Apologies to recipients of a multiple posting¦..
IS THERE AN IDEAL FORM OF POSTGRADUATE STUDENT ORGANISATION?
Questionnaire
Following my verbal presentation on this topic to the SRHE Postgrad Issues Network meeting last March, and my workshop at the 1999 NPC Conference, I aim to gather some data about the variety of postgraduate associations and other groupings out there, with a view to refining a typology, with a view further to finding out whether there is an ideal form of postgraduate organisation. E.g. Is there more than one ideal form overall, but only one which suits your institution? How much should the student union control the organisation? Should the institution play a significant role?
I would be most grateful if your could fill out the questionnaire below and return to me at this address:
email: [log in to unmask]
Dr Martin Gough
Research Assistant
School of Information Management
Leeds Metropolitan University
The Grange
Beckett Park
Leeds LS6 3QS
I would be happy for you to treat the questions as applicable to the year 1998-99, if you have your data readily available only for that year, or 1999-2000, or both. In any case, please indicate which year you are answering for. Do not feel obliged to answer every question, if you have doubts for any reason. For figures, if you have a rough idea, answer roughly, unless you know that you can find out exact figures with ease. Thank you for your time to fill out this questionnaire. I shall feed findings back to those you express an interest,
1) Your name and contact details:
2) Your Institution ...............................
The next questions are about how would you describe the postgraduate organisation in your institution.
3) Is it a Society of the student union? Y / N
- is there voluntary or automatic membership? ...............................
4) Is it a Society quite independent of the student union? Y / N
- is there voluntary or automatic membership? ...............................
5) Is it governed by a Standing Committee of the student union? Y / N
(this would make it a bit more than just a student society amongst other student societies, rather something with a formal representative function)
6) Is it more like an autonomous Union (i.e. not basically accountable to the student union)? Y / N
- is there membership of the student union available to postgraduates in addition? Y / N
7) How is the organisation funded? ...............................
(please give rough figures/percentages of contributions from the student union, the institution, individuals, other sources)
- is there a membership fee payable by individuals? Y / N
- does the organisation have its own office space (describe facilities)? ...............................
8) Is membership restricted? (e.g. just to research students or can any postgrad join?
- can non-postgraduates join?) ...............................
9) How many postgraduates are members? ...............................
- how many postgraduates are there in your institution? ...............................
The next questions are more about how the student union regards your organisation.
10) If your postgraduate organisation is a Society, does the union treat it as privileged to be consulted as a quasi-representative body especially about postgraduate issues? Y / N
11) If you know about the history of your postgraduate organisation, did the student union at some stage impose a Standing Committee or similar body on the postgraduate population to co-ordinate its postgraduate representation or campaigning? Y / N
12) Does the student union run its own elections for a Postgraduate Officer
(or similar - provide title of post)? ...............................
- is such a post restricted to an (ex-)postgraduate or is it open to all union members? ...............................
- is voting restricted to postgraduates? Y / N
13) Is there an already existing student union sabbatical with a remit to include working with the postgraduate organisation on representation and campaigns (provide title of post)? ...............................
14) Has the student union created a sabbatical post full-time dedicated to postgraduates
and postgraduate issues? Y / N
- is such a post restricted to an (ex-)postgraduate or is it open to all union members? ...............................
- is voting restricted to postgraduates? Y / N
15) Does the student union employ administrative/secretarial staff especially to service the postgraduate organisation? Y / N
The next questions are more about how the institution regards your organisation.
16) If your postgraduate organisation is a Society, does the institution treat it as privileged to be consulted as a quasi-representative body especially about postgraduate issues? Y / N
17) Does the institution employ administrative/secretarial staff especially to service the
postgraduate organisation? Y / N
- are they elected by the postgraduate community? Y / N
18) Has a senior officer of the institution assumed the task of developing an underdeveloped
postgrad community? Y / N
19) Does your institution have a Graduate School (or similar body)? Y / N
- is your postgraduate organisation involved in the School's decision-making processes? Y / N
Lastly...
20) Do you have any additional comments, e.g. how would you like to see your postgraduate organisation changed for the better?
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