st November 2018 1. Attendance and Apologies · AGENDA Student Assembly Date: Thursday 1st November 2018 1. Attendance and Apologies 2. Minutes of the previous meeting –Thursday

AGENDA Student Assembly Date: Thursday 1st November 2018

1. Attendance and Apologies

2. Minutes of the previous meeting – Thursday 22th February 2018

3. Matters Arising

4. Elections

5. Motions to change Bye-laws a) Motion to change Student Assembly and introduce electronic voting b) Motion to Merge Democracy and Scrutiny Committee

6. Motions

a) Homophobia and Transphobia Hate Crime Motion

7. Officer Reports a) Disability Officer Report b) Vice President Postgraduates Officer Report c) Vice President Student Activities Officer Report d) Vice President CBASS Officer Report e) Vice President College of Health and Life Sciences Officer Report f) President (late: received 26/10)

Reports not received by: - Vice President College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences - Women’s Officer - LGBT+ Officer - International Students Officer - Community Campaigns Officer

8. Student Matters

9. Urgent Business

Attendance and Apologies

1) Maria Valada sends apologies for not attending.

UBS Student Assembly Minutes

Student Assembly

Meeting: SA04

Date: Thursday 22th February, Howell 001

1. Attendance and Apologies

Members in Attendance

President Pauldy Otermans

Vice President Student Activities Dev Aditya

Vice President College (CBASS) Ammaar Ikram

Vice President College (CEDPS) Mohamed Omar

Vice President College (CHLS) Rachel Kerslake

Vice President Postgraduate Students VACANT

Environment & Ethics Officer Anastasia Walters

International Students Officer Ranjeet Rathore

Mature & Part-time Officer Ian Stone

Community Campaigns Officer VACANT

Media Association Chair VACANT

Women’s Officer VACANT

LGBT+ Officer Cayla Martin

Chair of Student Assembly Alex Milsom

Law Department Jade Foley

Education Donna-Marie

Student Assembly Community Members Irtiza Chowdhury

Student Assembly Community Members Aayushi Kolhatkar

Student Assembly Community Members Jack Moss

Student Assembly Community Members Jemmar Samuels

Student Assembly Community Members Vishnu Chockalingham

Student Assembly Community Members Johnathan Fernandes

Assembly Rep for LBC Oma Sai Jaman Jyothi

Non-members in Attendance

Student Juror Natalie

Student Juror Sukima

Student Juror Lavan

Student Juror Bobby Harrop

Student Juror Naomi Carndorf

Student Juror Perihan Elsayed

Student Juror Anvitha Pavuchuri

Apologies Sent By

Disabled Students Officer Sean Cullen

Rag President Poppy Mcallister

Student Assembly Community Members Kalpesh Purohit

Black & Ethnic Minorities Officer Lateefat Babalola

Student Assembly Community Members Aisha Qureshi

Student Assembly Community Members Georgia Riches

Student Assembly Community Members Maham Asad Khan

Student Assembly Community Members Karim Hadaya

Absent

Business Science Department Marwa Muhumad Sayid

Social & Political Sciences Departments Shahrukh Khan

Student Assembly Community Members Oluwanifemi Babalola

Student Assembly Community Members Manhil Borana

Student Assembly Community Members Silviya Gupta

Student Assembly Community Members Tuba Sheikh

UBS Staff in Attendance

Student Voice Manager Rebecca Davies

Student Voice Administrator Jamal Salihu

2. Minutes of the previous meeting – Thursday 25th of January 2018

Passed Indicatively

3. Matters Arising No Matters Arising

4. Elections a) Democracy Committee

Rachel Kerslake

Vote For – Passed Indicatively

Motions

a) Motion to back the UCU February/March 2018 Strike

FOR Argument) There should be solidarity between staff and students at a university, some

members of the union are part of the UCU and will suffer due to the UUK’s stance on the pensions.

