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Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê: our student voice platform

Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê is an online platform that supports departments in collecting and analysing student feedback in real time, facilitating continuous improvements to the student experience.

What is Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê?

Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê is a space where students, academic representatives and staff can collectively raise, discuss and resolve both academic and more general experience issues. Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê is powered by the ±è±ô²¹³Ù´Ú´Ç°ù³¾.Ìý

Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê allows students to discuss and vote on matters they’d like to escalate to departmental staff for attention. This enables the department to consider and, where appropriate, act promptly to address these concerns, and for students to see the decisions and action that has been taken.

Where is Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê in use?

The following academicÌýdepartments use Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê:Ìý

  • Arts and Sciences
  • Bartlett School of Architecture
  • Bartlett School of PlanningÌý
  • Faculty of Laws (Undergraduate programmes only)
  • Institute of Education*
  • Mathematics
  • Mechanical Engineering

*Check with your administrator ifÌýShape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê is being used on your programme

What can I do on Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê?
  • Share your feedback - once you are logged into Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÌýyou can access your department’s feedback board. Here you can shareÌýfeedback on your experience by making a post on your board. This could be praise, an issue you are facing, a question or an idea.Ìý
  • Engage with students on your programmeÌý- you can vote and comment on feedback left by others, and you will see when other students are voting for your post.Ìý
  • Connect with your RepsÌý- RepsÌýwill review posts, respond and where appropriateÌýescalateÌýimportant topics to staff in your department. Reps will also invite feedback from students prior to a Staff-Student Consultative Committee (SSCC), which is an opportunity for students to helpÌýshape the discussion.
  • See where students have made an impact - you will be able to see where your feedback has impacted change by reading the responses to your post, and view theÌýTogether We ChangedÌýsection of your board to see where feedback from othersÌýhas helped to Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê.Ìý
How will Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÌýhelp me and my department?

By using Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê you can:Ìý

  • Inspire change within your faculty, department and programme using your feedback.
  • Encourage positive feedback and praise and help build a sense of community.
  • Create greater visibility, andÌýtransparency around theÌýdecisions and actions taken in your department.Ìý
  • Assist your Reps with staying on top of the issues that matter most to you, allowing them to raise importantÌýtopics at SSCCs and otherÌýdepartment or faculty wide meetings.Ìý

Getting started on Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê

The guidance below covers the basics ofÌýusing the platform to help students get started.

How to access Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê

If your department is using Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê you can access your account by using your University email address and password.ÌýThere is no need to create an account, simply clickÌýÌýto begin the login process with your university credentials.

Your Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê feedback board

This is the space where students, Reps and staff interact with feedback that is raised by students. The Board areaÌýis split into two sections Private and Public, with a number of tabs that run along the top.

  • Private -Ìýis where students are able to raise and discuss feedback by creating a feedback post. Once a post has received enough votes or cannot be dealt with by students, the Reps can escalate the feedback to the Public area. Staff do not have access to the Private area of the feedback board, however they can see how many feedback posts have been created, what programme it relates to and the year of study of the author of the post.
  • Public -ÌýthisÌýarea is where staff members are able to review the escalated feedback, comment and update students as they progressÌýfeedback from the OpenedÌýarea to theÌýClosed column.
  • About - this page contains essential guidance, along with further information and links.
  • Members - this page contains aÌýlist of all the members of staff on your board, along with who your Reps are.Ìý
Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Community Guidelines

A set of guidelines has been created to help ensure Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê remains aÌýpositive, safe space where creativity and problem-solving is encouraged between staff and students. Before using your feedback board, please familiarise yourself with the Community Guidelines which apply to all users.Ìý

Participating in Student Academic Representative elections

If your department uses Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê for Rep appointments, you will receive an email with a link to the election homepage when the elections are announced. There, you can view election details and available roles.

To nominate yourself, click the Nominate YourselfÌýbutton on the left-hand side of the screen and explain why you want to represent your fellow students. While you can't upload content directly to the platform, you can provide a link to external content like a video manifesto on social media.

