O U S A About O U S A
The Open University Students Association ensures that the student voice is heard within the University. Its right to existence is enshrined in the University’s charter. As an OU student you are automatically a member of O U S A, although you can opt out if you choose — contact O U S A Office (see Contacts).
O U S A aims to:
- Promote and represent educational interests of all OU students
- Promote student influence on the University’s operations and development
- Co-ordinate activities for all students; educational, social and welfare
- Defend principles of equal opportunities and open access to the University
- Foster a corporate identity for all students
Major successes in the past include the introduction of O U named degrees and the defence of Open University government grants and funding. O U S A has also been given a mandate to represent the O U students’ position on relevant issues raised in the recent government education white paper.
O U S A’s organisational structure of local branches, regions and Central Boards and Committees aims to have student representation at all levels. Participation ensures your voice is heard and that you can gain as well as add value to the O U and to O U S A student activities.
Branches are run by student committees and are funded through a branch grant allocated from central O U S A funds. This branch wants to realise an active community of students that will use these resources to the benefit of its members by organising educational support (study support, study trips, tutor support e.g. essay writing tutorials, peer support, residential school support) or social events (picnics, walks, sports activity etc.).
O U S A relies on student participation.
We welcome all members to join in and keep the student voice alive.
O U S A Communication
The Open University Students Association has a number of ways in which it stays in contact with Open University Students:
Local branch
3 newsletters per year
Web site: To increase accessibility, contact and perhaps promote and support a lively student community, a web site has been created, and will be completed over the next few months for students in Suffolk, based on the amalgamated Ipswich and Bury St. Edmunds branch — but all OU students are welcome: www.ousasuffolk.org.uk
FirstClass Conference for the O U S A Suffolk Branch.
If you would like the Branch to send you minutes of meetings or to contact you with reminders for events, please send your email address to Tony Gibbs as O U S A H Q at Milton Keynes cannot issue branches with lists of its members. This is because there may be a problem due to the Data Protection Act, though we are allowed to ask members to give us their details if they so wish.
Data Protection — the personal data you provide will be held by the Branch Committee, for the purposes of contacting you in relation to OUSA Branch activities and events. Your details will not be passed to a third party without your prior consent.
East of England Region
- FirstClass Conference: O U S A East Anglia or O U S A East of England, depending on your server.
- East of England website
- Annual Newsletter, usually early in the year.
- 4 meetings a year, usually at Cambridge.
National
- FirstClass
- O U Student — the green edged pages within Sesame which is the Open University newspaper. Go to O U S A website and click on Services for Members.
O U S A also run O U S E T which provides financial support for students in need.
Fund-raising is an important part of O U S A activities, one of which is as an associate seller with Amazon - see the link on the home page to go to Amazon and help raise funds via the Branch.
