Interested in getting more involved with your Students Association?
There are many opportunities for becoming involved in an active capacity within OUSA. Whether you're thinking of becoming a Peer Supporter or are interested in becoming a Student Support Link, or even thinking of representing OUSA at an Open Day event or Degree Ceremony, we actively encourage our members to make good use of their experience to help the Association deliver the service our students have come to expect.
Our members get themselves actively involved within the Association for various reasons. Whether you're looking to broaden your inter-personal skills, or just enjoy helping others, OUSA is always keen to enourage wider participation. Please have a browse through the details below to find out more about how you can get involved.
Our Student Support Links (S S Ls) and Disabled Student Links (D S Ls) are O U students who volunteer their time to help others with problems that are affecting their studies, when they may not feel able to approach their tutor for whatever reason or are not sure whom to contact. It's a rewarding experience and those interested in offering their servcies can contact the OUSA Office to find out more about the service and how to apply.
One of the most important functions of OUSA is to ensure a strong and representative voice for students on all decision-making bodies throughout the University. The O U provides extensive opportunities for student views to influence the service they get. If you think you would be interested in representing student interests on University academic boards, follow the link below.
More about applying to be a Central Representative
The role of the Student Academic Link (S A L) is to provide students within their region with a point of contact for academic-based issues. They work closely with not only the regional forum, but also student representatives on University central committees. If you think you would be suitable for this role, please follow the link below.
More about applying to be a Student Academic Link
Open Day Volunteer
Many OUSA members attend the University's Open Day event to volunteer to help out with the OUSA stalls or to talk to potential students. It's a great day for all the family. To find out more, please follow the link below.
More about applying to be an Open Day volunteer
Residential School Volunteer
Our representatives play an important role at Residential Schools and we field a team of representatives 'in residence' at all main UK sites throughout the whole of the summer period. The service is highly valued both by those students attending and by the University itself. If you would like to volunteer your services, please follow the link below.
More about applying to be resi rep
Degree Ceremony Volunteer
One of the highlights of OUSA's year is our participation at Degree Ceremonies. They are such well organised and joyous occasions, it's always a pleasure to play a part - and we do! OUSA is always represented in the academic procession or amongst the V I P guests as well as running the most popular gift stall at the event. If you think you would be interested, please follow the link below.
More about applying to be a Degree Ceremony volunteer
As an elected representative of your local OUSA organisation, whether at branch or regional level, you would have various responsibilities.
Branch Officer
Branches are OUSA's grass roots and provide the main opportunity for students to meet face to face - whether to talk about serious business or for entirly social purposes. Many of our active branches run a social programme throughout the year, but having an active branch is also the best means of providing our members with the chance to participate in making the policy in setting the priorities for the organisation. For a branch to be active we need at least a small number of people willing to take on the responsibility for running the branch. If you want to know if we have an active branch in your area or are interested in helping us to get one up and running, either contact the OUSA office or follow the link below.
More about OUSA branches
Regional Officer
The regional forum is made up of delegates from all the local branches and is led by a committee of elected officers: Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Communications Officer. Other posts elected annually at the regional forum Annual General Meeting are: Student Support Link, Marketing and Information Co-ordinator and Disabled Students’ Link. In addition, a Residential School Co-ordinator and a Residential School Marketing Co-ordinator are also elected each year by the regional forum.
If you want to know more about being involved with your forum, please follow the link below.
More about getting involved with your regional forum
Peer Support Online is available to all students through FirstClass. Its purpose is to support any student that feels they need it… whether answering one-off questions that may seem too trivial to ask a tutor or O U staff, or through on-going one-to-one support for as long as it's needed.
The volunteer Peer Supporters who offer this service do so anonymously and in strict confidence. The Peer Supporters are also O U students and so are more inclined to empathise with the needs of our students. For more information, please follow the link below.
More about applying to be a Peer Supporter
If you are keen to develop your interpersonal skills or your business acumen, or want to broaden your administrative experience, or just want to meet new people, becoming actively involved within your Association offers many such opportunties. Your local branch or region is always keen to hear from you.
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