Student Governance Framework
The goal of the USC Student Senate is to become a strategic student leadership committee to work in partnership with USC Executive Staff regarding student matters.
USC Student Governance Framework within a Students as Partners model (PDF 358KB)
The USC Student Senate framework includes the following groups:
- Student School Groups (SSG)
- Student Liaison Groups (SLG)
- Student Representative Council (SRC)
- Campus Student Liaison Group (CSLG)
- Postgraduate Students Association (PSA)
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student Leadership Committee (ATSISLC)
The Student Guild is an independent student group. However, the Guild does have nominated representatives who sit on the overarching USC Student Senate group.
The role of the Student Senate is to:
- Represent the student body and act as a means of communication between the University and the student community.
- Partner with the University to co-create policies and services that support students and advance the quality of learning and research activities.
- Actively contribute to University decision-making in promoting a positive student experience.
- inform the University about emerging issues for students within its terms of reference.
- identify gaps in student voice and proactively engage in closing these gaps.
- co-create University initiatives that relate to student health, wellbeing and safety.
- encourage student feedback and share University initiatives resulting from student feedback.
- to report back regularly to the university and wider student cohort.
- It is expected the Campus SLG Student Representatives will be nominated, or elected, by their main Campus SLG as representatives on the Campus Student Liaison Group. At least one Member from each of the campuses represented from each non-USC Sunshine Coast Campus, e.g. USC Gympie, USC Caboolture, USC Fraser Coast, USC SouthBank and USC Moreton Bay (from 2020) is expected to attend four meetings per year meeting attendance and representatives are expected to attend at four meetings per term (12 months).
- In addition, the Campus Student Liaison Group will nominate two members to report to and attend the USC Student Senate meetings, each Campus should be equitably represented on the USC Senate, with one Campus Representative from each campus in attendance at least once per year.
How the CSLGs and the SLGs work together
It is expected that two SLG Student Representatives will represent their campus on the USC Campus Liaison Group (minimum two meetings per semester) and one Campus Representative from each campus will represent all Campuses on the USC Student Senate at least once per semester.
Student Liaison Groups (SLG)
Each Campus has its own Student Liaison Group (SLG), with Student Representatives from each School that delivers programs on the campus.
The USC Caboolture Student Liaison Group (SLG) is a student-led group and it reports to the USC Student Senate and liaises with the Campus Manager or delegate.
- The role of the Student Liaison Group (SLG) Caboolture is to:
- represent the student community and act as a means of communication between the Campuses, the University and the Caboolture student community, and
- actively contribute to University decision making in promoting a positive student experience.
- It is the responsibility of the SLG Caboolture to:
- inform the Campus Liaison Group (CLG) about emerging issues for students within its terms of reference;
- provide input into the development of policies and services that support students and advance the quality of learning and research activities;
- encourage student feedback and share University initiatives resulting from student feedback; and
- engage the student body in the campus community and report back to the wider student cohort.
The USC Gympie Student Liaison Group (SLG) is a student-led group and it reports to the USC Student Senate and Liaises with the Campus Manager or delegate.
- The role of the Student Liaison Group (SLG) Gympie is to:
- represent the student community and act as a means of communication between the Campuses, the University and the Gympie student community, and
- actively contribute to University decision making in promoting a positive student experience.
- It is the responsibility of the SLG Gympie to:
- inform the Campus Liaison Group (CLG) about emerging issues for students within its terms of reference;
- provide input into the development of policies and services that support students and advance the quality of learning and research activities;
- encourage student feedback and share University initiatives resulting from student feedback; and
- engage the student body in the campus community and report back to the wider student cohort.
The USC Fraser Coast Student Liaison Group (SLG) is a student-led group and it reports to the USC Student Senate and liaises with the Campus Manager or delegate.
- The role of the Student Liaison Group (SLG) Fraser Coast is to:
- represent the student community and act as a means of communication between the Campuses, the University and the Fraser Coast student community, and
- actively contribute to University decision making in promoting a positive student experience.
- It is the responsibility of the SLG Fraser Coast to:
- inform the Campus Liaison Group (CLG) about emerging issues for students within its terms of reference;
- provide input into the development of policies and services that support students and advance the quality of learning and research activities;
- encourage student feedback and share University initiatives resulting from student feedback; and
- engage the student body in the campus community and report back to the wider student cohort.
