David's Blog
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Your SU Team
David Keogan
Vice President (Academic & Student Affairs)
Contact David by e-mail...
16 January 2012
How are you now DIT?
How’s the exams going? Hope you all had a good Christmas.
This can be a stressful time of the year, so be sure to unload now and then and get stuff off your chest. Talk to friends, family, the DIT counselling service (It’s free!!!) or the Students’ Union and you’ll feel alot better and will be able to think clearer.
Things don’t always go the exact way they are supoposed to, but don’t worry, help is on hand. Email me or drop into any of the SU offices and we will be able to you get back on track. Check out the DITSU website for tips and advice during and after the exams.
http://www.ditsu.ie/exams-assessments
SHAG Week is coming up on the 13th until the 17th of February. Check out the facebook page for quizzes and questions to get you in the mood and learn what is happening and when. The SHAG survey is up at the moment.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9K9HXGG
Cooking Videos and Demos are coming as part of the Nutritional and Finance campaign. So keep and eye on the facebook, website and around the college for more info closer to the date.
That’s all for now, so until next time,
You Stay Classy DITSU
David
15 December 2011
Merry Christmas Everyone!
It’s that time of year again; assignments finishing up, notes to be gathered, exams to be studied for. It can be a very stressful time of the year, but remember to take a wee break over the holidays and enjoy Christmas. Try not to go too bad on the booze and remember those for whom Christmas isn’t necessarily a happy time of the year.
Keep an eye out on the walls of the college and on the website for tips and tricks for getting you through the exam period. We are here after Christmas to offer you advice and support... so use us!!!
It has been a good semester over all and we are looking forward to an even better one in the New Year.
The national launch of SHAG week will be in Bolton St on the 13th of Feb with other campuses S.H.A.G.ing other days after that.
So remember to Please Talk and don’t let things fester and get bottled up.
I, on behalf of the whole DITSU ASA team, would like to wish you a very Happy Christmas, a happy New Year and good luck in the exams
You stay classy DIT,
David (Cub) Keogan.
06 December 2011.
Gooooooooooddddd Morning DIT. (or afternoon or whenever it is)
Hope you are all doing well and getting them assignments in and exam notes ready.
When you hand up an assignment, you are entitled to constructive feedback within 4 weeks. Make sure you get your feedback if you need it, because I remember when I doing my exams, the assignments and feedback were life savers. Keep an eye out round the college for em, nice, posters with more info on that feedback.
Feedback goes both ways and every lecturer will be giving you a form called the Q6a form. It could be paper or on webcourses or by some other means. The Q6a form allows you to give your feedback on how the module was taught and what could be done to make it better. It is very important that you fill out these forms and if you aren’t getting one to ask your lecturer for one.
Exams are a stressful time, as is assignment deadlines. Remember these simple rules and they will make your assignments and exams a little easier.
· Avoid junk food and eat regularly.
o Junk food doesn’t give you the long lasting energy you need
o A big feed only makes you stuffed and sluggish. Little and often maintains the energy intake the whole day.
· Don’t Plagiarise or Cheat!!!!
o You will get EXPELLED.
o Make sure you read the plagiarising document of DIT and how to reference other peoples work.
· Don’t bring your phone into an exam!!!
o Smart phones are being treated as an extreme form of cheating and could have serious consequences.
· Please TALK
o Nothing that could happen will ever be the end of the world. Make sure you talk to someone you trust when you’re feeling stressed or down - heartened.
The senior citizens Christmas party is in Cathal Brugha St on Thursday (8th Dec) at 7. If you can give a hand during the week, we are packing Christmas presents in Cathal Brugha St SU from 5pm on Tuesday (6th Dec) or just turn up on the night and have a chat with the peeps.
That’s all for now, folks. Any questions you know my email and phone number, don’t hesitate to ask.
Until next time,
You stay classy,
David
22 November 2011
Hi everyone.
Hope you are all doing well and that the moustaches are coming along lovely.
Few things to update on.
- Feel Good Fortnight: FGF is fully underway and we are into the 2nd week of it. This week is all about Mental Health and how positive mental health can benefit your physical and nutritional health. Healthy Mind means a Healthy Body. Keep an eye out for the road show that will be hitting your site at some stage this week.
- Remember: Please Talk to someone you trust if there is anything bringing you down or if your stressed. DIT counselling is free and so is talking to friends, family or a member of the Students’ Union.
- Please Talk Candlelight Vigil: This is happening on Tuesday the 22nd of November in Mountjoy Sq Students’ Union at 6pm. It is part of a national series of events designed to remember those who have died or been affected by suicide. Everyone is welcome.
