Our Year Representatives (SMS)

For several years now, the subject group has been organising a network of contact persons for students, whom we call our ‘semester representatives’ – or ‘SMS’ for short – in the same way as we refer to class and course representatives at school. Those who take on this role are tasked with representing the interests of students on their degree programme and in their year group.

The SMS are elected during the first few weeks of the winter semester and remain available throughout the course of study. However, experience shows that the number of enquiries decreases as students become more independent: after two semesters, there isn’t much left for them to do.

Depending on the degree programme, two or three semester representatives are elected; we appoint them as admins in the WhatsApp groups and provide them with an email address where they can be contacted. There is also a WhatsApp group with the student representatives from our eight Bachelor’s programmes, to which you are also invited.

In the first semester, we try to organise a few events for the new semester representatives, together with experienced student representatives. There, we first give a few tips on the responsibilities of student representatives and the structure of the university. Afterwards, you can chat about your studies and anything else over a meal together in the department’s common room.

Main responsibilities

When someone has a problem, they turn to you first

As an SMS, every student knows they can get in touch with you if they’re stuck, something isn’t working out or there are difficulties. Often, however, these are things that were explained to you students at some point, but sleep is an important part of university life and not everyone picks up on everything.

1. Many students have problems with exam registration. Here, you can refer them to our degree programme pages and our guide, or record a voice memo explaining the steps they need to follow.
2. In later semesters, there may be issues with putting together a timetable, where you might be able to offer advice. By that point, however, most students manage it themselves.
3. If the lecturer doesn’t provide lecture notes, you might find that students without a well-organised circle of university friends approach you because they lack study materials. Of course, this doesn’t mean that, as a course representative, you have to be top of your class, but if you can help them out, that’s brilliant!
4. If the number of resits starts to pile up for individual students, you can take a look at the P together

If there’s a problem affecting the whole year group, you represent your fellow students

1. Many lecturers are happy to respond to your requests – but first, someone needs to let them know that there’s a problem. These can be minor issues, such as a blackboard that hasn’t been wiped properly, making it difficult to read the indices, or they can be much more significant problems. If you’re unsure, we’re happy to offer our support.
2. If a lecturer is completely unreasonable, send us a text message to let us know about the problem. We have students at all levels across the university and can achieve a great deal by raising the issue with the programme coordinators, the faculty board or – in very serious cases – the Vice-Chancellor for Teaching.
3. If there’s an organisational issue, just get in touch with us and we’ll see what we can do.

Reminding fellow students about upcoming dates

1. Exam registration period (particularly important! Missing the registration period could cost you your place on the course!)
2. Prerequisite exams
3. Exams (though everyone should have these in their calendar)
4. Field trips
5. Parties/celebrations (university-wide and organised by the programme working group)

Moderating the WhatsApp group

1. Prevent ‘spamming’, whether by issuing warnings or removing the offenders*
2. Ensure that all students receive the most important information – if necessary, via another channel, such as your degree programme mailing list.

Election of new semester representatives

1. Hold the elections at the start of the winter term (if you’re in your third term).
2. Attend the information sessions for the new term representatives.

Voluntary tasks

Of course, you’re free to organise events with the students in your year so that you can get to know each other a bit better.

1. Organise events within your semester or degree programme, such as going to a pub or the Wasen together.
2. Approach your fellow students and ask if there are any issues.
3. Attend the weekly subject group meetings (Wednesdays, 13:05 in the subject group room) to stay up-to- date with what’s happening at the university.
4. Develop into a full-time student representative and organise parties, the next orientation week and much more.
5. Stand for election to committees such as the Faculty Council or the Student Council (more on this in the workshops)

Sound good?

If you’d like to become a semester representative and your programme doesn’t have one yet, please email us at smswahl@fsmach.de – and be sure to mention your degree programme! If your elections are already over but you’d still like to support your fellow students, why not pop along to a departmental group meeting or get in touch with your degree programme’s working group? You’ll find their contact details under Degree Programmes