The USC Moreton Bay Student Liaison Group (SLG) is a student-led group and it reports to the USC Student Senate and liaises with the Campus Manager or delegate.
- The role of the Student Liaison Group (SLG) Moreton Bay is to:
- represent the student community and act as a means of communication between the Campuses, the University and the Morton Bay student community, and
- actively contribute to University decision making in promoting a positive student experience.
- It is the responsibility of the SLG Moreton Bay to:
- inform the Campus Liaison Group (CLG) about emerging issues for students within its terms of reference;
- provide input into the development of policies and services that support students and advance the quality of learning and research activities;
- encourage student feedback and share University initiatives resulting from student feedback; and
- engage the student body in the campus community and report back to the wider student cohort.
The USC SouthBank Student Liaison Group (SLG) is a student-led group and it reports to the USC Student Senate and liaises with the Campus Manager or delegate.
- The role of the Student Liaison Group (SLG) SouthBank is to:
- represent the student community and act as a means of communication between the Campuses, the University and the SouthBank student community, and
- actively contribute to University decision making in promoting a positive student experience.
- It is the responsibility of the SLG SouthBank to:
- inform the Campus Liaison Group (CLG) about emerging issues for students within its terms of reference;
- provide input into the development of policies and services that support students and advance the quality of learning and research activities;
- encourage student feedback and share University initiatives resulting from student feedback; and
- engage the student body in the campus community and report back to the wider student cohort.
The Australian Technical and Management College (ATMC) Student Liaison Group (SLG) is student-led group and it reports to the USC Student Senate and Liaises with the Campus Manager or delegate.
- The role of the Student Liaison Group (SLG) ATMC is to:
- represent the student community and act as a means of communication between the Campuses, the University and the ATMC student community, and
- actively contribute to ATMC decision making in promoting a positive student experience.
- It is the responsibility of the SLG ATMC to:
- inform the Campus Liaison Group (CLG) about emerging issues for students within its terms of reference;
- provide input into the development of policies and services that support students and advance the quality of learning and research activities;
- encourage student feedback and share ATMC initiatives resulting from student feedback; and
- engage the student body in the campus community and report back to the wider student cohort.
The Student Representative Council will become the main reporting body for the SSGs. The SRC will discuss issues concerning learning and teaching at USC.
Each School has its own School Student Group (SSG). The School Student Groups (SSG) are student-led groups that discuss academic issues and concerns within their Schools. The SSGs report to the Student Representative Council.
The role of the SSG Business is to:
- represent the student community and act as a means of communication between the University and the student community
- actively contribute to University decision making in promoting a positive student experience
- inform the USC Student Representative Council about emerging issues for students within its terms of reference
- provide input into the development of policies and services that support students and advance the quality of learning and research activities
- encourage student feedback and share University initiatives resulting from student feedback
- report back to the wider student cohort
The School Student Group (SSG) is a student-led group and reports to the USC Student Senate.
The role of the SSG Communication and Creative Industries is to:
- represent the student community and act as a means of communication between the University and the student community
- actively contribute to University decision making in promoting a positive student experience
- inform the USC Student Representative Council about emerging issues for students within its terms of reference
- provide input into the development of policies and services that support students and advance the quality of learning and research activities
- encourage student feedback and share University initiatives resulting from student feedback
- report back to the wider student cohort
The School Student Group (SSG) is a student-led group and reports to the USC Student Senate.
The role of the SSG Education is to:
- represent the student community and act as a means of communication between the University and the student community
- actively contribute to University decision making in promoting a positive student experience
- inform the USC Student Representative Council about emerging issues for students within its terms of reference
- provide input into the development of policies and services that support students and advance the quality of learning and research activities
- encourage student feedback and share University initiatives resulting from student feedback
- report back to the wider student cohort
The School Student Group (SSG) is a student-led group and reports to the USC Student Senate.
The role of the SSG Social Sciences is to:
- represent the student community and act as a means of communication between the University and the student community
- actively contribute to University decision making in promoting a positive student experience
- inform the USC Student Representative Council about emerging issues for students within its terms of reference
- provide input into the development of policies and services that support students and advance the quality of learning and research activities
- encourage student feedback and share University initiatives resulting from student feedback
- report back to the wider student cohort
The School Student Group (SSG) is a student-led group and reports to the USC Student Senate.