- Feedback For Students: Feedback from lecturers on assignments is vital for studying for exams or for more assignments in the future. Every student in DIT is entitled to constructive feedback 4 weeks after the submission date for assignments. Make sure you get feedback from your lecturers and if you are having any trouble let your DITSU Class Rep know and they can call on us if they can’t get it sorted.
- RAG Part 1: RAG Part 1 is happening the week of the 28th of November. Its main focus will be raising money for the RAG charity the Ross Nugent Foundation. So have your shrapnel ready next week and donate what you can for this very worthy cause.
- Library Survey: You all got a library survey in your DIT mail over the last few weeks. It is vitally important that you take the survey and give feedback that will better the service that so many of DIT students use and depend on. The link is below DIT Library User Survey 2011.
That’s all for me at the moment.
Chat to ya later,
You stay Classy DIT
David
07 November 2011
Heeeelllllooooo
How are we all?
Review weeks are underway and things a ramping up coming up to Christmas.
Main things coming up:
National Campaign: The government have to cut €2.2bn in expenditure in the next budget (6th Dec). They always seem to think 3rd level education is a soft target and we will need to put pressure on them so they don’t kill education with the next round of cuts.
Go on to tellyourtd.com and send a custom letter to your TD’s.
- Go on to http://www.ditsu.ie/usi and follow the step so we can send a broken pencil to your TD’s and mess with their head.
- Get your family and friends to ring up your local TD’s and ask them why they are trying to Kill Education.
- Drop into Aungier St. this week and help make placards and posters for the March.
- MARCH!!! Join your fellow students on the 16th of November to march through Dublin and show the Government how strong a group we really are.
Feedback… It’s your Right: With all the assessments happening and exams on the horizon, feedback on what you have done is kinda useful. You are entitled to constructive feedback on all assessments and assignments within 4 weeks of you handing them up. If you are not getting feedback or not getting good enough feedback and you want it, ask your class and then your class rep to approach the lecturer in question. You should get it handily enough but if you are having problems get on to me and I’ll try to help you solve it.
Bout it really for the moment. As always, email or text me if you have any problems or questions.
Till next time,
You stay classy DIT.
David
04 October 2011
Helllllloooooo
Long time no Chat. Well here’s a few things
Welfare Crew
It’s a great way to help DIT students, volunteer and get free stuff. Check out the info session on Thursday at 6pm in Cathal Brugha St Students’ Union or at this link
Class Reps
Recruitment is going full steam. Your class NEEDS a class rep. Full stop. No need to any further except that without a class rep, your class losses out. Head down to your local SU to elect one and check out this link for more info.
LEAD
Leaders of today, tomorrow and everything in between, are you listening?!! Do what you do best and get academic credits… (they are what you get for doing subjects and modules). The LEAD programme gives you rewards for doing what you already do in your Club, Society, DITSU or while volunteering. No brainer really.Check out this link for how you apply and more info.
That’s bout it really.
Check out the website and facebook for more info on anything. If you cant find it, drop me an email or txt and Ill find out for ya.
Stay Classy DIT
Cub
07 Sept 2011
Story Folks
It is that time of year again and for those who are just joining us, Welcome to a hectic time of the year.
It is really the calm before the storm at the moment with Inductions starting next week and Fresher’s Week the week after.
A few things to look forward to in the next few weeks:
• Fresher’s Toast: The first one of the year and it is well worth a read. There are a lot of helpful guides and information on Fresher’s week and ball. There should be ones hanging around when you come back into college.
• Fresher’s Week: This year, there are swavage events lined up for the week. 90’s cheese to paint parties to a bit’ o foam with your black stuff on Arthur’s Day. Check out www.facebook.ie/ditsu.ie for the full line up and join the actual event page for updates and reminders.
• Fresher’s Ball: The Ball is returning to Middle Abbey St. this year and will be bigger and better than all before. Check out the facebook page for full line up and again join the Fresher’s Ball Event page for updates and reminders.
Another few quick things.
• If you’re still looking for accommodation, check out www.ditsu.ie/accommodation or there are some very good facebook pages that help but rooms and room-less students together. Dublin Student Accommodation 11/12 is one and is well worth a goo.
• Keep thinking about either becoming a Class Rep or who in your class would be good at the job. They are vital for class to have. We shall be around soon into the year to elect you so keep thinking about it.
That’s all from me for the moment. As always drop me an email or a text or call into the offices if you have any questions, if you want to volunteer or if you just want a chat.
You stay classy DIT
Keogan.
And Shazzam!
A few dates for your diaries so far:
What?
