Meetings never go to plan, do they? You never stick to schedule, and the agenda begins to lose all meaning. It’s just a document that encourages people to think that there’s something in mind when the meeting is organised. More often than not you end up incredibly off topic, discussing something that is in no way related to the meeting whatsoever…

(yes, I have thrown in a picture of penguins because they’re my favourite animal)

…and when you finally get back on topic, you’re at least twenty minutes behind schedule… and then the process starts again, so inevitably, you end up finishing at least forty minutes late. This is true of the Students’ Union meetings. No matter how much contingency time I stick into that agenda, we will always end up staying later than usual -- and yet they all complain! Perhaps, I should just add a ‘general chat’ item to the agenda, but I doubt that would deal with the problem.

So, having had our elections last month, the Students’ Union has now successfully filled 17 places, and now these officers are being put through the horrifying tasks of having their mugshot plastered around College and sitting through the comprehensive safeguarding training. I don’t think I’ll hear the end of their complaints…

…but I suppose that’s what the Students’ Union is for… complaining.

Wait! No we’re not. We’re for making change happen. We are the change, you see. (Sneaking in a bit of NUS advertising there).

And right now, with the help of our very active and passionate students, we are attempting to combat the difficulties faced by students in travelling to College via their own means or public transport. It is an issue that everyone faces, but with the cuts to EMA and ALG and Care to Learn, it’s getting more and more difficult for our students. So, what are we doing? Well we’re involving ourselves with the Get on the Bus Campaign (I’m doing it again…) and speaking to the local Kent Students’ Unions to see how we can all work together to tackle a problem that affects a large number of students.

So, the new officers’ inductions, and their grimace worthy icebreakers, out of the way, it’s time to get everyone involved in the action. With the travel campaign, the wheels are in motion (no pun intended) and everyone starts after Christmas. Our students have voices, you see, and it’s high time that everyone listened.

But for now… Merry Christmas!

James… and a bit of Shakin’ Stevens.

If I were to tell you about everything that has happened in the last month, then I could be writing for days. MidKent College has been in a frenzy of student activity, inspiring talks and tired souls since the term began.

Of course, we are celebrating the London 2012 Olympics this year and have been promoting the values and opportunities associated with them since before our students even walked into the College – meaning that when a mixture of students and staff decided to crazily run the 16 mile distance between our two campuses, there was a warm reception to both the departure and the arrival of the runners, something that truly helped bring our campuses together. To add to it, the exhausted runners (including myself) and those interested students were treated to a inspirational talk by Larry Achike, a British Triple-Jumper who will most likely be in the Olympics for Britain next year – and as with any celebrity, we made sure we got our autographs and photos from him! After nearly half an hour of pulling him to one side for photos and the other to sign yet another part of his life away, he eventually broke free and escaped the College so fast some of us didn’t notice (I suppose you should keep an eye on a professional athlete in retrospect).

Even this half term was quite tiring – while everyone has been off enjoying their half term, I, like many other student representatives around the country, have attended the National Union of Students’ (NUS) Zone Conference. Gathering information faster than my mind could process it, the NUS definitely got me thinking about ways we can really get the best for our students from more student involvement to events and activities. Plus, there was always the fact that we were staying in the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool that made it that more appealing (although I wouldn’t stay there again). From this though, MidKent College and indeed the Southern region has gained a number of student representatives within the NUS, myself on the Welfare Committee. This is a step which will benefit not just those at MidKent College but one that students all across the United Kingdom will also benefit from. (Not that it’s a daunting task really…)

Plans for this month? What I said about last month applies again – so many ideas means I could keep on rambling for days if you get me going; so I won’t. Well, maybe just a little bit – more course representative meetings, the Students’ Union elections with an exceptional 14 candidates standing for a wide range of positions and the finalising of the plans for the Winter Prom are priorities. But that’s only a start for what we have planned.

Watch this space to find out more.

Happy November!

With enrolments, inductions and some lost students, it’s not difficult to say the start of the first term might just be the busiest and hardest time of the academic year. When there are thousands of students pouring through the doors of both of our College campuses, it seems fitting that the Students’ Union, and myself, might just want to make a good first impression. After all, that’s the impression that sticks, isn’t it? And as the new President, it might be helpful for my team and me to begin the year with a few successes.