The role of the SSG Law is to:
- represent the student community and act as a means of communication between the University and the student community
- actively contribute to University decision making in promoting a positive student experience
- inform the USC Student Representative Council about emerging issues for students within its terms of reference
- provide input into the development of policies and services that support students and advance the quality of learning and research activities
- encourage student feedback and share University initiatives resulting from student feedback
- report back to the wider student cohort
The School Student Group (SSG) is a student-led group and reports to the USC Student Senate.
The role of the SSG Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine is to:
- represent the student community and act as a means of communication between the University and the student community
- actively contribute to University decision making in promoting a positive student experience
- inform the USC Student Representative Council about emerging issues for students within its terms of reference
- provide input into the development of policies and services that support students and advance the quality of learning and research activities
- encourage student feedback and share University initiatives resulting from student feedback
- report back to the wider student cohort
The School Student Group (SSG) is a student-led group and reports to the USC Student Senate.
The role of the SSG Science and Engineering is to:
- represent the student community and act as a means of communication between the University and the student community
- actively contribute to University decision making in promoting a positive student experience
- inform the USC Student Representative Council about emerging issues for students within its terms of reference
- provide input into the development of policies and services that support students and advance the quality of learning and research activities
- encourage student feedback and share University initiatives resulting from student feedback
- report back to the wider student cohort
The School Student Group (SSG) is a student-led group and reports to the USC Student Senate.
The role of the SSG Tertiary Access is to:
- represent the student community and act as a means of communication between the University and the student community
- actively contribute to University decision making in promoting a positive student experience
- inform the USC Student Representative Council about emerging issues for students within its terms of reference
- provide input into the development of policies and services that support students and advance the quality of learning and research activities
- encourage student feedback and share University initiatives resulting from student feedback
- report back to the wider student cohort
An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student Leadership Committee (ATSISLC) has been established as a voluntary mechanism to advise the Dean, Indigenous Education and Engagement, about various matters that impact on and relate to the engagement and success of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled at USC.
The ATSISLC's role is purely advisory. The ATSISLC has no authority to issue any directions or make any decisions on behalf of USC or Indigenous Services.
The role of the ATSISLC is to represent the Indigenous student community and act as a means of communication with USC's Indigenous Services. This includes:
- actively contributing views and perspectives with respect to the provision of services to Indigenous students;
- providing ideas that can contribute to the positive experiences of Indigenous students at USC;
- informing the Dean, Indigenous Education and Engagement about emerging and recurring issues for Indigenous students studying at USC;
- providing advice in relation to USC policies, services and initiatives as they impact on Indigenous students;
- contributing ideas for services and initiatives that might be developed or enhanced to improve the engagement and success of Indigenous students; and
- providing a source of feedback to the Dean, Indigenous Education and Engagement on the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students studying at USC.
The Postgraduate Student Association (PSA) reports to the USC Student Senate.
The role of the Postgraduate Student Association is to:
- represent the student community and act as a means of communication between the USC Student Senate, University and the student community
- actively contribute to University decision making in promoting a positive student experience
- inform the USC Student Senate about emerging issues for students within its terms of reference
- provide input into the development of policies and services that support students and advance the quality of learning and research activities
- encourage student feedback and share University initiatives resulting from student feedback
- report back to the wider student cohort
- support and promote initiatives that relate to student health, wellbeing and safety
- contribute to a Community of Practice for postgraduate students
- The Council of all HDR Representatives Board has the capacity to report matters down to the HDR Council, convene meetings to discuss an issue.
- The HDR Council can report up to the Board and all (Council members) have the right to attend Board meetings.
- The HDR Board members have the right to attend and vote (at Council meetings).
- All (Managing) Board (members) have the right to attend HDR Board meetings.
- The Council of all Coursework Representatives Board has the capacity to report matters down to the Coursework Council, convene meetings to discuss an issue.
- The Coursework Council can report up to the Board and all (Council members) have the right to attend Board meetings.
- The Coursework Board members have right to attend and vote (at Council meetings).
- All (Managing) Board (members) have the right to attend Coursework Board meetings.
Other Board members may create sub-committees with delegates to assist in their roles. These roles may report to the following campus areas: Events and Campus Coordinator, IT, International, and/or Equity.
The USC Student Guild is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting, representing and enriching the experience of students at USC. The Guild is governed by a committee of elected students working in tandem with a team of professional staff.
For more information, visit the Student Guild website.