Accommodation and Information Sessions
Where?
Cathal Brugha St. SU (In the Marlborough St. Entrance)
When?
August
18th – 5pm to 8pm
20th – 11am to 3pm
24th – 5pm to 8pm
25th – 5pm to 8pm
30th – 5pm to 8pm
Huh?
They are information sessions for prospective and current DIT students (and their parents) that have any questions or queries about living in Dublin or studying in DIT. It isn’t a formal seminar or anything. At the end of the day we are there to help students, so it’s just for you and yours to have an informal chat about anything around living and studying in DIT.
In the words of Lieutenant Colombo – ‘One more thing’:
There is a grant information evening for Dublin Central on the 18th along with the DITSU run session. So if you have any questions about applying for a grant in Dublin Central, come along (you don’t have to be going to DIT for that one).
So make sure to tell everyone about the sessions, especially prospective students who may not have seen this blog.
Questions?
Don’t hesitate to ask. You know where to find me.
That’s all for now folks
Until next time,
Your stay classy, DIT,
Keogan.
Email: vpacademic@ditsu.ie
Mobile: 0866031075
Phone: 014023160
Facebook.com/ditsu.ie
Twitter: @DITSU_VP_ASA
27 July 2011
Well lads
Just back from a USI training week in Cork boi. It was mighty useful for the year ahead, but the main point that came out of it for yourselves is;
Get your Grant application in. There are major changes afoot to the grant procedure and the whole logistics of the grant.
Check out www.studentfinance.ie for more information.
Main changes are
- The distance for the non-adjacent grant has increased from 25km to 45 km. This means that if you live 26 or 30km from the college, don’t get the non-adjacent rate anymore.
- Mature students don’t automatically get the non-adjacent rate anymore.
- A 4% reduction to all grants is in effect.
On other news;
The plans for Grangegorman were passed by Dublin City Council on Monday last. That means work can start on the site once it goes through An Bord Pleanala. Which is mighty.
Nothing else to really report,
Until next time,
Stay Classy DIT,
Keogan
14 July 2011
David's blog numero uno -
Well. How are yas getting on? It’s great to be finally taking over the reins of the the position. Getting
loads of groundwork laid and brain-storming done. I’m heading to UOS (Big Training Week) next
week, so I’ll have an update after that. It’s going to be an exciting year with lots of guides coming
online and campaigns happening. So watch this space and email me if you want and /or need to.
Good Luck.
1 May 2011
*The below blog was first printed as an article in TOAST magazine*
Its my last officer piece in TOAST, ever! *sniff*! Bear with me, this will be an emotional rollarcoaster!
I have loved working in the position Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs. I have a list of accomplishments as long as my arm and my CV is looking pretty bangin’. However, sabbaticals get too much credit. None of the above could be done without the hard work of all the DITSU Staff. The Communications department, who print every poster you see, the Crumbs editions, the magazine in your hands. They remind us to write our pieces, put photos up on Facebook, and generally keep the whole of the Union running, promoted and in your sight. Mairead, Eddie and Eve- you guys are actually saints to put up with us! Mairead- thank you for always making sure everything was fair and always being there to support all officers. Eve- thank you for gently reminding me to update my blog, I would have neglected it without you! Ed- thank you for always listening to me describe a random, abstract concept and then mocking it up better than I imagined.
The Events department, who bend over backwards to fulfill sabbaticals demands as to what they want their event to look like. Mark, thank you for making sure SHAG week was everything I wanted, and thank you for always being upbeat no matter how demanding I got!
The Academic Affairs department- Mary and Orla. Mary, thank you for keeping my head screwed on. Thank you for briefing me coming up to meetings and explaining things if I was unsure. Thank you for reminding me when I forgot things, nudging me when I zoned out in meetings and always supporting me no matter what. Orla- You have seen your first sabbatical turnover so don’t worry, you are not new anymore! Thank you for organising meetings for me and keeping my diary/my post/my head in order! Thank you for dying those pink streaks in my hair and introducing me to the world of pink hair dye in general- I’m definetly going to put them back in when my hair grows back.
The Student Affairs department- Aimee and Sarah. Aimee, thank you for always being so level headed in a crisis. Thank you for going out to the fruit market at 7am to get fruit for the Welfare Roadshow and just always going the extra mile to make sure the campaigns were the best they could be. Thank you for always supporting my crazy ideas and saying “I don’t get it, but we’ll make it work!” Thank you, also for all the support you have shown me over the past year. Sarah- thank you for always brightening Cathal Brugha Street! I have never seen you in a bad mood and your positive attitude rubs off on everyone around you. Thank you for all the caramel eggs you have bought me over the year!
