Online Students Hello Everyone, My name is Josie. I am the Student Representative for the final year of the Forensic Psychology MSc, and I'm also delighted to have recently been appointed the role of Community Leader for the Online Students Community. I've been an online student at the University of Derby for the past two years, and I previously completed my Undergraduate Degree with The Open University. Having spent my entire academic experience studying online, I'm very familiar with both the flexibility it offers and the challenges it can bring, especially for those balancing work, family life or caring responsibilities. It can be an incredibly rewarding process, but equally it can also feel like an isolated route at times. My aim in this role is to help create a space where online students feel connected, supported and heard. I want this community to be a place where you can share your experiences, raise concerns and celebrate successes with others who understand the unique nature of online study. I don't have all of the answers, and I am certainly not an expert by any standards. However, within this position I want to listen and learn from you and ultimately advocate for improvements that genuinely reflect the needs of our online student community at Derby. Please feel free to contact me directly through my university email (j.thorne5@unimail.derby.ac.uk), through Teams, or through the Online Students Community email address (Onlinestudents@derbyunion.co.uk) if you want to share any experiences or would like more insight into the communities aims before joining. Membership is free, and the community is designed as a space for students across all online courses at the university to connect, support one another and share their journeys. As a collective, I hope we can build a strong sense of belonging and ensure that online students have a visible and valued voice witihn the university.