School and Deanery Community Champions guidance Being part of a community is key to students’ feeling a strong sense of belonging, connection with their peers and their academic environment, and is linked to student success. However, becoming part of a community can be a challenge for many of our students, particularly new students, who find themselves navigating unfamiliar territories, whilst juggling academic responsibilities, in a University that is large and diverse in culture, population and estate. Students often need a helping hand to find their community. A recent pilot in Moray House School of Education has demonstrated the benefit of student Community Champion roles in fostering connections with and among students and staff and developing a supportive, engaging and inclusive community. Building on this successful pilot, our aim is to encourage and support all Schools/Deaneries to develop such roles. Written in collaboration with Moray House School of Education and Sport: Emily Birtles, Giulia Pinton. For examples of adverts, see Document Community Champions Guidance (425.17 KB / PDF) Our aim To create a pool of Community Champions in each School and Deanery To develop a shared School/Deanery understanding of and vision for community at a local level To develop a University-wide network of student Community Champions to share positive practice and build an understanding at an institution level of what works in building effective local and university-wide community. What is a Community Champion? A Community Champion is a paid, part-time student role within a School/Deanery for a set number of hours to be agreed within each local area The role of a Community Champion is to work with staff and students in the School/Deanery on specific activities/projects to promote a sense of community among students in the School/Deanery, enhance students’ experiences and foster a sense of belonging to the University. Schools/Deaneries should recruit two or more Community Champion(s) to work together as a team, and may identify specific areas of focus for Champions. Community Champions will also draw on their own experiences as students to identify and suggest ways to enhance student engagement in the School/Deanery community. What are the benefits of Community Champions? Relatability: Student Community Champions can relate to their peers on a more personal level, as they understand the challenges and experiences that fellow students face. This relatability makes it easier for students to connect with someone like them. Diversity and inclusivity: Community Champions can represent the diversity of the student population, which promotes inclusivity. Enhanced engagement: Community Champions can serve as advocates for involvement and participation in the wider community, increasing student engagement in local and University activities and events and help to create a more vibrant and dynamic campus life. Improved communication: Community Champions can bridge the communication gap between students and staff. They can help staff understand challenges faced by students and the activities that students would welcome to drive a greater sense of community and belonging. Positive role modelling: Community Champions can set positive examples for their peers, encouraging them to become more active participants in their own education and in the School/Deanery and wider University life. Mentoring and guidance: Community Champions can serve as mentors to younger or less experienced students, helping to connect them, meet other students, make friends and build their sense of community. Reduced isolation: Community Champions can help combat feelings of isolation and loneliness. Knowing that there are Champions who care and are willing to help can alleviate a sense of isolation. Who will Community Champions work with? Community Champions will need to work with a range of staff and students in key roles. These roles may vary by School/Deanery and should be specified. It is likely that a Community Champion team will include: Student Development or Student Experience office/roles or Student Advisers where these roles do not exist Wellbeing Advisers affiliated with the School/Deanery Cohort Leads School and Programme reps Local Peer schemes such as PALS Directors of UG, PGT, PGR programmes How do Community Champions work? All students should be able to apply to become a Community Champion within their School/Deanery. It is recommended that Schools/Deaneries recruit Community Champions for specific student cohorts (e.g. UG, PGT, Online, PGR). A designated member of staff should act as manager/mentor for the Community Champion/s. This is likely to be from the Student Experience or Development office, with other staff to be called on as necessary. Where this does not exist, a nominated Student Adviser role could be the manager. Schools/Deaneries will identify themes or priorities to focus on. Suggested themes are: Health & Wellbeing; EDI and Student Communications.[1] Community Champions work with relevant staff on: aims, themes, events & activities, communications, social media planning, meeting planning and documenting of actions. Monthly team meetings (between Community Champions and staff) help to keep up motivation and initiative. Where more than one Community Champion is recruited in a School, they will work together as a team, share ideas and insights and rotate chairing of meetings and organisational matters. As we build Community Champion roles within Schools/Deaneries, we can also develop a pan-University Community Champion network to provide support and share good practice, enabling us to achieve a University-wide shared understanding of what works in building effective community and belonging. Recruitment: Roles should be recruited through P&M and UoE policy & practice should be followed. At interview, scenario questions were given to observe students interacting in groups, listening and sharing but interview format can be decided by local managers. What might a Community Champion do? This is an illustrative list of tasks that a Community Champion might undertake. This is not an exhaustive list, and each School/Deanery may have specific tasks for their Community Champions: Orientation and welcome events: Assisting with new student inductions and orientation to help new students navigate the campus, connect with their peers and feel welcomed. Planning and Meetings– Planning work, attending meetings/committees, running meetings/chairing meetings, talking to staff and students. Event organisation: Any aspects to do with planning, setting up and running events and activities including: suggesting events/activities/sessions for local academic activities, helping during those sessions, advertising existing events and initiatives, attending (and presenting at) various students groups, event recruitment. Media and communication: Producing content for communications, newsletters, social media etc. Gathering feedback: Gathering feedback from students using a variety of means, compiling reports from student feedback and utilising feedback to design, develop and enhance events and activities. Contribute feedback: Contribute feedback and input into School/Deanery discussions, plans and strategies that relate to community and sense of belonging, including taking part in focus groups as needed. Analysis, Reflection and Report writing: Reflecting on lessons learned or evaluation of activities/events, report writing and presenting, planning for and feeding in to plans for the subsequent academic year, and preparing handovers for new Community Champions What are the benefits for students as Community Champions? An opportunity to develop close working relationships with School/Deanery staff, and a make a positive impact on the experience of other students. Gain work experience and develop skills and attributes (including key transferable skills such as communications experience, creative thinking, leadership, and teamwork). Achieve recognition of the activity on the HEAR, with the opportunity of using the experience to gain an Edinburgh Award. Making the most of Community Champions: Key learnings from the Community Champions in MHSES suggest that Community Champions are most effective when: Students are the key drivers of these roles, and are empowered and supported to take ownership of the role and have agency to do so. Students are supported by staff in the School/Deanery who can enable them to navigate School/Deanery structures and processes. Staff are aware of the roles and understand how they can work with Community Champions. Students receive appropriate training or briefing on relevant local organisational structures, processes and systems. Team building activities are organised to enable a team of Community Champions to work together effectively. Local CAM teams work with Community Champions to create relevant content and increase the impact of communications. Community building activities pay attention to understanding differing needs and preferences of student cohorts and capacities. Budget requirements: Cost of a Community Champion – Currently grade 3 dependent on hours worked Events budget: local to each area but must be included in planning round Further reading Working in partnership towards a whole School community in Moray House School of Education and Sport – Teaching Matters blog [1] “The rationale for these roles is that they cover important subjects on the university agenda that ensure the school is inclusive and represents the diversity of the student population while promoting the group as a reference point and example that brings students together.” Pinton, Giulia; MHSES Community Champions Report; December 2021 This article was published on 2024-11-12