Aimee and Mary- thank you for taking casework when I was snowed under, thank you for keeping me + my workload afloat during election time. I have really grown attached to you over this past year and will really miss you when I leave!
To all the SSAs- Sharon, Fiona, Sarah, Orla and Eve- thanks for rolling out campaigns on site so well and being much better co-ordinators than I could ever hope for. Thanks for all the words of wisdom throughout the year too!
To Claire Healey- from now on you can be just ‘Claire’ again! Seriously, though, thanks for always answering my stupid questions and turning a blind eye to the odd report late by...5 minutes. *ahem!*
To Maura and Pat thanks for always checking in to make sure I was ok, and Maura thanks for being there when I wasn’t!
To Ciarán and Eric, thanks for a vibrant, challenging and exciting year. Working with you two has taught me alot about myself and about the real world. I leave this job a “grown-up” and thats a lot down to you two. I hope you have the best year ever next year and I assume I’ll be seeing you in USI after that! I’ll try to come back and visit!
To CPIT- thanks for CPIT Teambuilding, for Congress, for the pizza dates in Hell. Graham- thanks (not so much) for all the sore heads in early morning meetings. Kieran- Thank you for always standing by me through thick and thin. Gareth- thanks for being Gareth- and always walking me home! Conor- thank you for not staging a revolution! Sue- thanks for representing apprentices so well- they’ll be lost without you. Seona- thanks for the memories.. oniony ones!
I’m sorry this piece is so long and sentimental but I had to do it! Hopefully this edition will come out after the Inauguration ceremony so I can use most of it for my speech also- reduce, reuse, recycle! (The reduce bit clearly not going well for me.)
I’ve loved every minute of studying in DIT, working for DITSU and working with DIT, and I’m so sad to go.
Last but not least- Brian Gormley, Bill Grimson, Micheal Mulvey, - ‘yiz are ledgends. Anita, James (who is the one I have to thank for talking me into running in the first place!) and Teri – you guys rock. And of course, the man himself, El Presidente Brian Norton! And everyone (I can’t name everyone I doubt anyone is still even reading at this point!) that I have worked with in DIT this year. Thanks, and go easy on David. I joke... don’t. (!) To the people I haven’t mentioned- there is a limit on how long these things can be and it doesn’t mean you are any less awesome!
Its the end of one chapter and (hopefully) the beginning of another. Im sad to be leaving DIT but I hope to be elected as USI Eastern Area Officer and if so, I promise I will come back and visit! Often! And bring chocolates*!
Thank you for electing me and giving me the best job in the world for a whole year.
Grá MÓR,
Clare.
*(may not bring chocolates)
14 April 2011
Hi All,
As we near the end of the academic year, I thought I would publish my top 5 DIT Welfare Services I have encountered during my year as Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. These have been and will continue to be vital to the student experience in DIT and in the future, you can use this list as a reference guide if you find yourself in a situation where you need help.
My Top 5 DIT Welfare Services:
- The DIT Health Center: Appointments are free, Travel Vaccinations are cheaper, and now they provide a Physio service. Even during the summer there are nurses available for appointment in the DIT Health Center for renewal of prescriptions, check ups, etc. and for a discounted rate of €30, the doctors take DIT Students over in their own practices.
- The Councelling Service: The councelling service deal confidentially and professionally with students who are feeling the stress or feeling down and need to talk. They provide a much needed, affordable outlet for students to vent and they are a vital resource in the DIT.
- The Chaplaincy Service: Often underappreciated, the Chaplaincy does much more than the average student realises. Quiet spaces for meditation, friendship lunches, candlelit vigils are all part of what the chaplaincy does. Not only that but they are always there to talk if students need. This year they provided food vouchers to students in financial difficulty and they also make referrals to SVP if a student is in need of serious help.
- The Student Assistance Fund: This fund is allocated to students who have been assessed and are deemed to be in serious financial difficulty. Half provided by the HEA and half by DIT, this fund is the difference between staying in college and having to leave for many students. This fund is vital and I hope to see it increased by the HEA in the future as it is so important to those students who find themselves needing it. The subsections of the fund are: General, Rent Assistance, Childcare assistance, Class Materials and Specialist Treatment Assistance.
- Campus Life: Encompassing the Health Center, the Councelling Service, the Chaplaincy and other services such as the Mature Student Service, the Disability Service and more, DIT Campus Life is the umbrella body for the Support Services in DIT. You may know them as the providers of the diaries at the start of the year, but Campus Life are what keeps every support service up-to-date and ticking over, year to year. Big props to Brian Gormley and Rachel O’ Connor in Campus Life for the stellar work that they, and all the Campus Life staff, do for you on a regular basis. They also give out lots of free stuff during the year, which always helps!