Staff will be £10,000 worse of in retirement due to this stance. Students will be worse of in the 2

weeks and in the future two due to changes that will occur because of this stance on pensions. We

should support the strike; an amendment should be moved so that the union has a position against

these punitive measures against the striking staff members.

AGAINST Argument) – Understands how much the cuts will affect staff, but the strike is affecting

paying students, not getting the education we are paying for, it’s fair that the UCU are striking but

the union should not actively take a position either way

Question) - What are you proposing?

Response) - To have dialog with the university to have a stance against measures

Question) - Clarification – Do you just want us to put out a statement supporting the strike? Response) - That’s one of the things we’d like the union to do, other things would be providing assistance during the strike Question) - Question for those against the motion – GB has the lowest pension scheme; don’t you think that we should support lecturers to protect their own interest and those who want to become future lectures? Response) - Agree that the cuts are detrimental however previous strikes have not been acceptable and as a union we should be more on the side of the students Response) - This strike is extremely rare, nothing has rectified the problem, so a solution is needed now Question) - We haven’t mentioned the students at all, there needs to be an amendment to say that we will look after our students during this period Response) Motion was submitted last minute but amendments can be made to protect students Statement) - UCU demands aren’t drastic, they just want a seat at the table, but they are being pushed out, we should support Response) - We should have it writing and actual systems should be put in place to protect students Response) - Always had the students in mind but it is largely going to affect a lecturer Response) - It needs to be in the motion that we do still support the students Question) - We presented a letter to the VC, what do you actually want the union and officers to do? Response) - Document was drafted before we were alerted that a letter was sent, the union should make supportive leaflets, provide tea and coffee to striking members and maybe a small donation to local hardship fund to help staff Question) - If we go to the university and say that they have to pay the lectures then we have to tell them to pay the students also Response) - Brunel University are taking additional measures above and beyond docking the days wage which we feel shouldn’t be taken Statement) - We should show support, but we should give the students support first Response) - Amendments to motion made

Summary speech) Ian – This is rare, Lectures may lose up to 200k in their retirement, lectures don’t

want there to be undue pain for their students, for each day of strike action there is a potential for

disciplinary measures and over and above cuts of a day’s work

Passed Indicatively

5. Student Matters

TEDx

- Very successful & we are grateful to all those that helped

-We will be able to have more than 6 speakers next year

- Get in touch with us if you want more information

Elections 27th of February

- We will know who is elected by our next student assembly

- Make sure you vote & get friends to vote

6. Any Other Business None

Close

Motions to change Bye-laws

a) Motion to change Student Assembly and introduce electronic voting

Union Notes

1. In 2015 the Union introduced a Scrutiny Committee to hold the Officers accountable, and

also changed the remit of student assembly to have 3 accountability specific meetings per

year.

2. The Union struggles to reach quoracy for many of its meetings, with scrutiny Assembly

meetings having particular issues.

3. All members are entitled to attend student assembly and participate, they are just not able

to vote. Also the members are responsible for holding the Officers accountable

4. We have often had to run votes online amongst student assembly members where meetings

have not reached quoracy and a decision is needed urgently. However; there is currently no

bye-laws allowing for this.

5. The first meeting of the year is largely taken up by elections for the committees of Student

Assembly.

Union Believes

1. By removing the requirement of accountability meetings to sit as part of Student Assembly,

we will be able to encourage a larger participation from our membership. It will also allow us

to avoid having accountability meetings that are not able to go ahead due to quoracy issues.

2. Officer will still be expected to submit reports to all Student Assemblies and can be

challenged on these in the meetings.

3. By introducing the ability for online voting we will be able to move the voting in of

subcommittee members out of the first meeting of the year. This would mean the meeting

could focus on discussing issues that matter to its members.

4. Electronic voting systems will allow us to publish how members of student assembly vote,

increasing the accountability of these members. Online voting will also allow us to be

reactive when it comes to dealing with high priority issues in a timely manner.

