Workshop your troubles away with our Access Agreement workshops coming soon to a union near you.

The next round of access agreement consultations is due to take place from March-May 2012. This will be the round that determines the access agreement that applies to students who enter higher education in September 2013.

Every English institution that charges over £6,000 for its undergraduate courses must submit an access agreement to be signed off by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA). Access agreements include spedning on student bursaries, outreach and retention activities and the dreaded fee waivers.

NUS is lobbying for students' unions ot have a more formal role in the access agreement, such as an opportunity for students' unions to submit commentary on the content of the agreement and whether they feel the union was properly consulted in the process.

You told us that you want more support from NUS on how to engage with your institution, and how to influence the content of your agreements.

Well look no further, for we are providing regional Access Agreement workshops to support you. Attending one of these workshops will provide you:

• Shared experience and knowledge of approaches to access agreements
• A robust understanding of what OFFA is and why the access agreement matters
• A plan of attack that includes content of agreements, understanding the data and figures and how to make your engagement evidence-based.

Timings:

All workshops take place from 10.00 - 13.30.

Wednesday 29 February Nottingham Students' Union

Monday 5 March Southampton Solent Students' Union

Tuesday 6 March Kent Students' Union

Thursday 8 March Northumbria Students' Union

Friday 9 March Liverpool Students' Union

Workshops are suitable for students' unions officers or staff, whoever has the most involvement with the process. Please try to keep it down to one delegate per union - you can ask to register more but we'll take demand into account so please indicate your priority delegate.

Workshops are free and refreshments will be available.

To register email Alan Roberts with your delegate name(s), contact details, union and any access needs.

If you cannot make it, never fear - we will use the intelligence we gather from the workshops to create resources to support you as you continue to hold your institution to account on access.

All access agreements are publicly available on OFFA's website.