Freshers' Guide 2009

Welcome to the Students’ Union Gl asgow Met Freshers Guide !

National Presidents Welcome

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elcome to Glasgow Metropolitan College. Regardless of whether you’re studying full-time or part-time, if you’ve come from overseas or just down the road, straight from school or returning to education, you now have the opportunity to have some of the best experiences of your life while making some incredible friends and colleagues along the way. Enjoy it – learning your subject and becoming the best you can be is what being a student is all about. But by no means will it be easy. Being a student can be just as stressful as it is rewarding. Academic and financial pressure can quickly snowball, particularly if you have issues to deal with in your private life too. That’s where your students’ association comes in. You are now part of a wider collective who exist to change students lives… …campaigning to end student hardship, so that access to education is based on ability, not money …engaging to enhance learning and teaching, so that students receive a high quality learning experience …offering advice and support, so you always have a peer to turn to when times are tough …organising events and activities, so that you develop transferable skills outside the class room, which are just as important to employers as those you get in the class room.

And you are part of an even bigger collective of all 500,000 students across Scotland. Your National Union. NUS Scotland exists to promote, defend and extend your rights as a student, and make sure your students’ association is as strong and as active as it can be. We have a tough year ahead. We want to make sure that the money government has to spend goes into your pocket now, while you’re studying, and not after you graduate. We want to make sure support for student parents is a right, and not a lottery. We want to make sure landlords can’t rip you off when it is time to move out. And even then, we have so much more we want to achieve. You have already delivered as part of your National Union before. You have scrapped the graduate endowment fee, you have got more money into the pockets of student parents, and you have made sure that Scotland remains tuition free.. because you are NUS Scotland. We can’t deliver all of this as individuals. Get in touch with your students’ union or myself to get involved in our work. Whether you’re passionate about education, equality, student welfare or the environment, you have a powerful role to play, and NUS is here to make sure the old cliché that the whole is stronger than the sum of its part remains true. Enjoy your time at Glasgow Met, get involved and remember that you are now part of a union - that means there will always be someone there to stand up for you, and always someone for you to stand up for.

Liam

Presidents welcome

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ongratulations on choosing a course at Glasgow Met and we hope you enjoy your new adventure, being a student in the heart of the city. Glasgow is an exciting place to live and study with loads to see and do and Glasgow Met Student Union (GMSU) are here to help you enjoy you’re next year as much as possible. A bit about me…I studied HND Hospitality Management and was the Class Rep in my first year. I was then elected (by students like you!) to the position of President in May last year to represent the views of students across the college. Getting involved in the Students Union was one of the best things I have done, I have learnt new skills and met new people, enhancing my college experience. GMSU is your Union and you are automatically a member, as a Union we are part of the National Union of Students’ (NUS) Scotland. NUS Scotland exists to promote, defend and extend the rights of students and with over half a million members we have a huge voice and chance to shape our lives. A good way to get involved is come to the Get Involved and Freshers’ Fayres in GMSU (North Hanover Street Campus) on the Thursday 10th and Friday 11th September. There will be something for everyone at these events whether you want to become a class rep, join a sports team, DJ on the college radio, write in the magazine, become a volunteer or just get special offers and freebies from loads of companies. This handbook is packed full of information about GMSU, Glasgow Met and Glasgow so you can refer back to it throughout the year and we will have a wide range of events throughout the year so check out our website, join the FaceBook group and follow us on Twitter (see contact details on back page). Come and see us any time about anything, after all it’s your Union! Have fun at college and good luck with your studies! See you soon,

Sarah

Sarah Gibbons Student President 2009/10

Liam Burns NUS Scotland President

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Officer n io n U t n e d u t S - Louise Riddell

