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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.
Our 'Resi Reps', as we fondly refer to them, are students like you and they represent another important cadre of our volunteers willing to put some of their time and experience at our disposal to benefit other students. The reps also organise your school social events, sell O U merchandise through their stalls, provide local information and are generally there to help. Their whole aim is to help make your experience of residential schools enjoyable, informative and stress free. Our reps will be there to greet you when you arrive at your school and they will always be easy to find, so feel free to approach yours whenever you need advice or just fancy a friendly chat.
Residential Schools are both hard work and fun - and not only for the students on the courses. Even though they are always actively busy, our reps enjoy the Residential School event as much as the other students do. If you think you could be part of our team, we'd love to hear from you. All newly appointed reps undergo a days training and will receive the full support of the Students Association. To apply, you will need to be a full member of OUSA and will be required to supply the names and contact details of two referees to support your application.
If you are interested in applying to be a Residential School rep, you can contact the OUSA Residential Schools team direct at ousa-resi-rep@open.ac.uk for more information and request an application pack.
Alternatively you can download the following document below for more information about the role and then complete the appropriate application form provided.
The Role of the Representative (42 K B)
If you are a first time applicant, or it has been more than a year since you were last a representaive, please complete the following form.
Residential School Representative Application Form - Printing (28 K B)
Residential School Representative Application Form - E completion (71 K B)
For those who were Residential Schools Representatives in 2008 and are therefore already accredited, please complete the follwing application form if you wish to re-apply.
Residential School (Accredited) Representative Application Form - Printing (52 K B)
Residential School (Accredited) Representative Application Form - E completion (66 K B)
Completed applications should be sent to the following address, ideally by the end of May of the year in question, although there may be last minute vacancies to fill up to the eve of the event itself.
OUSA Office (R S Reps)
P.O. Box 397
Walton Hall
MILTON KEYNES
MK7 6BE
Alternatively you may email your completed form to ousa-resi-rep@open.ac.uk
The application form requires that you write a short personal statement expressing what you think you can offer the Residential School team and supply us with details of any Residential School experience that you may have had. Under current arrangements, in order to be an OUSA volunteer at Residential School you need to be registered for a course with the Open University for the year 2007.
On receipt of the paperwork (including the references) your application will then be put before a panel, consisting of elected OUSA Representatives and the Assistant General Manager (Representation), for their provisional approval.
Provisionally approved Representatives and Casual Helpers’ names are passed on to the Residential School Co-ordinator for their home region who will invite them to an on-site training day, which is usually held in June. If the training is completed satisfactorily, final approval is given by the Co-ordinators and the Executive Committee Member in attendance on the day and suitable dates for ‘repping’ are discussed.
OUSA Representatives and Casual Helpers have a well-respected and very important position at Residential Schools where, whilst carrying out their numerous and diverse tasks, they are very much in the role of ambassadors for the Association. For some of OUSA’s members, this will be their only direct contact with the Association throughout their Open University careers. With this in mind, you can understand how important it is to ensure that those members representing OUSA are the right students for the job and it is because of this that the approval process has to ensure that all of the Representatives on site are properly trained and approved.
If you require any additional information before completing the application form, please don't hesitate to contact the OUSA Office.