A BIT ABOUT ME

Hi everyone, my name is Larissa and I am running to be your Education Officer because I believe that our education should be accessible and inclusive, shaped by all, and that we should make the most of our time at Warwick! I’m a Second Year PAIS and Hispanic Studies student, and I am extremely passionate about becoming the first Afro-Caribbean woman to be a sabbatical officer at Warwick. I hope that after reading my policies you’ll be just as excited as me!

#LarissaforEdu

Twitter: @Larissa_Ken

Facebook: /LarissaforEdu

MY TOP 5

• A Director of Student Experience and Progression for Every Department
• Securing Additional Study Space in the Second Library
• Fixing International Students’ Fees
• More Extra-curricular and Super-curricular Options
• Liberation of the Curriculum

MY EXPERIENCE

• President of two campaigning societies
• Trustee of the British Youth Council
• UK Representative to the Global Secretariat of a project funded by the Department for International Development
• Previously represented 500,000 members as a national advocate of a youth organisation

ACCESS AND INCLUSION

A Director of Student Experience & Progression for Every Department

I believe that the University should invest in pastoral care, student voice and student experience. I will, therefore, push for each department to employ a member of staff who has a remit to put welfare, accessibility and liberation at the heart of education.

Improving Access for Underrepresented Groups of Students

Warwick should be a space where all feel welcome. That’s why I’m proposing additional outreach to, and more scholarships & grants for, underrepresented groups of students, including but not limited to:

• students who are the first in their family to attend university,
• BME students,
• disabled students, and
• students from low socioeconomic status backgrounds.

Leading the Fight for Lecture Capture

For too long, many students have been denied lecture capture - this is particularly unfair to disabled students and students with mental health problems who cannot access their education. I will enact a renewed approach to the service: consulting small groups of staff, within faculties, to address their concerns surrounding recording lectures, and continuing the fight for greater access.

Opposing Fees, Fee Rises and Cuts

I want to protect the universal right to education by maintaining a firm opposition to fees, fee rises and cuts.

Cutting Course Costs

The financial burden students are faced with at university is far too high. To combat this, I will continue the ongoing work to demystify and lower course costs.

AMPLIFYING MARGINALISED VOICES

Liberation of the Curriculum

We deserve a well-rounded and diverse curriculum that challenges oppression of all forms. I will achieve this by:

• Pushing for the part-time officers' roles to be paid, in order to give them more power to support the Education Officer in doing so, and
• Working closely with SSLCs to consult students about liberation.

Fighting for International Students

In the face of the national sentiment of division, one of my priorities will be protecting international students’ rights. I will strive to maintain fixed fees for them, to tackle the rise in hate crime and to consult them on their concerns.

Reviewing the Reporting System

Factors such as hate crime, ableism, sexism, racism, and homophobia can infringe upon students’ experience of education. To address this, I will conduct a review of the reporting system to ensure that everyone feels adequately supported when facing oppression.

Making the SU Work For All Students

Certain student groups on campus, such as mature students, postgraduates, part-time students, those on joint degrees, those that take a year abroad, those studying 2+2 degrees and distance learners, have less of a voice in driving education policy at Warwick. I will work closely with the DDO and the Postgraduate Officer to ensure that all students are made aware of the opportunities to engage with, and influence, the SU’s education policies.

MAXIMISING THE QUALITY OF OUR EDUCATION EXPERIENCE

Giving You Extra-curricular and Super-curricular Options

I want to broaden the education experience, and cater for students’ intellectual curiosity through further focus on extra-curricular and super-curricular avenues. I will build on the success of the Hidden Histories Lecture Series, by hosting evening lectures on, and by providing workshops on things like safeguarding, consent and First Aid, in order to offer students more from their time at Warwick.

Increasing Available Study Space

The study space crisis has been going on for far too long. I will push to secure, and maximise the additional study space in the second library.

Improving Careers and Skills Provision

The careers and skills provision we receive isn’t varied enough, and the information about what does exist should be easier to source. I will undertake a student-led review of careers and skills provision, so that the advice we receive is relevant, caters for everyone, and is well communicated.

Supporting and Strengthening SSLCs

SSLCs and course reps are the backbone of our education policy. To make sure we are supporting our course reps, I will:

• Review the training and support given to course reps,
• Demonstrate an active presence at SSLCs, and
• Continue to implement the recommendations of the Academic Representation Transformation Project (ARTP).