If you ever need any help or advice, you can contact your Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs on 086 603 1075, or vpacademic@ditsu.ie . You can also visit the DITSU website on http://www.ditsu.ie/help-and-advice.
Best of luck in exams and remember, this year and next, the great services available to you as a DIT Student.
Grá mor,
Clare
01 April 2011
Its been all go here since my last blog!
Quick updates:
7 out of the 12 new library staff are in now and workin’ away, we are just waiting on five more to be appointed.
The Library Student User Groups are up and running! Find out more through Class Rep meetings!
The Study Skills workshops are on again, focusing on exam preparation! They are totally free, for more info email Bob O’ Mhurchu on ms.info@dit.ie or check www.ditsu.ie
The Institute Review is currently happening and will end on Friday when the NQAI (National Quality Assurance people) go off and have a think about all they have seen and heard all week and send back recommendations on how to improve/where DIT is class!
SHAG week was a big hit, with hundreds of students ‘getting hitched’ at the Arch of Lurrve over the week. Big shout out to Mairead, Eddie and Eve in the Comms department who helped the Arch of Lurrve dream come true! Thanks to all involved, everyone was brilliant and threw themselves into SHAG Week and that’s why it was successful!
The elections are over, and I’m so happy to be back at work. I would like to congratulate Ciarán Nevin, Eric Fitzgerald and David Keoghan on their election – I know they will be a fantastic team and will work brilliantly together. Also, well done to all the convenors elect. DITSU is going to be a great place to be next year!
USI Annual Congress was such a laugh, and the debating was just phenomenal. I love a good debate, me (surprise, surprise!) and I couldn’t have been happier with the level of intelligent, reasoned, well researched arguments put forward both for and against. Almost everyone in the delegation got up to speak – well done! Kudos to a great team led to ‘Best Large Delegation’ for the third time in a row by Ciarán. Well done also to Eric Fitzgerald for winning ‘Best Male Speaker’ and to David Rice for being nominated for ‘Best Maiden Speaker’. There were other awards and nominations too- we cleaned up this year!
USI Equality Standing Conference is this weekend and I’m very excited about it. DITSU is bringing 5 delegates and one observer (me). I took the observer spot so more students could have a chance to vote etc. but i still get speaking rights and will be using them! Irish Language Standing Conference is on this weekend also and Ciarán will be taking two delegates to that.
The DITSU Finance Treasure Hunt was on yesterday, and Team Fantastic were the winners, closely followed by the Jolly Rodgers and the Nutsies. Team Fantastic win €400 and the rest all win tickets to the DIT Ball. Well done to all it was great craic!
Thats all for now, folks!
Grá Mór,
Clare
08 February 2011
Hey guys
We're knee deep in results time at the moment and myself and mary scally are getting stuck into the queries and questions so if you have any, call into your SU, get our emails from DITSU.ie, get in touch!
Now putting my welfare hat back on, SHAG week is coming!!!!! It starts TOMORROW, WED 9th in KST! The timetable is KST 9th, BST 10th, AST 14th, MSQ 15th, CBST 16th and Rathmines 17th! (I always wonder why Rathmines doesn't have an acronym!) the DIRTY SEXY TABLE QUIZ is on this
Thursday, Thursday 10th Feb in the living room, and the SHAG Ball is on Thursday 17th Feb in Break for the Border! There will be sexy prizes at the Quiz, and a giant mechanical penis at the ball with prizes for who can stay on the longest... Doirty!!!!!
During the day is pretty awesome too, come down to the SU or foyer on the day we are in your site and get hitched by Elvis under the Arch of Lurrve, pick up your free SHAG Pack, free mini vibe or penis ring, get your blood pressure tested by boots or make an appointment for a free STI check in the DIT Health Center! If you want to volunteer and get a free tshirt, call into your SU and put your name down or email vpacademic@DITSU.ie !!
Last but not least, after SHAG there will be RAG! I'm going to do the Bungee Jump, the 40 foot dive and dye my hair pink. I'll be carrying a sponsorship sheet around for the next while so if you have a spare euro, sponsor me!
See you at SHAG!!!
Gra Mor,
Clare x
Posted 22 December 2010
Well its the end of the first semester! It flew! Time to be accountable!
8 Things I have achieved with Student and Academic Affairs since I took office:
- LIBRARIES - 10 Sessional staff have been allocated to the library, two more to come, which means the library will be BACK to last year’s opening hours! Woohoo! Student User Groups have been set up where students will have their say.
