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Students add voices to USC Council
Two 19-year-old students who are passionate about health and politics are the new student members of the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Council.
Fiona Finnegan and Samantha Hawthorne have been elected unopposed for their two-year term starting on Wednesday 9 December.
Ballots recently finalised three remaining places on the 18-member council, which is the governing body of the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Professor Rod Simpson and Dr Donna Weeks won the two USC academic staff vacancies and Bruce Williams won the general USC staff vacancy.
The council includes academic and general staff and community members, who all serve in an honorary capacity, and is chaired by Chancellor John Dobson.
It meets six times a year to discuss planning, resources and finances and can establish rules, develop policies, adopt budgets and approve funds.
Fiona Finnegan, an OP1 student from Gin Gin State High School near Bundaberg, said she sought a place on the USC Council so she could give back to the University.
“I nominated so that I could be a voice for students on university matters,” she said.
Fiona is certainly familiar with this role. After two years of her Nutrition and Dietetics degree, she has already been a USC student mentor, a member of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s student liaison committee and social director of the Golden Key Honour Society.
She said it was satisfying to see the results of her input, such as an upgrade of the pathways to student accommodation.
Fiona last year received a $12,000 Tim Fairfax Regional Scholarship to support students who relocate to USC from regional or remote areas.
Samantha Hawthorne, who has finished her second year of a Bachelor of Arts (International Studies) program, has just returned from an internship with political staff in Canberra.
She enjoyed a smooth transition to USC. Not only was her high school, Siena Catholic College, next door to the University at Sippy Downs, but Samantha also participated in USC’s award-winning Headstart program.
“In Year 11, I did two Headstart courses in Creative Writing which helped my enrolment in the BA,” she said.
“I got a feel for USC during that time and loved the fact that any student could talk one-on-one with lecturers.”
Samantha said she also liked the University’s focus on supporting well-rounded graduates, not just the top achievers.
“My goal is to be as accessible as possible to the students here so I can report back to the University Council on their issues,” she said.
– Julie Gatehouse