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y job as Student Union Officer involves me with nearly every single area of your Students’ Union. Based within the Student Union Office in North Hanover Campus; I work closely with the President and Executive Committee to provide independent advice, information, campaigns, for you our students. This takes the form of help and support, assisting at student appeals, disciplinary cases and various other roles when a student requires individual representation. This means I often liaise between a student and the College, providing support and advice and accompanying students to hearings and appeals. Another main area I cover is focused on supporting the Class Rep system (Page 8 of this booklet). Organising and running the Class Rep training in conjunction with Sparqs (Student Participation in Quality Scotland), so if you take on the role of being a student rep I will be your trainer. I help co-ordinate the Student Parliament promoting this essential channel of communication through the College ensuring that students’ are taken into account at the colleges decision making committees. Together with the executive we look after the Student Union social areas ensuring we have enough to keep everyone entertained when in the Student Union. I co-ordinate the magazine, The Big M, student site www.metstudent.com, assist with campaigns, elections and work closely with Student Support and Advisory.

Have you got the eXec FACTOR? All students have the opportunity to become a part of our Student Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is made up of Full-Time President (elected every May) along with a number of Part-Time Vice Presidents and Officers, which are elected annually by the student body. The main purpose of the Executive Committee is to represent and put forward the views of all students College. Firstly, by asking students what their views on certain topics are and then taking those views forward in the relevant fashion. Full and relevant training is given to all Vice Presidents Officers upon election

Areas where I can help you…..

The eXec is made up of ….

Disciplinaries – providing advice and representation should you be involved in the college taking disciplinary action resulting from an alleged misconduct.

Vice President Clubs and Societies, Vice President Welfare, Vice President Campaigns, Vice President Events

Appeals – if you choose to appeal against your results, I can support and advise you through this process

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Rep, Disabled Rep, Women’s Rep, International Rep, Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Rep

Complaints – if you make a complaint about your learning and teaching or the College in general I will work with you to find a resolution General signposting – if you have a request, comment, idea, problem, want more info about Class Reps, student elections, GMSU, Met Radio, The Big M, I can help or put you in touch with the correct person I run an open door policy for seeing students, which means you will not normally need to make an appointment, however if you wish to make an advance appointment you can contact me on 0141 566 4238 or email [email protected]

So if you have got the eXec factor…. Come to the launch, see our presentation, pick up the full info pack and job description on

Tuesday 20th October

Seminar Rooms, North Hanover Street Campus

Louise

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Rep How to be a Class olved? and what is inv

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Glasgow: Out and About Whether you are from farther afield or a born and bread Glaswegian there are so many things to do and places to explore plus many places are free or offer great student discounts (remember to carry your student card or you might miss out).

Shop till you drop… Glasgow is one of the best cities in the UK for shopping. One square mile, known as the Style Mile is home to shops that suit every budget, from bargain to bling you will find what you need.

Are you the next Zane Lowe? Or perhaps the next Edith Bowman? Well you could be by getting involved in Met Radio, the radio station run by students for students! The radio is broadcast throughout the college at lunchtimes and evenings, plus you can tune in online and via podcasts. It’s a great opportunity to meet stars and new music talent, whilst having fun. Maybe you have a club night that you would like to promote or have achieved something fantastic that could be covered on the radio? Maybe you are in a band or want to advertise an event? Or you may just want to experience the thrill of live radio and interview celebs.

Whatever you’re interested in, get in touch!

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Sauchiehall Street is worth checking out for cost effective shopping with big high street names mixed with outlets and discount stores, perfect if you want to find a bargain. Buchanan Street is anchored by Buchanan Galleries, a showcase for over 90 stores from big brands to gadgets and gizmos. The street itself is home to numerous shoe shops and trendy stores like Urban Outfitters, Diesel and just around the corner you will find the first Scottish branch of American Apparel. Designer fans should check out Princess Square and House of Fraser for extra special pieces. Bustling Argyle Street is home to many shops, fast food outlets and the St Enoch Centre. Other areas worth a look are the Merchant City for trendy bars, cafes and restaurants and a mix of designer and independent stores. The West End is scattered with vintage treasure troves and quirky shops plus loads of student friendly bars and coffee houses. The Barras Market, for bargains and a fabulous atmosphere. If you are living away from home and need to kit our your pad, IKEA is a purse friendly, one stop shop and for something different check out vintage stores or make your own furnishings by visiting a haberdashery shop! For more info on shopping visit www.seeglasgow.com