Union Resolves

1. To amend Bye-law G as outlined below and insert the newly written Bye-law S as outlined

below (Appendix A).

Proposer: Peri Sherif

Seconder: Ranjeet Rathore

b) Motion to Merge Democracy and Scrutiny Committee

Union Notes

6. In 2015 the Union introduced a Scrutiny Committee to hold the Officers accountable.

7. At the same time as Scrutiny Committee was introduced the Elections committee became

the Democracy Committee and was changed with overseeing all the democracy not just

elections.

8. The Union struggles to fill it’s subcommittees of student assembly and have to hold more

than one round of elections.

9. When spring elections come around we often have to say good bye to a number of members

of the democracy committee as they are either running as a candidate or supporting a

candidate.

10. Autumn elections do not have a democratically elected Democracy committee to oversee

them, it is often made up of members from the executive.

Union Believes

5. The business discussed by both committees is often narrow, meaning that members can lose

interest and feel their role is not a valuable one.

6. Democracy Committee has never discussed issues outside of that of the elections.

7. Those people that sit on both these committees are often duplicated, as those interested in

the Unions democratic processes are also those interested in its accountability processes.

8. By restructuring the committees, we are allowing them to be more effective as the topic of

discussion will be broader.

9. By restructuring these committees as suggested we can generate a democracy committee

that members do not need to leave just because it is election season. Instead we will

maintain these members throughout the academic year.

10. The new committee will have clear terms of office to ensure we have students overseeing

the Autumn elections, thus removing the currently questionable practices of appointing

members of the executive.

Union Resolves

2. To merge the functions of Democracy and Scrutiny committee as outlined in the attached

Bye-laws (Appendix B)

3. This new committee shall be called the “Democracy Committee” and shall have a

subcommittee called the “Elections and Referenda Committee”.

4. To amend Bye-law B to replace “Democracy Committee” in clause 15 onwards with

“Elections and Referenda Committee”.

Proposer: Peri Sherif

Seconder: Ranjeet Rathore

Motions

Homophobia and Transphobia Hate Crime Motion

1) This Union notes:

a. LGBTQA+ people often face verbal and physical harassment regarding their sexual

and/or gender identity.

b. For safeguarding issues, LGBTQA+ people may feel uncomfortable reporting these

issues.

c. LGBTQA+ people face unique issues when dealing with hate crime that other

groups do not, and this should be taken into account when handling cases.

2) This Union believes:

a. The processes in place for reporting and recording LGBTQA+ specific hate crime

are unclear and unsatisfactory.

b. There has been a reluctance from the Union to accept that Brunel has an issue

with homophobia and transphobia on campus.

c. That a zero-tolerance approach with clear disciplinary consequences for

perpetrators must be clearly outlined and enforced.

d. The body in place for assessing hate crime must have their authority and jurisdiction

made clear.

3) This Union resolves:

a. To establish a clear, transparent process for reporting and recording LGBTQA+ hate

crimes featuring as little bureaucracy as possible.

b. To make clear the disciplinary process for offenders and how this will be enforced.

c. To give authority for this process to a single individual who can liaise between

interested parties, and guide victims through the process.

4) This Union mandates:

a. To establish a specific LGBTQA+ hate crime reporting platform, with the option of

reporting anonymously.

b. To reassess the consequences for perpetrators and enforcement procedures.

c. To publish clear and accessible documentation regarding who people should

contact, the process in place for reporting, what happens after allegations have

been made, and the consequences and enforcement policy.

d. To establish a consultation period in the form of anonymous student surveys

to grasp a sense of the size of the issue of homophobia/transphobia on

campus.

Proposer: Finn Grice

Seconder: Cayla Martin

Officer Reports

a) Disability Officer Report

Objective/Manifesto point: Ensuring investment is spent wisely for accessibility issues

Project Plan What’s done? What’s next? Context Ach %

Secure the funding

10%

Meet with

department heads to

go through

proposed plans

30%

Arrange for

deadlines for works

to be completed

50%

Building works to

be completed 70%

Review changes

and evaluate

effectiveness 90%

The funding has

been secured and

some small changes

have been

implemented

already.

