Student Voice at Warwick: Can students actually make a change? 

Student Voice is a vital part of the university system and student life. We pay thousands of pounds a year to be at university and deserve to have some say in how our education could be improved. At Warwick, every department has a Student-Staff Liaison Committee, run by democratically elected Course Reps. However, it is difficult to ascertain whether these bodies effectively bring about change for the student body. 

I have been a Student Voice Ambassador for History for the last two years. The job title is a bit different, since we’re hired by the History Department instead of being elected, and we also get paid for the time we spend in meetings. Having course reps who are hired rather than elected means that people are more likely to attend all the meetings they are supposed to and be fully engaged in student voice. Before you claim that I’m corrupt, no, this doesn’t mean that I’m being paid just to agree with what staff say. My experience has been the opposite. I have found that staff in my department are willing to listen to concerns that I or other students have, and value my opinion when discussing potential solutions to these problems. Being paid by the department does not stop me from disagreeing with staff if I feel the issue is important to students.  

The GSD SSLC has provided Instagram updates on changes they’ve implemented, including the introduction of a reading week for GSD students as of this academic year

Another thing that is unique about History SSLCs is the fact that they are open to all students. It means that even if you’re not a course rep, you can still come to the meeting and discuss any feedback you have for the department. It’s difficult for course reps to get a feel for what the cohort wants, particularly in larger departments with over a hundred students in each year group. Opening up SSLCs to all students in the department helps make student voice more representative. It also means that all students are connected to Student Voice in some form, even if you’re not a course rep. Previous students have noted that attendance at the 2023 SSLCs was much higher because of the Marking and Assessment Boycott. 

The real test of an SSLC’s effectiveness is whether it can actually make any changes. The GSD SSLC has provided Instagram updates on changes they’ve implemented, including the introduction of a reading week for GSD students as of this academic year. I would say that the History Department’s SSLC has been really effective in making changes based on students’ feedback. We’ve helped to spread deadlines across the year, reduce the workload for 15-CATS modules, and modify the curriculum (including reforming the widely despised Historiography modules). However, not all issues can be solved so easily.  

One year, they do X, then students say they want Y. The next year, they try Y, and students say they want X back again. There is a fine balance between appeasement and negotiation for staff to maintain

There are many barriers that SSLCs can face when trying to make changes. All departments are constrained by university regulations and rules, which means some issues are unavoidable, such as having multiple exams on the same day. It’s difficult to coordinate with joint departments and their SSLCs to help joint honours students with concerns specific to their course, including exam and timetable clashes. Some issues are also outside the department’s control and require reform at University level. It is also quite common to have the same issue come up again and again, no matter what departments do. One year, they do X, then students say they want Y. The next year, they try Y, and students say they want X back again. There is a fine balance between appeasement and negotiation for staff to maintain.  

The success of SSLCs, therefore, is almost entirely dependent on how willing staff are to listen. The SU does have mechanisms in place to ensure that issues raised at SSLCs are passed on to the correct committees and staff members. However, staff should genuinely value student opinions and recognise the importance of student voice for university life. It is certainly possible for SSLCs to make changes for students, but there is only so much that students can (and should) do.