Academic Reps
Be the Voice of Change: Become a Student Academic Representative at MSU!
MSU-AMLMN Academic Reps strive to make the college experience of every single student of Maynooth better, and provide a vital link between the Officers of the Union and the student body.
They assist in directing the work of the Faculty Convenors and the Vice President Academic Affairs, by gathering feedback within their class or department, and feeding academic issues into the appropriate Union structures.
They also help in advising their University on course and program development, by giving students a voice on Staff-Student Committees and Programme Review Boards, and by giving constructive feedback on academic issues as they arise.
Class Rep:
Class Reps are students who nominate themselves to support their peers within their course or class group. They have responsibility for:
- Gathering feedback from the cohort they represent,
- Liaising with teaching staff on behalf of their peers,
- Representing the best interests of their classmates in MSU-AMLMN,
- Keeping their classmates informed about ongoing deliberations regarding their course, and other information relevant to their academic experience,
- Attend committees and assemblies of which they are a member.
Department Reps:
Department Reps are students who nominate themselves to take greater responsibility for academic representation within their department. They have responsibility for:
- Gathering feedback from all Class Reps within their department,
- Liaising with the Department Head on behalf of their Class Reps,
- Supporting their Class Reps in solving issues,
- Identifying common issues arising across the department,
- Representing the best interests of their department in MSU-AMLMN,
- Keeping Class Reps in their department informed about ongoing deliberations in the department,
- Attend committees and assemblies of which they are a member.
How Can I Contact My Rep?
It is the responsibility of Academic Reps to make themselves known to the cohort they represent, but if you have not yet figured out who your rep(s) is/are, please contact your Faculty Convenor, who will be able to signpost you to the right person:
Becoming a Rep:
Becoming an Academic Rep can be a rewarding part of your University experience, and a great way to engage with Maynooth Students’ Union. During your time as an Academic Rep you will develop and improve some really useful and transferable skills such as:
- Written and verbal communication skills,
- Negotiation skills and meeting etiquette,
- Organisation and time management,
- Assertiveness and confidence.
Further, you will have the opportunity to meet other Reps from across your university, engage with different disciplines, expand your network of friends, and work as a collective to improve academic affairs for the students of Maynooth!
Departmental Rep Elections:
Each year in April, MSU-AMLMN Elections will be held to fill Department Rep positions for the following calendar year. Students can self-nominate by filling out a form, which will be available on this page [link here] when nominations are open. If fewer or the same number of nominations are received as positions available, all nominees will be deemed elected. Where more nominations are received than positions available, elections will be held. Only students in the cohort that the position represents will be allowed to vote for the position, for example only computer science students can vote for the Computer Science Department Rep.
Class Rep Elections:
The procedure for electing Class Reps is currently under review, and this page will be updated in due course when this review is complete, in time for the next academic year’s Class Rep Elections (September/October 2025). If you would like to sign up to be a Class Rep for the current academic year, the positions that are still vacant can be seen in the following form [link here].
Arts & Humanities Faculty Assembly
The Arts & Humanities Faculty Assembly (AHFA) is a forum to discuss student issues within the Faculty, to advise the Arts & Humanities Faculty Convenor (AHFC) on their work, and to discuss and develop the academic policies of the Union as they relate to the Faculty.
Membership:
All Academic Reps within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities are members of the Arts & Humanities Faculty Assembly, along with the AHFC and the Vice President Academic Affairs.
The Arts & Humanities Faculty Convenor is the Chairperson of the Faculty Assembly. At the first meeting of the Faculty Assembly in the academic year, Academic Representatives will be elected to the positions of Deputy Chairperson and Secretary.
Meetings:
The Arts & Humanities Faculty Assembly will normally meet six times per academic year, normally with three meetings per semester.
Social Sciences Faculty Assembly
The Social Sciences Faculty Assembly (SSFA) is a forum to discuss student issues within the Faculty, to advise the Social Sciences Faculty Convenor (SSFC) on their work, and to discuss and develop the academic policies of the Union as they relate to the Faculty.
Membership:
All Academic Reps within the Faculty of Social Sciences are members of the Social Sciences Faculty Assembly, along with the SSFC and the Vice President Academic Affairs.
The Social Sciences Faculty Convenor is the Chairperson of the Faculty Assembly. At the first meeting of the Faculty Assembly in the academic year, Academic Representatives will be elected to the positions of Deputy Chairperson and Secretary.
Meetings:
The Social Sciences Faculty Assembly will normally meet six times per academic year, normally with three meetings per semester.
Science & Engineering Faculty Assembly
The Science & Engineering Faculty Assembly (SEFA) is a forum to discuss student issues within the Faculty, to advise the Science & Engineering Faculty Convenor (SEFC) on their work, and to discuss and develop the academic policies of the Union as they relate to the Faculty.
Membership:
All Academic Reps within the Faculty of Science & Engineering are members of the Science & Engineering Faculty Assembly, along with the SEFC and the Vice President Academic Affairs.
The Science & Engineering Faculty Convenor is the Chairperson of the Faculty Assembly. At the first meeting of the Faculty Assembly in the academic year, Academic Representatives will be elected to the positions of Deputy Chairperson and Secretary.
Meetings:
The Science & Engineering Faculty Assembly will normally meet six times per academic year, normally with three meetings per semester.
Ready to make a difference? Get involved, be the change, and help shape the future of academic life at Maynooth!