Hello, fellow students! My name is Gillian Geddes, and I am running for Vice President of HISA UHI Perth Students' Union.
I am passionate about making our university a place where every student feels supported, heard, and empowered to succeed. With your vote, I will dedicate myself to representing your interests and ensuring that our Students' Union is an effective advocate for all.
My Vision
I believe in a Students' Union that prioritises its students' needs, promotes inclusivity, and fosters a sense of community. My key commitments focus on these main pillars:
- Enhancing Student Welfare
- Improve mental health support services, ensuring students have timely access to counselling and well-being resources.
- Increase funding and support for student hardship grants to assist those in need.
- Strengthen lecturer support systems by advocating for more accessible office hours and additional academic guidance.
- Provide more resources and training for lecturers to support students dealing with academic stress and workload management.
- Work with lecturers to develop mentorship programs that provide students with academic and career guidance.
- Ensure lecturers receive ongoing training to support diverse learning needs and create an inclusive learning environment.
- Empowering Student Voices
- Strengthen communication between students and the Union by introducing regular feedback forums and drop-in sessions.
- Ensure greater transparency by providing clear updates on Union decisions and actions.
- Champion student-led initiatives and campaigns to create meaningful change on campus.
- Collaborate with lecturers to ensure student concerns are addressed in curriculum planning and teaching approaches.
- Building a More Inclusive and Engaging Campus
- Promote diversity and inclusivity through enhanced support for student societies, cultural events, and equality initiatives.
- Expand extracurricular opportunities, ensuring all students have access to enriching experiences beyond academics.
- Work with the university to improve accessibility and support students with disabilities.
- Stopping Staff Cuts
- To ensure that every student has the chance to an education they deserve, need, and have a right to, there must be an end to the cutting of staff roles. Reducing the number of lecturers and their hours has not only a direct knock-on effect on the students' learning experiences but also puts more pressure and workload on the lecturers.
- I actively took part in the protests last year to save the Study Skills Lecturers and PATs for HE. Why? Because I strongly believe that every class should have a PAT. Speaking from my own personal experience, without the guidance and support from my PATs over the years, encouraging me and listening to my concerns I would not be moving on to the 2nd year of my degree here at UHI.
Why Vote for Me?
I have the experience, passion, and dedication to be an effective Vice President. I have been an extremely active class representative for 3 consecutive years, whilst campaigning for student rights, participating in student-led clubs and organisations, and working closely with both my fellow students and lecturers. This first-hand experience has equipped me with the skills needed to bring about real and effective change, and my commitment to listening ensures that every student's voice matters.
Together, we can build a more inclusive, supportive, and thriving student community.
Vote for Gillian Geddes as your Vice President and let us make a difference together!
Vote Gillian Geddes for Vice President – Because Your Voice Matters!