising, as well as supporting the Welfare and Equal Opportunities Officers in their roles on council.