A Postgraduate Student Representative is chosen annually from the ranks of the Institute's PhD students. The person holding this position has two roles to play, one within the Institute and one acting as a representative in dealings with external bodies, such as the Student Union or the Faculty.
The latter role is by far the less important in practice, since, as this is a small department, it is possible and, indeed, very desirable, for problems to be sorted out informally and internally, without recourse to external agencies. There may, of course, be situations where this is necessary and in such cases the student rep should make representations to the appropriate authorities.
The student rep's real job lies within the Institute, acting as an intermediary, where necessary, between staff and students. The student rep is invited to the quarterly Institute staff meetings, where s/he is party to discussions on all issues relating to the running of the Institute, except those confidential matters concerning individual students or those issues (e.g. some financial matters) where the students have no legitimate interest. The student rep may represent the views of the students either by raising issues of concern or interest through items on the agenda of the meetings or by simply being there to make a contribution on the students' behalf when topics are under discussion. This arrangement has proven to be very useful during the period since its introduction.
The student rep is also responsible for organising the annual ``Gripe Meetings'' held each September, at which the students may put any whinges to the Head of Institute directly, and for the preparation of this Handbook.
Additional duties (which are often shared out amongst other students) include organising the Institute Christmas party. The student representative for this year is Emma Taylor.