OU Student Charter: Community

Community values

  • We support wellbeing and work together to ensure all students and staff know that they matter at the OU.
  • We value the important role played by the Open SU in engaging students and advocating for their interests.
  • We collaborate and work in partnership to improve the OU experience.
  • We value the influence of student and staff voices in OU decision-making and communicate the impact of this engagement.

 

 

 

This means we

  • We actively support wellbeing by creating a culture where everyone feels valued, supported and able to contribute, recognising that each person matters within the OU community.
  • We recognise and respect the important role of the Open SU in representing and advocating for students, working constructively with them to strengthen the student voice. 
  • We collaborate and work in partnership across teams, roles and communities to improve the OU experience, sharing knowledge, listening to one another and building solutions together. 
  • We value the influence of student and staff voices in decision-making by actively seeking feedback, listening with intent, and demonstrating how this engagement shapes outcomes.

This means we do not

  • We do not ignore wellbeing concerns or create environments where individuals feel isolated or overlooked.
  • We do not dismiss or sideline student representation or engagement.
  • We do not work in silos or make decisions without considering their wider impact.
  • We do not consult without purpose or fail to communicate the impact of what has been shared.
 

Additional Links

 

Glossary

Wellbeing

Wellbeing refers to the overall mental, physical and emotional health of students and staff, enabling them to feel supported, connected and able to succeed in their learning or work.
 

Students' Union

A Students’ Union is an independent representative body for students, working in partnership with a University to advocate for student interests, build community and enhance the student experience.
 

Student Voice

Student voice is student engagement in improving the University, where students actively share views, feedback and ideas to shape decisions, policies and the student experience.
 

Student Representation

Student representation is the formal role of students acting on behalf of their peers to contribute to decision-making and influence change across the University.
 

Silos

Silos refer to ways of working where teams or parts of the organisation operate in isolation from one another, limiting collaboration, communication and shared understanding.