To vote in a Rep election, simply click the VoteÌýbutton for the nomination you support. Your department will announce the elected Reps shortly after the voting period ends.

Creating a feedback post
  • Click the Add FeedbackÌýbutton in the Private feedback column.
  • Choose your feedback type;ÌýPraise, Issue, Question or Idea.
  • Fill in the title, description, and other relevant information.Ìý
  • Check the guidance in the About tab on your board, and theÌýCommunity GuidelinesÌýto make your feedback more effective.
  • Select a category for your feedback and an audience (e.g. students on your programme, or the entire board).
  • If you would prefer to post anonymously, toggle the anonymousÌýbutton.
  • If your feedback is flagged by the sentiment checker because of potential negative tone, consider rephrasing your feedback to be more constructive.
Engaging with feedback

If you see a feedback post that resonates with you then vote it up, andÌýleaveÌýa comment. Help advance the conversation by providing extra content, or information you think is useful for staff in understanding the issue. Alternatively, provide a different perspective or resolution if you feel your viewÌýhasn't been represented. This will help staff in deciding the best approach to address an issue.

If you have chosen to receive notifications on posts you have engaged with, you will receive either an email or a push notification (if you're using the app) to inform you when new updates or comments are made.

Resolving feedback

In the About tab you will see the expected response time to feedback posts, for Reps and staff on your board. It is important to note this is not an expectation of a finalised answer or action based on your feedback. Initial posts in the Private areaÌýneed time for comments to be added and voting to occur, to give your Reps aÌýbetter understanding of student sentiment relating to a post.

Depending on the complexity of the issue, staff may also need time to identify relevant staff members to provide a response, escalate an issue, or involve others to reach a decision.ÌýAs a post progresses from the Private area to the Closed column, Reps and staff willÌýprovideÌýupdatesÌýto ensureÌýstudents can monitor the outcome of their feedback.

When a feedback post is closed students will be notified, along with the decision and outcome, or action taken.

Together We Changed

Notable changes and improvementsÌýareÌýrecorded in the Together We ChangedÌýsection of the board. This page enables studentsÌýto view the impact of their feedback, and how theÌýcommunity of staff and students in theirÌýdepartment have collectively created positive change.

Using anonymity on Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê

Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÌýhas the option to post anonymously, so students can feel comfortable providing feedbackÌýand expressing themselves without fear of being singled out or judged.ÌýSharing feedback is vital to improving every student’s academic experience.ÌýWe encourage students to explore opportunities of posting without anonymity enabled.ÌýTo feel confident expressing their opinion amongst their peers or engaging staff.

If you are posting something you think many students will agree with, to see a list of names rather than Anonymous Commenter # can demonstrate to staff just how many people are reporting this issue. The anonymity feature removes year group, so it can be difficult for staff to truly understand how widespread an issue is. It may also encourage your fellow students to contribute if they can see that somebody they know is also experiencing the same thing.


Commonly asked questions

Why can’t I access Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê?

Your department might not be using theÌýplatform. Check the department list above inÌýWhere is Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê in use?ÌýIfÌýyour department is listed, then contact your administrator to see if your degree programme is participating.Ìý

Why am I on the wrong programme / Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê board?

Please contact your programme administrator and they will update your student record in Portico. Once the changes have been made there, this should be reflected on Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê in the next day or two.

My name is spelt incorrectly, how do I update my details?

Please visitÌý/students/status/your-student-status/student-record for more information on how to update your student details in Portico.

Can I still use the Unitu app?

Yes! You can still access your Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê board through the platform provider's . This is available at both the App Store and Google Play.

My query isn't listed here, who do I contact?

Please contact your Board Admin, who is usually an experienced member of your department's administrative team and should be able to help. You can find out who yourÌýBoard Admins are by clicking the Members tab on your Shape Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê board, thenÌýStaff, and checking their User Role.Ìý

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