Student Representative Council

Women’s University in Africa (WUA) Students Representative Council (SRC)

The Students Representative Council (SRC) is elected every two years by the students and consists of 10 members who either represent other student organisations such as the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), Zimbabwe Congress of Student Union (ZICOSU) or are independents.

The SRC is considered to be the legitimate representative structure and the only recognised mouthpiece of the student body. It is the highest decision-making structure of student governance at Women’s University in Africa. The SRC offers a variety of services to individual students and different student groups. As the SRC provides these services, it exercises economic, political and administrative authority in order to manage the activities of students during their stay at the Women’s University in Africa. As such, SRC is an important stakeholder of the University in as far as it is consulted on decisions to do with students’ interests.

 The aims of the SRC, among others, are:

• To improve the general welfare of the students and to provide advice pertaining to such matters concerning students’ welfare;
• To work in all deliberations and in close harmony, with the authorities of the Women’s University in Africa in all matters affecting the interests of the students; and
• To organise lectures, symposia, debates, voluntary work and other social activities in the interest of the students. 

General Roles and Responsibilities of the SRC

In line with the definition of good governance, the roles and responsibilities of the SRC include the following:

Participating in institutional decision-making structures;

Advising and supporting the delivery of effective and efficient student support services;

Managing and administering student representation at different levels;

Advising on the development of academic programmes and student-learning experiences; and

Participating in the development and implementation of institutional and national policies on higher education.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities of the WUA SRC:

1. THE PRESIDENT

The President shall:

• Be the supreme Chief Executive of the SRC;
• Represent the Union at relevant University meetings;
• Be the Chairperson of the SRC;
• Preside over all union general meetings and also preside over SRC meetings;
• Make representations on behalf of the SRC to the Vice Chancellor, the Dean of Students or any administrative staff on student matters;
• Prepare and present to the union annual report on activities of the SRC for the year;
• Delegate any of his/her powers to the Vice President;
• Communicate and administer disciplinary action on errant ordinary members or SRC members in consultation with the disciplinary committee; and
• Convene the first and subsequent meetings of a new SRC.

2. THE VICE PRESIDENT

The Vice President shall:

• Represent the student body in relevant University meetings;
• Chair the Finance Committee and convene its meetings at which he/she shall vote and have the right to examine or inspect all financial records in the custody of the finance secretary;
• In absence of the president due to any reason, the Vice President shall take the office as Acting President and chair SRC meetings and if the President is not able to assume the office for a period of 2 months then a by-election shall be held; and
• Carry out any functions that may be assigned to him/her by the president.

3. THE SPOKESPERSON

The spokesperson shall be the Chief Information Officer of the union among other duties he/she shall:

• Be in charge of information and publicity in the SRC;
• With the approval of the SRC, he/she shall issue public statements on behalf of the council;
• Shall be the official spokesperson of the SRC;
• Shall chair the Electoral Committee; and
• Be part of the signatories to all letters written by the SRC.

4. FINANCE SECRETARY

The Finance Secretary shall be responsible for the keeping, use and administration of the SRC funds and therefore one to hold the office should have a good background in accounting/bookkeeping and she//he shall be:

• The Secretary of the Finance Committee;
• Directly in charge of all finances and shall therefore be responsible for irregularities that may be found;
• Keep all financial records using a proper accounting system;
• Be one of the signatories to all SRC bank accounts;
• Be required to report any financial irregularities to the Vice President in the presence of the President and the Secretary General of the SRC;
• Be required to give full financial reports whenever called to do so by the President, or the SRC;
• Shall be the Chief Administrator of all income generation projects that are under the name of the SRC and this could be through clubs, societies, Committees or office bearers and is accountable to the SRC; and
• Shall provide a financial report to the SRC at the end of each financial year.

5. SECRETARY-GENERAL

Shall be the Chief Administrator of the SRC and among other duties, he/she shall:

• Conduct all correspondence in consultation with the President;
• Keep properly typed and filled records of SRC and the SRC meetings;
• Shall assist the President and other members in carrying out their duties in a proper and efficient all-round administration;
• Keep records of all the constitutions of clubs and student associations;
• In consultation with the President make an agenda for the meetings and present quarterly reports of activities of the SRC to the student body; and
• In the case where the President and Vice President have been suspended or unable to run their offices for whatever reason he/she shall act as the President.

6. SPORTS, CLUBS AND ENTERTAINMENT SECRETARY

Sports Clubs and Entertainment Secretary shall:

• Report to the Sports Director on all matters of sporting activities;
• Liaise with ZUSA through the Students Affairs Office;
• Represent the Sports Committee and welfare of students on sports fixtures;
• In case of any altercations between students and staff at sports fixtures the sports secretary shall be required to be present at the disciplinary hearing/s of such cases
• Arrange for friendly matches with other institutions but with the approval of the Dean of Students; and
• Prepare reports on sports competitions and other sporting activities whenever necessary.

7. ACADEMIC AND LEGAL AFFAIRS

The Academic and Legal Affairs Secretary shall:

• Chair the Academic and Legal Affairs Committee which includes all Faculty representatives and represents the SRC and the students in any matter that affects their academic life;
• Represent students in the Women’s University in Africa Student Disciplinary Committee;
• Present the Committee’s budget as required by the constitution; and
• Shall present academic and legal issues concerning students to the SRC.

 

8. SOCIAL WELFARE SECRETARY

The Social Welfare Secretary shall:

• Be the contact person between the SRC and the students;
• Report concerns from the students to the SRC;
• Be responsible for the social well-being of the students i.e.:
• Cleanliness concerns such as the campus premises, classrooms, toilets and campus surroundings;
• Health services concerning students; and
• Safety and security concerning students.