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Get yourself involved
Interested in getting more involved with your Students Association? There are many opportunities for becoming involved in an active capacity within OUSA. Whether you're thinking of becoming a Peer Supporter or are interested in becoming a Student Support Link, or even thinking of representing OUSA at an Open Day event or Degree Ceremony, we actively encourage our members to make good use of their experience to help the Association deliver the service our students have come to expect. Our members get themselves actively involved within the Association for various reasons. Whether you're looking to broaden your inter-personal skills, or just enjoy helping others, OUSA is always keen to enourage wider participation. Please have a browse through the details below to find out more about how you can get involved.
Student Support Link and Disabled Student Link
Our Student Support Links (S S Ls) and Disabled Student Links (D S Ls) are O U students who volunteer their time to help others with problems that are affecting their studies, when they may not feel able to approach their tutor for whatever reason or are not sure whom to contact. It's a rewarding experience and those interested in offering their servcies can contact the OUSA Office to find out more about the service and how to apply.
Central Representative
One of the most important functions of OUSA is to ensure a strong and representative voice for students on all decision-making bodies throughout the University. The O U provides extensive opportunities for student views to influence the service they get. If you think you would be interested in representing student interests on University academic boards, follow the link below.
More about applying to be a Central RepresentativeStudent Academic Link
The role of the Student Academic Link (S A L) is to provide students within their region or nation with a point of contact for academic-based issues. They work closely with not only the OUSA forum, but also student representatives on University central committees. If you think you would be suitable for this role, please follow the link below.
More about applying to be a Student Academic LinkVolunteer Rep at OUSA Events
Open Day Volunteer
Many OUSA members attend the University's Open Day event to volunteer to help out with the OUSA stalls or to talk to potential students. It's a great day for all the family. To find out more, please follow the link below.
More about applying to be an Open Day volunteerResidential School Volunteer
Our representatives play an important role at Residential Schools and we field a team of representatives 'in residence' at all main UK sites throughout the whole of the summer period. The service is highly valued both by those students attending and by the University itself. If you would like to volunteer your services, please follow the link below.
More about applying to be resi repDegree Ceremony Volunteer
One of the highlights of OUSA's year is our participation at Degree Ceremonies. They are such well organised and joyous occasions, it's always a pleasure to play a part - and we do! OUSA is always represented in the academic procession or amongst the V I P guests as well as running the most popular gift stall at the event. If you think you would be interested, please follow the link below.
More about applying to be a Degree Ceremony volunteerBecoming an Assembly or OUSA Forum Officer
As an elected representative of your local OUSA organisation, whether at Assembly or regional/national level, you would have various responsibilities.
Asembly Officer
Assemblies are OUSA's grass roots and provide the main opportunity for students to meet face to face - whether to talk about serious business or for entirly social purposes. Many of our assemblies run a social programme throughout the year, but having an Assembly is also the best means of providing our members with the chance to participate in making the policy in setting the priorities for the organisation.
More about Local OrganisationOUSA Forum Officer
The OUSA forum is made up of delegates from all the local Assembly and is led by a committee of elected officers: Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Communications Officer. Other posts elected annually at the OUSA Forum Annual General Meeting are: Student Support Link and Disabled Students’ Link. In addition, a Residential School Co-ordinator is also elected each year by the OUSA forum. If you want to know more about being involved with your forum, please follow the link below.
More about getting involved with your OUSA forumPeer Supporter
Peer Support Online is available to all students through FirstClass. Its purpose is to support any student that feels they need it… whether answering one-off questions that may seem too trivial to ask a tutor or O U staff, or through on-going one-to-one support for as long as it's needed. The volunteer Peer Supporters who offer this service do so anonymously and in strict confidence. The Peer Supporters are also O U students and so are more inclined to empathise with the needs of our students. For more information, please follow the link below.
More about applying to be a Peer SupporterIf you are keen to develop your interpersonal skills or your business acumen, or want to broaden your administrative experience, or just want to meet new people, becoming actively involved within your Association offers many such opportunties. Your local branch or region is always keen to hear from you.
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