Thanks to you, your suggestions and opinions, together we’ve made good things happen. 

We value our partnership with our students, and the differences this makes to your university. Working with you, we can shape what we do here at Reading.  

1. Expanding and developing our programme of UoR music
2. A more flexible approach, with SportsPark Functional Floor space more than doubled
3. Increasing support for mature students 
4. 'Promoting Racial justice in teaching and learning' 
5. Renewing the Digital Support Fund 
6. Chill & Chat: developing your student life events
7. We overhauled our Extenuating Circumstances process
8. Leading change across our catering outlets 
9. Enhancing community action together
10. Supporting you in a way that works for you
11. Counselling & Wellbeing support resources for when you need them
12. More Master’s Fayres
13. Communicating better with you 
14. Creating a bespoke app for Reading students

1. Expanding and developing our programme of UoR music

• New jam sessions - After you asked us to provide planned jam sessions and other opportunities for your bands to play live music, we’ve set it up. We had our first jam session in November. So many of you attended, shared your musical talent and got the chance to meet other music-loving students from different university societies. 
• UoR Music LIVE @ Bar 77
• Together, with your feedback that you wanted gigs in the community, we’ve begun a collaboration with Bar 77. The first joint gig in November with RUMS Jazz Band and RUSS (Reading Uni Singer Songwriter Society) was really well attended. Now, we’ve got a monthly gig with music societies all having the chance to perform.
• New UoR Music Community 
• Many of you involved in running music-based societies expressed that you wanted to collaborate more to strengthen the community. As a result, we’ve now put together a Joint Music
• Committee with representatives from UoR Music, RUMS, RUSS, Band Society, Rock Society and K-Pop. 
• A brand-new percussion ensemble-  Following your suggestions and feedback that we could bring together our percussionists/drummers and improve opportunities for them to play, we’ve started a fast-growing percussion ensemble and we’re looking forward to seeing it flourish.

2. A flexible approach, SportsPark Functional Floor space more than doubled

• The SportsPark took on the increasing demand for a more flexible approach to exercise by our student population. In September 21 we more than doubled our Functional floor space while installing highly in demand and on trend equipment such as Ski erg, Functional Rig, Air Bike and agility track with prowler. This area is now an exceptional space to exercise in a way that is relevant, fun and motivating for all our Student members. While increasing our Functional offering we also updated our Cardiovascular equipment installing Pulse Fitness’s Premium range this equipment improves service significantly with new member interface and networked entertainment solutions’ SportsPark Fitness Studio New Functional Training Zone 2021

3. Increasing support for mature students 

This year, Chris Dobson (former Mature Students Part Time Officer at RUSU) set out to find out more about the mature student experience at Reading. The Big Mature Student Survey helped us to identify what more we could do to support and enhance the experience of our mature students. Thanks to all those who voiced their views in the survey, we’ve made some changes:

• For our 2021/22 Welcome we created sessions specifically for new mature students. A WhatsApp group was also established for mature students to join.
• Now, throughout the year, we’ll be running even more sessions for mature students to enable structured socialising opportunities. Our December session focussed on Study Skills for first year mature students. We also hosted a festive quiz and provided students with space to network over festive treats. The Mature Student Officer was there to answer any student questions and we invited others to join the Mature students WhatsApp group that was set up during Welcome.
• RUSU has initiated conversations about restarting the mature student society.
• We’re working on new content, specifically for mature students on the Essentials webpages. 

What you said about our mature student festive social on Tuesday 7 December:

“Lovely event thank-you, Study Advise session was a good shout”
 
“Thank-you lovely chance to meet others, please do more”
 
“Positive experiences have been functions like this one where I can get to know more people in my circumstance”
 
“It’s nice to have games and casual chat thanks!”
 
“I loved the activities thought it was a great way to engage”
 
“Love this mature student Xmas. Please do this again next year”

4. 'Promoting Racial justice in teaching and learning' 

Thanks to student contributions in response to the University’s Race Equality Review, we will be launching a collection of pieces on ‘Promoting Racial justice in teaching and learning’ in January 2022. These pieces consist of personal reflections, opinion pieces as well as academic research on racial inequality. Students were key members of the editorial board and also designed the final product.  We hope this work will not only raise awareness of racial inequality but encourage action to change. Visit the Library foyer in late January to explore the collection. 

5. Renewing the Digital Support Fund 

We’ve reintroduced the Digital Support Fund, designed to provide financial support towards internet connectivity, specialist software as well as IT-related study equipment costs. Last year you told us that you appreciated this support, so we have continued to make it available – we are committed to ensuring that our students are not disadvantaged. Find out more about the Digital Support Fund.