A bit of Culture… Many of Glasgow’s great Museums are free and are an excellent way to have a day out with little or no cash. Highly recommended and within walking distance of the college is the Peoples Palace and Winter Gardens at Glasgow Green. The museum focuses on Glasgow’s people from 1750 – present. Highlights include Billy Connolly’s banana boots, the music and ‘dancing’ section (see what clubs used to be like!) and the political displays on the top floor. Relax in the Winter Gardens café and check out the grand Doulton Fountain at the entrance (the biggest terracotta fountain in the world). The newly restored Kelvingrove Art gallery and Museum has ever-changing displays and is stones throw from the West Ends shops and cafes. There are a wide range of exhibits from natural history to art plus a study area and café. Highlights include the Doctor Who exhibition which runs till January and impressive art works on show year round. The Hampden Experience is great for all football fans, see more than 2500 exhibits in 14 galleries, walk amongst Scotland’s footballing legends in the Hall Of Fame and take the Stadium tour. The Hampden Experience will reveal the sights, sounds and stories of the world’s favourite game, in the country that took football to the world. For more info on these and other museums visit: www.glasgowmuseums.com www.scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk www.csglasgow.org

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Your Diary r o F s t n e Ev n Unio GMSU offers a range of clubs and societies and if you don’t see anything that takes your fancy… start your own! Joining a club or society is a great way to meet new people and make new friends with a common interest.

Here are a few suggestions for clubs and societies: X Box Gaming Club Manga Comic Society Journalism Society Hospitality Society Football Club Dance Society Muslim Society Creative Writing Club Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Society Film Society Labour Party Club Hockey Club Scottish National Party Club Harry Potter Appreciation Society

It’s really easy to start your own club or society and GMSU will help and support you throughout the process and the year. You can start a club or society on anything that interests you, whether it be cultural, course related, political or just a general interest. There are a few simple steps to setting up a club or society:

Have an idea of what you want to do?

Complete a New Club/Society Pack, available from www.metstudent.com or the Union Office (North Hanover Street) Host an exciting launch event (we will help) If you want to get really involved with clubs and societies, keep your eyes peeled for the GMSU Executive Elections throughout October where a Club and Societies Vice President will be elected. This lucky person will assist the union in running clubs and societies, it’s a part time voluntary position (approx 4 hours per week). There a lots of perks that come with the position including team nights out, new skills learnt, a certificate on completion of the year and the chance to go to NUS Events around the country including Newcastle, London and Edinburgh!

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10 September 2009

Freshers’ Fayre 11.00am – 4.00pm

11 September 2009

Get Involved Day 11.00am – 4.00pm North Hanover Street, Student Union



5-9 October 2009

Class Rep Training



19-23 October 2009

Alcohol Awareness Week

20 October 2009

Student Parliament / Election Launch 12.15 pm North Hanover Street, Seminar Rooms



2-6 November 2009

Class Rep Training



5/6 November 2009

Student eXec Elections

10 November 2009

Student Parliament 12.15pm Cathedral Street, Lecture Theatre



9 -13 November 2009

Money Week



25 November 2009

Sexual Health Awareness Event

8 December 2009

Student Parliament 12.15pm North Hanover Street, Seminar Rooms



17 February 2010

Equal Opportunities Event



10 March 2010

Healthy Student Event

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Useful contacts Glasgow Met Students Union 60 North Hanover St, Glasgow President: Sarah Gibbons E: [email protected] T: 0141 566 4285 Students Union Officer: Louise Riddell E: [email protected] T: 0141 566 4238 Students Union Clerical Assistant E: [email protected] T: 0141 566 4140 Website: www.metstudent.com Facebook: join the Glasgow Met Students Union group Twitter: www.twitter.com/MetUnion Student Services: E: [email protected] T: 0141 566 6222 Glasgow Met (main number) E: [email protected] T: 0141 566 6222