To follow up with

estates and other

departments in

order to arrange

additional projects

Last year the day in the wheelchair

campaign secured £200K to address

the accessibility issues on campus.

The plan for this year is to ensure

the proposed projects are

implemented and that all areas are

addressed and fixed.

20%

Objective/Manifesto point: Mental health peer support group


Get Student minds

trained facilitators

25%

Organise sessions

times and venues

50%

Hold the Term 1

sessions 75%

Review the terms

progress and

arrange for sessions

in Term 2 and next

academic year

100%

The student minds

sessions are all

booked in for

Mondays in term 1

at the meeting

house.

The introduction

session was

completed with 13

participants

Finish the course

for this Term and

review feedback

form attendees

Arrange for the

mental health

campaigns to fall

under the remit of

future disability

officers

Student Minds is a charity that

Brunel has partnered with to provide

mental health peer support sessions.

The facilitators were trained last

year with funding from the

wellbeing team and union.

The group is now established,

despite taking some setbacks it is

functioning and progressing on to

help students.

60%

Objective/Manifesto point: parking project


Review parking

regulations at

Brunel 25%

Created and

overview report and

submit to senate

50%

Follow up with

departments to

ensure proposed

actions are

followed 75%

Follow long term

actions outlined in

report 100%

The parking report

was submitted to

the senate.

It was agreed that

the report would be

passed onto estates

and security for

them to action the

report

Follow up with Bill

and the relevant

department heads

to ensure the

suggestions are

followed.

Parking at Brunel is a sore topic for

disabled students.

Disabled parking bays are constantly

misused by students, staff, and

visitors resulting in lack of

availability for the students who

need them.

A report was collated which took

into account all the current parking

issues relating to disabled bays as

well as suggesting solutions to the

highlighted issues.

50%

Objective/Manifesto point: improving engagement


There is no set plan

for this as it needs

to evolve as the

year goes on to see

what the students

respond to and

what engages them

Dyslexia awareness

week was held and

highlighted some

areas for

improvement in

relation to

engagement.

Introduce more

digital engagement

platforms for

students to utilise

such as social

media campaigns.

Engagement from disabled students

is quite low, as students to not

identify as disabled, or it does not

play enough of a part in their lives to

be a defining factor.

The aim of this campaign is to find

the best way of engaging students to

learn more about disability and the

help available.

25%

b) Vice President Postgraduates Officer Report

Objective/Manifesto point: Lobby a clear and transparent communication platform between the University

and Students’ Union


Create a platform

for clear

communication

between the

graduate school and

Union

- VPPG and staff

members of the

Graduate School

and organised

regular meetings.

- Met to organise

and plan the

Graduate School

fresher’s events

- Had more than 90

students visiting the

stall daily

- Hosted a

successful Wine

and Cheese night

- PG Uxbridge tour

- Submitted a PGT

and PGR newsletter

welcome students to

Brunel

- Discussed the

usage and

availability of the

Grad School

Kitchen

- T Discuss

renovations to

HALS055

- The collaboration between the

Union and graduate school

allows opportunities for

discussion and events

THIS IS AN

ONGOING

INITIATIVE

.