- JOURNALS – Subject to confirmation, the library budget has been RINGFENCED and the JOURNALS have been SAVED!
- QUALITY ASSURANCE – I have been sitting on the Academic Quality Assurance Committee, the Insititute Review Steering Committee and more in order to bang the table and look for the Q6A forms to be given to students. The trade union ban on handing these out has been lifted and now they are available to all students- make sure you ask for them in every module! I have run an awareness campaign trying to encourage students to ‘rate their course’.
- STUDENT WORK SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME – This scheme would provide students not only with some form of income, but would give them experience for their CV through course-related work within DIT.
- STUDY SKILLS WORKSHOPS – I was on the group working on these for this academic year. They are now completed, and were very successful.
- ACCOMODATION POWER DAY – Student Affairs ran two accommodation power days this year. The mistakes from the first were applied to the second and the second was a great success. Policy has been laid down for expansion next year.
- WELFARE ROADSHOW – Student Affairs ran a very successful Welfare Roadshow this year, with many convenors saying it was the best Welfare Campaign they had seen in their site in the past few years. (you guysss!) (Big shout out to the Convenors, btw, who were total good sports the whole way through even when I had them dressed as fairies, doing aerobics!)
- IMPROVING COMMUNICATION – I have been making video diaries, so the students can see what I actually do, day to day. There are academic and student affairs posters everywhere. I have been writing a blog for the website, a blog for Toast, articles for Toast. I have released stories to the DIT news. I have gotten students to submit reviews of Class Rep Training and rants about the libraries to Toast. Academic Affairs posters are also freakin’ everywhere. I have been involved in the making of several student surveys also.
7 Things I want to achieve before I leave office:
- FEES IN INSTALLMENTS - I want students to be able to pay their fees in instalments. Now the sabbatical team have the power of a mandate behind us, there should be no stopping us!
- WELFARE CREW – (Name subject to change.) I want to create a fully functioning team of welfare volunteers, to be welfare’s equivalent of the E-team.
- SHAG WEEK/RAINBOW WEEK – This year, Rainbow week is being run the same week as SHAG. I want to work with Rainbow week in order to make that week the best week of the year! (For which I will need a Welfare Crew!)
- POLICY – I will aim to pass a lot of policy to ensure the welfare and education of DITs students is best represented by future sabbatical teams.
- REPRESENTATION – I want to create an ‘Equality Officer’ position in order to ensure every student in DIT is equally represented by their elected part-time officers. This would be one of the part-time portfolios CRMs can choose from.
- ACCOUNTABILITY: I want to make sure that elected officers are fully accountable to the students that elected them.
- TRANSPARENCY: I want both DITSU Ltd. And Governing Council to be fully transparent in their operations. I want both facets of the organisation to work together for the students.
20 November 2010
Hello all,
Apologies for the radio silence for the past (almost) three weeks but it has been all go here in Student and Academic Affairs!
First off, in Student Affairs we have been busy preparing for, and then rolling out, the Welfare Roadshow! There’s only one site left to do and it is Mountjoy Square. I hope you enjoyed the Roadshow when it came to your site. There was yoga, free massages, BMI testing, blood pressure testing, carbon monoxide testing, Pieta House signing people up for sponsored skydives, the councelling service and the health service giving out sweets and info, our Post Secret Notice Board, aerobics class, comedians, mentalists, singers and of course the Welfairies. It was a great week and I am really happy with how it went. We also had a minute silence in each campus for the two DIT students lost in the last four weeks. This went really well and everyone respected the silence.
Welfare Roadshow will finish in Mountjoy Square on Tuesday, and we will have a Wishing Tree Candelit Event at 6pm. This will be where students can tie their wishes to the Wishing Tree and light a candle in memory of those students and any others affected by suicide, or in honour of any lost loved one.
I hope the Welfare Roadshow has been fun but has also helped to raise awareness about mental health.
From the Academic Affairs side, we have been working hard on the library (for the past 6 months!) and have finally seen the light.... More details to come after official confirmation on Tuesday so watch this space! That’s all I can say for now except that here in Academic Affairs we are very happy with what is to be confirmed.