6. Developing your student life events

You've told us through this year's Welcome survey that you'd like to see more non and low alcohol events. Since, we've set up a group to improve your social events and regular activities. This year with your feedback on the type of things you enjoy, we've run regular events like board games, films, crafting and Chill n Chat sessions. There'll be more events coming up this year - visit Essentials to find out more.

7. We overhauled our Extenuating Circumstances process

Our new Exceptional Circumstances process has replaced the previous Extenuating Circumstances process. We consulted with students and listened to your feedback and made some key changes to the Exceptional Circumstances policy 2021/22:

• We’ve re-named the process – formerly known as Extenuating Circumstances -  recognising that we need to be clear and transparent about what our policy covers, including in its title.
• You can now Self-Certify (without evidence) for 2 working-day extensions on most coursework if you have been impacted by short-term unexpected illness or disruption to your studies. You can do this twice per academic year.
• Post-Results EC process (PREC) – as introduced last year, you have the opportunity to evaluate the impact any adverse circumstances have had on your exam performance after the publication of your results using the Post-results Exceptional Circumstances process.

These significant changes sit alongside the more standard processes, which should be used in the majority of cases for valid exceptional circumstances.

8. Leading change across our catering outlets 

Your suggestions have been taken on board across our catering outlets. At Eat at the Square, there’s now more to choose from, less waiting time, and clearer prices. We’ve also improved our Platinum eating plan, so that both soft and hot drinks are included - following your feedback rather than one or other. Students have led in developing Ice House where you can enjoy food and coffee, in a relaunch for students and by students. We also know that you wanted us to be more transparent about what we are doing, so we launched givingfoodmorethought, as a way to highlight the good work involving food across the University. 

9. Enhancing community action together

We have set up the Community Action Partnership (CAP) to join up staff and students who are passionate about, have ideas or are involved in existing activities on 4 key topics to enhance engagement with the wider community: Education, Environmental Sustainability, Wellbeing, Diversity and Inclusion. 

10. Supporting you in a way that works for you

Through speaking with you, we know that access to in-person support and guidance is really important. But we also know that you appreciate the flexibility to have virtual one-to-one appointments too. This year, by listening to your feedback, we reintroduced in-person support from our specialist support teams like Careers, Disability Advice, Welfare, and Support Centre receptions. We’re also planning to continue a level of flexible access to our teams going forward. Find out more about our wide-ranging support. 

11. Counselling & Wellbeing support resources for when you need them

With your feedback we’ve worked on some new things to support you. We’ve created the Student Wellness Check. You can use this online questionnaire, at any time, and it will direct you to the right support. You now also get our tailored ‘Strategies for Success’ document to take away and access after your initial consultation with us, with all the discussion, tips, skills and guidance you need. We now also have longer first appointments with you, so we can help as much as possible in one meeting. Available on the Essentials webpages and in print copy for you to take away is our new booklet to support you to Look after yourself. This new resource covers a range of information and supportive materials, that you can browse in your own time, when you need it.  

12. More Master’s Fayres

The new ‘Master’s Fayre’ ran for a second year, based on your feedback. Our Master’s Fayre supports students with specialist knowledge and need-to-know advice. 

13.Communicating better with you 

Your feedback last year showed us that we needed to revise how we were communicating updates to you. We’ve reviewed our approach and have worked to reduce the number of emails you receive from the University, making better use of other communication methods such as social media and the UoR Student App.

Our team of Student Engagement Ambassadors have been working with the Student Success and Engagement team to ensure the student voice is heard throughout our student-facing media channels including Twitter, Instagram, Me@Reading and Essentials. The team have made a real difference by working together with us on developing and creating:

• accessible content for students on topics from diversity and inclusion to events
• a place/community for every student at the university student takeovers – created by students and societies, for students diverse and new topics, including mental health/wellbeing, student
• events, race, accommodation, starting university, religious celebrations, student services, money, recipes from around the world and much more!

 14. Creating a bespoke app for Reading students

This year we launched the UoR Student app, a truly bespoke app, and first of its kind in a UK university, created and developed by students, for students. Working in close partnership with our students has made the app a real success, including your experience in testing phases and your input on accessibility and usability enhancements. You can use the app to check your timetable on the go, get important alerts and important campus information directly to your device, and access interactive maps to help you get around campus. Your feedback and suggestions have been invaluable in helping us bring the UoR Student app to life. You can download the app by searching ‘UoR student’ in your app store.