Each class of a study programme (one year, bachelor's and master's programmes) chooses one class representative and one deputy representative from each study location. Bigger classes that are divided into groups or several classes may choose a class representative from each group or class. Class representatives and deputy representatives are chosen for one academic year.
Main tasks
- Participation in meetings with the university about quality improvement (course evaluations, study programme evaluations, Studiebarometeret, SHoT etc.)
- Be a connection between the class and the lecturer
- Be a connection between the class and the study programme coordinator/course coordinator
All students are responsible for contributing to a good learning environment. The class representative is not responsible for initiating social activities.
Election process
The Vice-Dean for Education is responsible for ensuring that elections are carried out. The elections should be completed by 17 September each academic year.
The programme coordinator is responsible for ensuring that students receive information about the elections at least 7 days prior to election.
The programme coordinator is responsible for facilitating for the elections. Elections may be carried out during or after a lecture, or in a way that is the most appropriate for the class.
When the class representative and the deputy representative is elected, they need to register by 19 September using this form. The faculty is responsible for ensuring that the class representatives are registered.
Classes that are continuing next year may complete elections during the spring semester.
Training
This page consists of useful information from the university, the student associations, the ombudsperson for students and the student welfare organisation. The class representative and the deputy representative should make themselves familiar with this information.
Class representatives will also be invited to a webinar during the autumn semester together with the student organisations, the ombudsperson for students and the student welfare organisation.
It is recommended that the class representative and deputy representative prepare themselves for the webinar by making themselves familiar with their role through this page.
In the contact information fact box you will find linkes to relevant websites with useful information about the different collaborators.
It might also be useful to study the Frequently asked questions.
If you have any questions, please send them to malin.b.olsen@nord.no
Frequently asked questions
Question
The class wants change or is unhappy with something academic, what do I do?
Answer
The first you should do is to collect feedback from the students/class. It might be a good idea for the students to propose a specific solution. The solution should be presented to the course coordinator orally or in writing.
Question
The class representative finds it difficult to give constructive feedback to the course coordinator/lecturer and/or feels that the lecturer does not take feedback seriosuly and does not reply to feedback, e.g. criticism about the quality of the teaching.
Answer
If the lecturer/course coordinator does not reply to oral enquiries, it might be a good idea to send a more formal request through e-mail. If you are still struggling to establish a constructive dialogue, the next step would be to contact the study programme coordinator. You might also seek advice from the head of the student council, the local representative of the student organisation, the ombudsperson for students or the student advisors.
Question
Class representatives need general support, guidance and feedback on how they understand their role and complete their tasks.
Answer
The course coordinator, the head of the student council, the local representative of the student organisation, the ombudsperson for students or the student advisors can give advice about matters that concern your role as a class representative.
Question
Fellow students of the class representative wish to see previous course evaluation reports.
Answer
Students who wish to see previous course evaluation reports may contact the Centre for learning and technology (KOLT).
Question
How can I get in contact with student democracy?
Answer
The student democracy is organised in three regions: Trøndelag, Helgeland and Bodø, of which each has their own student organisation. The joint organisation is Studentorganisation Nord, through which all students of the university are represented.
Levanger and Steinkjer have local student councils working to improve the daily life of students. Bodø has student organisations at each faculty.
Class representatives may ask these for advice or help.
Question
A student wishes to submit an appeal about an assignment or grade.
Answer
The class representative may provide the following informatino for students who wish to submit an appeal about an assignment or grade:
The student may submit an appeal through Studentweb. Usually, students do not need to contact anyone in order to submit an appeal.
If a student has a question about appealing a grade, s/he may contact the Student Records and Examinations Office through e-mail: eksamen@nord.no
Academic questions can be adressed to the course coordinators. Questions relating to administrative matters may be addressed to the faculty administration or the Students Records and Examinations Office.
Question
The class representative may receive messages from students about disagreements between students/groups of students in the class about e.g. group work.
Answer
A useful rule of thumb is to try to solve the conflict on the lowest level. Useful questions may concern which agreements or clarifications have been done. In some cases a good advice may be to reclarify expectations.
Question
Fellow students of the class representative experience a negative social learning environment in the class.
Answer
The course coordinator/head lecturer/programme coordinator has the overall responsibility for the social learning environment. This should be one of the topics in the course evaluations and therefore a topic that is discussed between the course coordinator and the class representative. The social learning environment is created in the interaction between the lecturer and the students. The lecturer has the formal responsibility to facilitate for a positive learning environment in the class and to take responsibility for measures that have to be taken if the social learning environment needs to be improved. In many cases it is natural to involve the class representative or the students in finding good solutions for improving the learning environment in the class.
Question
Class representatives might receive requests from students in the class or group who are worried about a fellow student who e.g. does not show up for lectures or who expresses difficulties in life or in the studies, has an alarmingly high consumption of alcohol, often is in conflict with others in the class or who is behaving in a frightening or offensive way.
Answer
If you are a class representative and you suspect that a fellow student is struggling with mental difficulties, alcohol or drug problems, his/her studies or social relations , it is important to remember that you are not responsible to help the person concerned. The student welfare organisation (Studentinord) has student counsellors who offer individual conversations about personal, social or study related matters. As a class representative you may inform about this service and, if applicable, you may show the person in concern how to book an appointment through studentinord.no.
If a student contacts you and expresses that they want to hurt themselves or others, you may contact the counselling and health services if the situation is not urgent. If fellow students are frightened or offended by the person, it is important to contact the head lecturer or the course coordinator. In severe cases where fellow students behave in a frightening or offensive way and contribute or unwanted events, you may use the university's system for reporting misconduct. In these cases, the Ombudsperson, the suitability assessment responsible and the student counsellor will be able to inform how they can contribute to assess whether a report of misdonduct is relevant reaction.