Student Staff Consultative Committees (SSCC)
Download SSCC pdf file here
Student Staff Consultative Committees are one of the best ways for students to have their say about program delivery and content and about the day to day issues of student life in your program.
At RMIT each program must have a Student Staff Consultative Committee (SSCC). The role of these Committees is to ensure that students are empowered to give feedback about their program, and to enable them to have input into how they are taught. The Committees have the right, in RMIT Procedure, to consider issues which directly relate to participation in the program, course and program structure, workload, course delivery, access to resources and timetabling, class sizes, access to IT and other resources, as well as social and general issues relating to life on campus.
Each Program's SSCC is usually chaired by the Head of School or the Program Co-ordinator, but this position can be rotated amongst all members.
They should contain at least an equal number of student and staff members.
The student representatives should be directly elected by and from the students in the program by the second week of semester 1.
The meetings are open to all students and staff involved in the program.
The minutes should be published and made available to all students in the program (ie. displayed on official student notice boards for all to view).
If you are wondering whether your SSCC can help you resolve a problem you are facing, there is a helpful rule of thumb: if the matter relates to individuals and discussing it would require making confidential information public or making personal accusations, then you should see a Student Rights Officer for help to use the Student Complaints Policy to have your concerns addressed.
RMIT has separate complaints and appeal processes which allow such issues to be resolved impartially and confidentially. If the issue is more general and relates to your program, take it to your SSCC. Always try to put up agenda items in a way which focuses on the academic and program related issues, not on personalities or the feelings of individuals.
RMIT and its teachers can't act on a problem they are not fully aware of, so make sure that your SSCC formally discusses issues before they become a catastrophe. Heads of Schools REALLY need to hear about student concerns and issues with their program, as they make the final decisions about teaching and resources but often have less contact with students.
You should also expect to receive feedback from your School about the progress of actions being taken to resolve student concerns.
1. Monitor the delivery of the program against the Program Plan.
2. Monitor the delivery of courses against the Course Guides.
3. Monitor the total student workload.
4. Monitor the general satisfaction/dissatisfaction of students with the program.
5. Involve students in course and program review processes and let them consider suggestions for modification and improvement to the program.
6. Consider and seek to resolve problems which are of concern to students undertaking the program.
7. Make recommendations to the Program Leader/ Program Co-ordinator or Head of School on matters requiring action which the Committee cannot resolve directly.
Meetings of your SSCC should occur at least three times in each semester, with the first meeting being held no later than the end of the fourth week of classes. Normally regular meeting dates are set by the Chairperson. Additional meetings can be called at the Chair's discretion, or if half of the students on the Committee make a request for a meeting to the Head of Department.
There should be at least seven days notice of any planned meeting, except in very exceptional circumstances. Notice should be given in writing, together with the proposed agenda, and the minutes from the previous meeting.
RMIT has no procedural rules for these Committees. Each Faculty's SSCCs will operate differently. These bodies exist to empower students so should not be overly formal or cumbersome meetings. It is the responsibility of the Faculty to provide training to the student representatives. If you find that you are being frustrated by the procedure being used you should either request training, or move a motion to have the procedure simplified.
The best place to get help is from your classmates and other student representatives on your Committee. It is good practice to talk through any agenda items with people who are concerned about them before the meeting. Make sure that you are able to clearly convey students' needs and feelings about problems and that you and the other representatives are aware of what solutions your classmates will find acceptable. Don't just rely on what your friends, or the people in your study group have to say - you are representing all students in your program.
The Student Union can help you to prepare for committee meetings and give you advice on how to raise your concerns. The Student Union is also an excellent link to the elected student representatives on other RMIT Committees. By linking together issues and representatives at different levels in RMIT we are often able to achieve very good results. Pick up a Student Staff Consultative Committee Training and Information kit at your Student Union.
If it appears that no such committee exists in your School and your enquiries are met with a blank glazed stare, and if you'd like some help in organising it, get yourself down to your Student Union office. The official RMIT policy states that each program is required to have such a committee. We can help with all the info you need, resources as far as organising notices etc, copies of the policy perhaps to remind department heads of what it's all about, advice on how to organise an election or for information and advice about how to combat an unfair decision. Given the way programs and resources have been cut over recent years, it is one of the Student Union's highest priorities to make sure that student reps on these committees are well resourced, and are able to get support from the broader student body.
The following details are for services based at the City Campus - students at other campuses should advise the person taking their call of their location.
RMIT Counselling Service
Personal problems, relationship issues,depression, grief and anxiety.
http://www.rmit.edu.au/counselling
Ph. 9925 4365
Complaints
Student Complaints Liaison Officers (SCLO's) - located in all Academic Portfolios, Departments, Schools and Groups
www.rmit.edu.au/academicregistrar/studentcomplaints
Student Complaints Manager
www.rmit.edu.au/academicregistrar/studentcomplaints
Ph. 9925 5292
RMIT Ombuds
Carmen Ayres
Ph. 9925 2930
Email: ombuds@rmit.edu.au
There are a range of RMIT University policies relating to this topic including:
SSCC policy
SSCC implementation guidelines
Student Complaints policy
Student Complaints procedure
These can be accessed from www.rmit.edu.au/corporate-governance/rmitpolicies
The policies can be found by scrolling through the list of policies located on this page. You can discuss any questions you have about these policies with a Student Rights Officer.
Please Check our website www.su.rmit.edu.au/rights for up-to-date Student Rights Officer contact details.
You can pick up the following leaflets from your nearest Student Union Office, or download them from our website,
How to make a Complaint
RMIT Policies & Procedures
Illegal fees
Course Guides