Objective/Manifesto point: Graduate Teaching Assistant


- Meeting organised

with Graduate

school to gain more

understanding on

GTA prospects on

campus

20%

-Talked to students

regarding the ability

to work as GTA and

conduct a research

on the demand for

Graduate Teaching

opportunities on

campus

30%

- Emailed the

Director of

Graduate School to

arrange a meeting to

discuss TA

opportunities and

students’ views

40%

- Feedback from

meeting will

determine next step

- Parked until more

information is

obtained

- PG Research Students have an

opportunity to teach during

their research, but current

policies make the program

difficult to implement across all

departments

40%

Objective: Postgraduate Employability Schemes


-Identified courses

within the Business

School that offer

placement

30%

- Discussed with

Senate regarding

opportunities for

Professional

Development

courses

40%

- Initial meeting

with PDC to raise

awareness of

students’ views

50%

- Arrange meetings

with the PDC to

gain understanding

on why some course

do not provide

placement, support

systems for PGT

and PGR

60%

Met PDC, discussed

placement options

and decided to form

working group to

review PGT

placement 80%

- Awaiting dates for

meeting

- Outcome of first

meeting will

determine next step

- The PDC offers a range of

services for Professional

Development and Career

Advice. However, PGT

students are here for a limited

time and it is important to raise

awareness of all services to

ensure students benefit from

Employability skills

75%

Objective: Human Library


- Met with a

working group from

the University to

plan the event

10%

- Spoke with

potential candidates

for Human Library

30%

- Identified

available venues for

the event

40%

Dates and times

agreed.

50%

- Call contacts

provided by

working group to

request their

involvement as

Human libraries

60%

Host a successful

Human library

100%

- Delegated the

work to team

member from SSP,

Jemmar

- Promotional

content produced,

room booking

- book

confirmation:

Speakers approved

- The Union hosted

the Human library

at the Venue with

37 students talking

to different books

and engaging with

6 speakers

- Considering

hosting a Human

Library every term.

Engagement data

will help organise

more events.

The Human Library project is

an initiative to encourage

students to engage with people

who have a story to tell. This

would involve a speaker telling

their story while engaging with

students and answering

questions

This project is in collaboration

with the Student Success

Project, which aims to help

students achieve their potential

by removing barriers and

enabling students to succeed.

The group identified a

categories/themes for

discussion

100%

Objective/Campaign: Black History Awareness Month


- Preview previous

years events, assess

success and plan for

this year’s

campaign

10%

- Initial meeting

with Campaigns

coordinator to map

plans

- Hosted a

successful Stand-up

comedy night with

5 acts from

London’s upcoming

stand-up comedians

- 212 tickets sold

with 126 students

attending the event

- Host Move night

and final events of

the month

- October marks Black History

Month. This is a time for us to

recognise and celebrate the

immense contributions that

people of African and

Caribbean heritage make to

humanity.

This year the event will host a

range of talent from the Black

community including fun

80%

20%

- Contact external

performers and

speakers for events

40%

- Speak with

societies regarding

availability to

participate

45%

-Set the dates for

events and plan for

activities

50%

- Budget Plan

submitted to

Executive

Committee

60%

Design flyers,

0rganise and set

final agenda.

70%

Have a successful

month

100%

activities and shows throughout

the month

c) Vice President Student Activities Officer Report

Objective/Manifesto point: Team Brunel Charity Trip


Create a Team

Brunel Charity Trip

open to all students

Met with Leeds Uni

contact who created

a charity trip for

Leeds students

Identified the Bali

Sport Foundation

(BSF) as a good

option

Had a call with

Chris Pardey

(alumni) who is a

joint-founder of the

BSF and gathered

some ideas of what

the trip could entail,

fundraising targets

etc

Got funding from

Bill Leahy for 2 full

time staff members

Emailed Chris with

final plans for

fundraising and

itinerary

Reached out to

Design Society for

‘Team Brunel

Abroad’ logo and

poster

Logo done by

Design society

Info Pack all sorted

for once students

sign up

Dates arranged for

first info evening

and presentation

and another

meeting date set for

Wait for Chris to

email back and

then iron out finer

details

Find out from the

University what

flight agency they

use – as Union will

be booking flights

for individuals

going on the trip

Get final promo

material ready to

promote during

Fresher’s Fayre

Prepare final

package and details

ready for Fresher’s

Fayre

Risk management

– speak with Chris

(BSF) and Terry

Vass (Brunel)

Meeting 21/09/18

to discuss about

using Uni

fundraising

platform – this is

the final major

hurdle

Need to set up

website

‘Ensuring our students have the

resources to succeed’

I am a keen charity guy and believe

my experiences previously have

developed my own skillset,

employability and enriched my time

whilst being at Uni. Therefore want

to offer students an opportunity to

get involved in an international

charity trip. Especially with the

collapse of Childreach International,

there is a lack of international

volunteering opportunities on

campus.