Governing Council was on last night where I got the councillors to dress up as Superheros and pose for a photo which will be used to create one version of the ‘What If’ campaign this year. (I’ve been calling it kick assesment for a while, because I think that’s hilarious!) We have another idea already in the works and we will decide which one once they are both finished. The AGM of DITSU Ltd were all on this week, it’s been a busy week for me. I’m excited to sleep in tomorrow- first weekend off in three weekends! Last weekend was USI National Council. I sit on Education Working Group, as the education officer (academic affairs as DITSU likes to call it!) and also on Welfare Working Group as the Welfare Officer (Student Affairs). There had been issues with the Education Working Group not being held but after I um...nicely mentioned this to both the USI Education Officer and the USI President, the Education Working Group sat last weekend. I was a very happy education officer! Then we had a productive Welfare Working Group and I was a happy welfare officer! National Council was interesting with some vibrant debates going on- love a bit of political debate!!
The weekend before was Pink Training which was great craic altogether, and the most informative of the USI Trainings so far. There were so many modules covering so many aspects of the LGBT – I learned loads of stuff I didn’t know. I am looking to get two of the modules in for SHAG Week if possible, not only were they informative but they were the most fun I’ve had in a classroom since Siobhan Higgin’s brilliant sexual health workshop last year. I’m already looking forward to SHAG and talking logistics- I want it to go well!
Last night was ‘Crash the Wedding’, an event run by Event Management Students. Even though I had to leave at 12 (because I was in this morning at 8.30!) I had a brilliant time. Ciaran Nevin was hilarious as the priest and the ‘bride’ and ‘groom’ were very funny with their vows. The band were playing wedding music and rocking it, and everyone was in great form. One of the best sober nights I’ve had since the Freshers Ball. (What a night!)
Anyway, I must go, it’s almost 6pm on a Friday and I’m still talking about myself on my blog! Keep an eye on the DITSU Youtube channel for my ‘day in the life of a VP’ videos. You can watch the most recent one below. Click through to our YouTube Channel to watch the others and see the newest ones as I upload them. Enjoy!
Grá Mór
Clare
04 November 2010
Lots of things have happened since I last blogged, but I bet you can guess what this blog will be about!
Yesterday, 40,000+ students protested peacefully against education cuts, marching through the streets of Dublin chanting ‘No Ifs, No Buts, No Education Cuts’. Well done to all who came and marched and made their voices heard in a peaceful, mature manner. It was the biggest student protest in history and harked back to the era of student power that was the ‘60s. Congrats to the Aungier St twins, who made it onto the front of the star with their banners “don’t make Mam and Dad choose” and “Double the Reg Fee? Half the DIT Twins!” DIT Students were out in force and conducted themselves in a manner which honoured DITSU, USI and the cause. Sterling work!
Unfortunately the protest was hijacked by organisations not associated with USI. These organisations were not invited to our protest and the behaviour they engaged brought shame on what was a noble cause.
Many students got caught up in the violence as the riot made its way into the area where students were getting their buses home. This put a lot of students in danger. I am angry about what happened- how dare those groups put our students and the students of Ireland in danger! If anyone was affected by the protest please call Ciaran Nevin, the President, on 086 6031213.
I want all DIT students to be proud of themselves!! You marched and made your voices heard and stayed out of everything that happened afterwards. You acted with grace and dignity and your sabbaticals are very, very proud of you!
LONG LIVE DIT!
Yours
Clare
19 October 2010
Hi Guys
So Class Rep Training is done and dusted! It was a great event with President Brian Norton himself coming out to answer Class Reps questions directly. The lecture sessions went down well and so did the dancing session in the evening! Hopefully now both the Class Reps and Governing Councillors realise the power they have within the Union!
The Academic Calendar is something I’ve been working on for a while. As you may or may not know, there is a new academic calendar being proposed within DIT. This cannot get the go ahead without your say so! The proposer, the director for Academic Affairs, is being invited to all Class Rep Meetings and also to Governing Council so make sure you attend! If you are not a Governing Councillor you can still attend Council (as the meetings are held in public) to hear what he has to say! I would recommend everyone to make it their priority as there are some issues with the proposed calendar from the student point of view!
The libraries is another thing I’ve been working on. They are facing down the barrel of further cuts and this needs to be stopped. The library fund needs to be ringfenced to ensure quality of study in DIT. I’ve gotten various letters of recommendation for ringfencing to go forward to the relevant heads but if that hasn’t worked I will be needing you guys to get on board!! I’ll know soon and will let you know what’s happening through your CRMs and through Council.
That’s about it for now, short and sweet!
Peace out
Clare
14 October 2010
Hi everyone!
It’s been too long since I blogged and I’m very sorry for that! But the reason was we were all getting ready for... CLASS REP TRAINING! Governing councillors will stay overnight and come back Saturday at 3.30pm while Class Reps will come home on the buses at 2am after the night’s entertainments! Dinner and lunch will be provided and there’ll be some free stuff going for ye! The deposit is only a tenner, which you get back on registration when you get there. It’s going to be good, lads, Professor Norton, the president of DIT himself is coming to address ye personally and answer your questions. There’s still time to sign up though places are going fast so go into your SU before 5.30 today and sign up or show up at Bolton St before 9am to secure a place!
