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A Student's Guide to Individual Representation at West London Students' Union

West London Students' Union provides a free and confidential advice, information and representation service all year round, available to ALL  University of West London students on demand. The service works on an equal opportunities basis at all times. This guarantees that all students will be treated with equal respect, regardless of race, gender, age, disability, sexual preference or religious or political beliefs.

Our aim:
'To provide a free, impartial, independent, non-judgemental, and confidential service. We facilitate the empowerment of the student to find their own solution to their problem by providing them with as much information round their issue as possible. Where appropriate we shall represent the student and act on their behalf after full consultation with the student'

Examples of when you might want to consult us:
·If accused of cheating or plagiarism or another disciplinary issue;
·If you want to request that a decision made by the university should be reviewed because you believe that an injustice has occurred;
·If you want to make a complaint against a university service or a member of university staff;
·If you are experiencing course problems and need practical advice on what to do;
·If you need practical advice on academic and course related representative issues that are affecting you or your studies at TVU.

Our advice is governed by the following principles:

Impartial:
We will provide the student with advice and a range of options, allowing the student to make up their own mind on the course of action that suits them best.

Independent:
Thames Valley Students' Union is INDEPENDENT from the university and acts ONLY on the student's behalf.

Non-judgemental:
We advise students faced with difficulties regardless of how those difficulties arose.

Confidential:
Only those people who give representation advice within the Students' Union within professional boundaries will discuss information shared. Interviews are held in a private room on a one-to-one basis, or via email, phone or through correspondence. However it should be noted that any method of communication other than face to face interview could affect case confidentiality and could also affect the quality of support offered to the student by the students' union. Case notes are kept with the student's permission, and are stored in a secure filing cabinet. Case notes are kept for six years, after which they are destroyed.
In the exceptional circumstances of the advisor believing that the student or other individual(s) are in danger, the advisor may disclose information outside the Students' Union. Wherever possible, the client's consent to change the confidentiality agreement will be sought.

Empowering:
We aim to provide students with all possible courses of action available, as well as potential consequences to enable (and empower) the student to make an informed decision within our framework of representation.