Introduction to your new Vice President (Education) Lucy!

Hello! I’m Lucy, and I’ve been studying in Derby for over four years now in Civil Engineering (Construction and Business). Fun fact: I’m a proud plant mum, and I love to scrapbook.

In my course, I have investigated business structures, building structures, maths logistics, and politics, which will apply to the side of my role you won’t see. I have a large interest in efficiency, and I’m quite a nerd for Excel sheets 😊

I have always had a passion for helping people and listening. I always want to hear your opinions: Good, Bad, and Neutral! You are my priority.

From your feedback, my aims for the year are:

1. Encouraging feedback, encouraging and empowering your voice. I will be assessing all campuses to reach everyone. There will be a bigger presence from the Union (especially after the turmoil and effects of the 2020s in the UK so far).
2. Developing better representation for online, Degree apprenticeship, international, home and college students, no matter the campus.
3. Investigate, identify, and advocate for student support plans, extra time, and additional considerations for academic work. Including more parameters for students (RAC), as Mental health worsens with the changing social landscape and political landscape, we all need a bit more consideration!
4. Anti-harassment is unexpectedly rife in the university. I will be working closely with Student Conduct and the Student Advice Team to develop campus training for students and staff alike to mitigate harassment.
5. More multi-faith centre priorities around all campuses and dedicated areas.
6. Explore and develop employment during study.
7. Be closer to students physically! Operating and moving to more accessible campuses. We hear you, we see you!
8. More events! Monthly availability and meet-ups for people to socialise.
9. What can we do for those in need of external help, Childcare, adult care, menopause, and physical disabilities, and how can we better represent you.
10. Develop the course representative feedback systems.
11. Increase and develop connections with charities (food banks, housing, sexual health, mental health awareness, etc.) to better communicate with students and provide more support.
12. Involve Develop@Derby within modules more! This will increase literacy and efficiency for everyone.
13. Campus developments based on your feedback, for example, security communications (telecoms).
14. AI literacy and how AI can be implemented in academic research and work without replacing critical thinking.
15. Technical and college support communications with the Union of Students.
16. Identifying and developing the university's employability and industrial networking to help students more easily transition into jobs after graduating.

All aims are dedicated to the students, for the students. All feedback is welcome! And will be included in the aims above.

I came into the role as an already proactive Student Rep for my course, and I got nominated to run and make a difference. Having a nomination for the role and motivation from fellow students, friends, and academics gave me a push. Also, having a “mother-duck” personality and a keen interest in education, this role was like it was meant to be.

I really look forward to seeing what students across the entire university need and want, and to hearing as many people as possible. My entire role is for the students, and being able to see people develop based on the changes they want is more than enough.