What does the Faculty Council do for students? Floris-Jan explains
Floris-Jan Boutens, a student member and vice-chairman of the Faculty Council since September, explains what it's like being a member of the Faculty Council and what this participation body can do for you: ‘It's fascinating to see how the faculty works.'
The Faculty Council is a participation body and plays an intermediary role between the different sections of the faculty. It aims to create co-determination by allowing the views of staff and students to be raised in the Faculty Council by their own representatives. These representatives can then discuss, advise and influence faculty policy on behalf of all staff and students. The council has the right of consent and advice on all kinds of issues affecting the faculty, such as parts of the budget and the Course and Examination Regulations (OER).
The members of the Faculty Council are elected in annual elections to represent both staff and students and to act as a sounding board for the Faculty Board. Students are elected for one year, staff members for two years. The Faculty Council meets with the Faculty Board once every six weeks.
What is the role of the student party in the Faculty Council?
‘As the section representing students, our aim - besides our advisory role - is to critically monitor what the Faculty Board is doing. We try to represent the interests of students as well as possible. Looking at every decision, we reason from the students' perspective and see whether the decision is "good" for them or not. As students, we also always try to take account of the interests of staff and the faculty as a whole.’
What about your advisory role?
‘Being close to the Faculty Board, we're well positioned to pass things on. For instance, the Faculty Board likes to hear about any issues students enounter and to think along with us about possible solutions. The nice thing about being part of the Council is that our opinion is sought on many issues. We're appreciated and also taken seriously.’
How can students stand for election?
‘At the faculty, we work with lists of candidates and a party system. If you want to stand for election, you have to join a party and appear on their list of candidates. You can't stand for election as an individual, without being a member of a party. At the last election, we had two student parties: ONS and LSP. They're always on the lookout for enthusiastic students who are keen to play an active role in the Faculty Council. Of course, you're free to set up your own party and stand for election in that way. It's not as hard as it sounds, you just need a number of statements of support. It might sound like a big hurdle to take, but in practice it's really not that difficult.’
What's the procedure for the election?
‘The deadline to receive the list of candidates from the parties is 9 April. The parties then have four days in May to campaign at the KOG. The number of votes each party receives in the election determines how many seats they get on the Faculty Council.’
What made you decide to stand for election?
‘I'd already been involved with my party, LSP, for some time as its chairman. Since a number of people weren't available to take up a seat on the Faculty Council, I decided to do so. So far, I'm really enjoying it. Besides getting a good sense of what's going on at the university and the faculty, and thinking and talking about it constructively, it's also a real learning experience. Not only do you hear what's happening at faculty level, you also build an extensive network and learn about lots of issues.’
Any advice for students?
‘I'd definitely recommend that students stand for election. We have a fantastic faculty and if you feel that connection and are committed, you can really make a difference within the Faculty Council. What's more, the student parties are always looking for enthusiastic students. And if you want to set up a party yourself, it really doesn't take much effort.’
Questions
If you have any questions, comments or would like to discuss something, please send an email to a member of the Faculty Council or to faculteitsraad@law.leidenuniv.nl