Hailie Pentleton
Hey, I’m Hailie (she/her) and I’d love the opportunity to be your next VP Student Support!
I’ve experienced university through a variety of lenses: as a disabled and neurodivergent student, a student carer, and a home student, and so I know just how important strong support systems and services are to ensuring every student the smoothest university experience possible.
My experience
- SRC Disability Officer for the last two years: worked with staff and students on a variety of issues relating to disabled students, including Disability History Month events, the development of staff and student resources, and on the recent review of disability supports at UofG.
- Current Editor-in-Chief of The Glasgow Guardian: maintained open dialogue with the student community on issues surrounding student housing, gender-based violence, and access to education.
- Student Call Campaigner: currently working with the University to raise funds for widening participation focused scholarships.
- Secretary of the recently created Neurodiversity Society.
- Co-creator of the Taylor Swift Society.
If elected, I intend to:
- Introduce two new welfare officers: As the university community continues to expand so to does our need for acutely focused supports for students from widening participation backgrounds. Therefore, it’d be beneficial to introduce both an officer for student carers and an officer for care experienced and estranged students.
- To develop a student tenancy campaign to challenge both the University and local government to take more responsibility for ensuring student housing security at a time where rising rent rates and the cost-of-living crisis are impacting student welfare now more than ever. I also intend to expand the guarantor scheme beyond the 50 places available.
- Work closely with the incoming VPEd to ensure student welfare remains at the centre of decisions around learning and teaching, with the intention of hosting focus groups to investigate student concerns around the transition back to in-person teaching.
- Work closely with the incoming VPSA to establish mandatory welfare and inclusivity training for clubs and societies.
- Develop better harm reduction focused supports and resources. Building upon the work of this year’s VPSS, I intend to campaign that the University take a support focused approach to issues surrounding drug and alcohol usage.
- Develop a student mentorship scheme for students from different minority backgrounds. Work to develop thriving student networks to foster supportive communities for all students.
- Continue the SRC’s work to develop an anti-racist culture in all areas of University life and hold the University accountable as they implement their action plan against racism and harassment on campus.
- Host fortnightly drop-in and destress sessions for students to meet with their representatives and chat about anything they may need support with. Maintain open dialogue with students by having a monthly welfare round up on our social media.
- Lobby the University for more financial support for welfare projects and workshops, especially those surrounding gender-based-violence and racial inequality.
This role is really important to me, and to the students at this university, so I hope you’ll consider me for your next VPSS <3