Senate
Subject: Proposal for the Loughborough
Experience Award.
Origin: Jason Scott, LSU President
Why Award Non-Academic Excellence?
I have always said that,
“you come to university to get a degree, but being at Loughborough means so
much more, here you can get involved, have fun, make friends and gain
experiences that you couldn’t anywhere else.” This, to me, is the fundamental
philosophy behind the “Loughborough Experience”
It’s about having fun,
it’s about getting involved. It’s about joining clubs and societies, and
playing sports. It’s about helping other students, having positions of
responsibility, and gaining the experiences that will help you in future life.
This is echoed in the
Loughborough Students Union Mission Statement, basically to “support, develop,
represent and entertain the membership”.
At the end of your
three, four or five years as a Loughborough student, you’ll come out with a
degree. An example of your academic achievement following years of lectures,
seminars and learning what you’ve been taught, which is great, and the primary
reason that you come to University. This will go on your record, on your C.V.
and will help the students, hopefully, get a great job.
Students can put on
their C.V. the extra curricular activity the student engaged in. Sure, they may
put down “Residential Hall Chair”, or “President of a Club/Society”, but
there’s nothing really tangible for prospective employers to see. They do not
know how hard the individual has worked on projects outside their course- all
they’d see is a second class degree, and a handful of committee experiences.
This is the point behind
the Loughborough Experience award. Recognising the efforts that our students
put into being a Loughborough Student and adding to the experience of being at
the top University in the country (the league tables may not show it, but
believe me, a lot of our students know it). It is this atmosphere that is
created around Loughborough, that makes it such an enjoyable place to live and
study, and helps contribute to the quality of life for the students of the
future.
How do we Give Credit to these Students?
I would like to set up
an awards night, inviting a wide range of students from across Loughborough.
These would include winners from our other awards ceremonies (Rag, Action,
Ents, Label et al), and by invite, members of the Hall Association. It will
also be open for any other interested parties.
For the purpose of the
“Loughborough Experience Award”, each section of the Students Union will nominate
individuals who they feel have contributed to the development of their section,
and, in turn, helped maximise the “Loughborough Experience”, making
Loughborough a better place to work, live and study.
The president will also
speak to the VP Democracy and Internal Affairs to receive nominations from them
(usually from Clubs and Societies and Union Council), and the VP Education and
Welfare for the same reason (typically from the world of Academic
Representation and Student Development).
To receive nominations
from Halls of Residence (for help in fostering the hall experience), the
president will also speak to Hall Wardens (including the community warden), to
allow a shortlist to be drawn up from that community. In addition we will also
ask for open nominations from the student body.
A panel within
Loughborough Students Union will then meet –
President,
LSU (who will chair and lead the discussion)
One
Ex-Sabbatical (usually the immediate President before)
President,
the Alumni Association
The
Senior Warden
Director,
Student Services
The
Registrar
The panel would then
report to Prizes Committee, with a brief report setting out the names of each
student to receive an award with a couple of sentences explaining their
achievements. Prizes Committee would then ratify the list on behalf of Senate.
Current members of the LSU executive would not be eligible for the award; however, if they were to return to studies a year later, they would be entitled to enter.
The awards ceremony
would be a celebration of all things Loughborough, with a re-cap of awards
already won by individuals and teams at the previous awards. The highlight of
the night would be to award the 5-10 (depending on quality of candidates) the
Loughborough Experience Award, with the possibility of awarding a “Union Medal”
for extreme achievement.
The names of the winners
would then be placed in the degree ceremony programme.
How will this be
financed? What are the Long Term Implications?
The re-birth of this
idea came after a meeting I had with the alumni president, Peter Davenport. He
wanted to increase the profile of the alumni association with the current
students, and asked for my input on how to do this.
I responded by
suggesting that in the future, Loughborough alumnus would be more interested in
meeting up with people they were in clubs and societies with, on committees
with and old hall friend, with a distinct move away from the old “academic
classes”.
I suggested that by having an award, initially funded by the alumni association, it would begin to fund itself as the people who are being recognised are the sort of people who would be willing to give to the alumni association, to ensure the continuing success of the “Loughborough Experience”.
Jason Scott-
Loughborough Student Union President.