Buses leaving at 9am SHARP so be at Bolton Street by half 8 in the am! For anyone who wants to leave after the lectures/dinner just tell the dudes in the purple shirts by lunch time and they’ll arrange it for you!!
Hope to see you all there, come up to me and chat to me and let me get to know your face cause I’ll be seeing you all around this year, fighting the good fight! Don’t forget to put this on your CV either- it looks awesome in a job interview!
Let the good times roll!
Grá Mór,
Clare!
06 September 2010
It’s been too long since I blogged- my apologies! I’ve been working hard to make sure everything is in place for when you guys come back. I can’t wait to get the colleges filled and the buzz going again!
I’ve been working on various schemes, including a study skills program to help students learn how to write assaignments, reference properly etc. Another example is a type of scholarship scheme which you will hear more about later on in the year.
I’ve met with the head of the libraries to discuss the library situation. It’s pretty bleak but I’m going to fight to keep those libraries open, and open late!
I’ve almost finished organising Class Rep and Governing Councillor Training- hope you guys enjoy it this year it should be fun!
A big issue this year will be the academic calandar, and if it should be moved around a bit to make it better! I’ll be working on that all year and will keep you updated all the way through!
I’m off to Electric Picnic this weekend, and as a Leccy-Picnic virgin I don’t really know what to expect! For anyone who’s coming with, check out DITSU’s festival guide- it helped me!
Posted 03 August 2010
Hey Guys!
Well it’s been a busy few weeks between appeals and casework and training! Myself and the other two sabbats, Eric and Ciarán, went to UOS last week to get trained up on how to best serve you guys. UOS is the training week of the Union Of Students Of Ireland, of which you are all members. We got friendly with all the other sabbaticals around the country and, of course, the USI heads, so now we have a support network if we need to really kick some ass!
I’m currently working hard on organising Class Rep Training and Inductions week, which will be known as Welcome Week in DIT. I can’t wait to get all the freshers in to college and into the Union. For class rep training, I’m trying to find something fun, so keep your eyes peeled on my blog for more information.
Welfare top-up training and the UCD Please Talk conference are coming up next week, I’m excited to see the Welfare officers again, they are a very sound and very dedicated bunch! I’m also going to be doing ASIST Training, (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), which will be an invaluable skill.
Are you looking for accommodation? Go to http://www.dit.ie/campuslife/studentsupport/accommodation/ and there is a list of DIT’s three main providers whom keep a certain amount of beds each year for DIT students. Also, you can scroll down the page, click www.findahome.ie,and the password is Pembroke.
There will also be a special information session for students requiring accommodation advice on Saturday the 4th of September, 10am-1pm in DIT Aungier St, Dublin2. You can make an appointment for one-to-one or you can just call in on the day and talk to an advisor. To make an appointment, or just to get some info and advice on accommodation, call Noreen Phillips at 01 4023394 or email student.services@dit.ie.
Last but not least, email me! For anything to do with your welfare, or your academic life, I’m your VP! My number is 086 603 1075! Even if you want to put your name down to help out in campaigns, or ask me a question, or even if you just want to say hi. Call me, email me, text me, I’m here for you!
That’s about it for the moment, guys! Keep an eye out for the TOAST magazines over the coming year, they are your guide to whats happening in DIT! Also, don’t be shy- write for TOAST! It’s your magazine!
Grá Mór,
Clare
Posted 01 July 2010
Hey Guys!
Your new Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs has arrived! My name is Clare Cullen and you will be seeing a lot of me over the next year. You’ll know me, I’m the shortest sabbatical- by a long shot!
Im getting stuck in to your academic and welfare issues already, and campaign planning has already kicked off. Inductions is the first big campaign and coming closer to the time I’ll be looking for volunteers so watch this space! Im busily planning tshirt designs so get thinking about volunteering for welfare and academic campaigns if you want one!
Don’t forget that you can call into your local SU Office at any time and talk to the Student Support Advisors.. in other words, the women behind the desks! They are on site to help you at all times. If you want to see me, my offices are in Moutjoy Square and Cathal Brugha, but best to get me on the phone as I could be in a different site each day!
Hope you all did well in your exams and are having a nice summer! Go to festivals, go abroad, have the time of your life and come back ready to work hard and pass all your assaignments! (and volunteer in your SU, obviously!)
Grá mór,
Clare