Of course, that means assembling the members of the team across the campuses, and arranging a smile on their faces. I’m lucky in the fact that they’d already pretty much done that themselves. Handy, really. With more students enrolling this year, I’m certain that we have an excellent team to represent students as effectively as possible.

Some might think that the Students’ Union is just here to give the College hassle, strike and cause general chaos. That’s not our aim at all. We do what the students want us to do. If general chaos is what they want, then general chaos is what they get. Of course, this is never usually the case and we might just have to draw the line a little before that point. Last year, we improved our learner voice system and now have an effective forum for feedback, so we can do the things that students want us to do. Examples include making the security gates safer and easier to use at our Medway campus, and refurbishing the social zone at our Maidstone campus to make it friendlier and more comfortable. All these developments have stemmed from the feedback that the Students’ Union has received.

With a new year starting, we are keen to keep students in the loop with everything that’s happening around College, preparing to run more and more events to involve everyone, as well as provide more opportunities for students to confidentially tell us exactly what they think about the College.

Anyone who studies at MidKent College is part of the Students’ Union, and that means that anyone who studies at MidKent College is entitled to our representation, and has a voice that can be heard and acted upon, whenever. We are here to help, to listen and to do what you want us to do. So, whatever your query, come and find us. We will almost always have a friendly representative in the Social Zones at both campuses to talk to, completely dedicated to helping you!

James Phillips

It’s been a while since I’ve updated the blog and many apologies for this. Just proves how crazy-busy life as a Sabbatical Students’ Union President is!

So, what is it that has been keeping me busy?

Recently Jo Carter, the Youth Worker based on the Medway Campus, and I have been setting up the new and improved Course and Faculty Rep system. Through this your voice is louder and it provides an easier way for me to hear what you have all been saying. Course Representatives have all now been nominated within your groups and have recently attended a meeting in which we wrote down everything you have been saying, the good, the bad and the ugly too. There have been lots of the same things that come up time and again concerning travel cost and EMA. It’s amazing to know that you all care about these subjects so deeply. This is something the Union, along with the National Union of Students (NUS), is working on and we soon hope to be putting your words into action!

So, what’s next?

The next step for the Union is elections. Yes that’s right. It’s election season again. More information is to come on this so keep your eyes wide open and start thinking. If you are studying here next year why not run for an Officer position? If this is your last year and you’re struck for ideas on where to go next, ask yourself a couple of questions beginning with: do you want to make a difference to others’ student experience? If so, consider running for the presidential role.

For everything you can contact me by e-mail on taylor.kane@midkent.ac.uk, follow Mkc-su MidKent on Facebook or follow Tay_Kane on twitter.

In Unity
Tay Kane

I would just like to welcome every new and returning student to MidKent College (even if it is a little late in the year). My name is Taylor Kane and I am your Students’ Union President this year.

Everyone who attends a MidKent College course at least once a week over the academic year is automatically part of the Students’ Union. Unfortunately not many people know this and it is in my role to promote the Union and all we can do for you.

MidKent College’s Students’ Union is here to promote the interests and welfare of its members. We can organise many events and social activities including LGBT (which stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender), a Gospel Choir and even a Glee Club. However, we will only do this if it is what you as the student body want. Being a Students’ Union we are closely linked to the National Union of Students (or NUS) which benefits you with advice on student issues and discounts in many high-street stores (when you purchase their NUS card which is sold in both College Social Zones for £10). For more information on this visit www.nus.org.uk.

At MKC we have an active representation system within departments which means any issues, whether small or large can and will be voiced. You should have a class rep within your tutor group. In addition, some of you may know your faculty rep. If you want to talk to someone and I’m not around, these are the people that can help you.

This year we have a lot of activities for you to get involved in. As a student here last year I know that work can build up around December/January time and make you feel a little down about being here, so I aim to conquer this with lots of activities and campaigns to get involved in. To find out what’s on you can visit the Social Zones for the events calendars or talk to the Zocial Zone Co-ordinators, Amanda Worf, Viv Bennett and Lynne Ansell – they won’t bite I promise!

So just remember, the Union is whatever you want it to be, it can be whatever you make of it. All we ask is that you voice your opinion within MKCSU as it is through the engagement of students that we can ensure the focus remains on improving your experience here at MidKent College.

Peace

Tay Kane