100%

participants who

have signed up

Risk assessment

meeting with

security done and

briefing from them

received

Objective/Manifesto point: Movember


Month long

Movember

campaign

Want to give Sports

Clubs freedom to

run their own

events, fundraising

etc

Movember themed

Karaoke and Quiz

to raise awareness

Started Project Plan

Spoken with lady

from Movember –

said she will said

my info packs once

they are complete

Bex has given me a

contact for a

potential guest

speaker

Email Chairs of

Sports Clubs about

their

involvement/plans

(if any) for

Movember

Speak with Aidy

about Karaoke

themed Movember

and Movember

Quiz

Email potential

guest speaker/then

organise time and

venue

Help raise awareness of health

issues men face.

60%

Objective/Manifesto point: Rainbow Laces


Unsure

Nothing Need to talk with

our LGBTQA+

officer and society

Support our LGBTQA+ students 0%

Objective/Manifesto point: BUCS: This Girl Can


Like to create a

video of all our

leading women in

Sport/Active@Brun

el

Highlight the

benefits of women

participating in

Sport – competitive

and social

Organised a

meeting with

Lorrine to discuss

ideas

Nag Lorrine our

A@B coordinator

Champion and promote our female

successes on campus.

2%

Objective/Manifesto point: SPP Revamp


Look into the

Sports Performance

Program and ensure

it is fit for purpose

Explore ideas to

increase offering to

enhance our top

teams performances

Initial conversation

with main

stakeholder.

Chatted with Sports

Fed committee with

regards to their

thoughts on SPP

Research! Email

out chairs of SPP

and see what their

thoughts are

Create proposal,

approved by Sports

Fed Committee and

send to main

stakeholder

Help deliver an SPP which does

enhance our top teams

performances, which will directly

result in more BUCS points and

greater exposure on the sporting

front.

20

Joint projects with another Officer/Chair/Liberation officer

Joint with: Maria VP CHLS

Objective/Manifesto point: Mental Health and Wellbeing Week


Mental Health and

Wellbeing campaign

(08/10/2018 –

12/10/2018)

Plan the key

activities of the

week

(20%)

Meet with Kieron

Allford to discuss

the collaboration

with the student

centre

(30%)

Advertisement plan

with Yasmin and

Communications

(50%)

Recruiting

volunteers for the

campaign – Clubs

and Societies

(65%)

Schedule of the

week

(80%)

Delivering

campaign

(100%)

George and I meet

to discuss the plan

for the university’s

Mental Health and

Wellbeing week.

We highlighted the

activities for the

week, including

video promotions

and a dedicated day

for a sports

campaign.

Met with Kieron

Allford to discuss

the collaboration

with the student

centre.

Meeting with

Yasmin- to

practically structure

and organise the

campaign.

Contact the Clubs

and Societies

committees, asking

for their input with

the Wednesday of

the campaign.

Submit Comms

ticket

This campaign is part of our first

team objective for the year

(Wellbeing) and is one of the main

areas of interest and cooperation

with the Student Centre.

100%

Objective/Manifesto point: One Brunel (Culture Integration)

Project Plan What’s done? What’s next? Context Ach

%

Planning the

campaign

10%

Meet with Student

activities along

with VPSA and

international

student officer to

brainstorm the

events of the

Campaign

20%

Recruit Societies to

be involved in the

Campaign

30%

Work with events

and student

activities to plan

the delivery

50%

Delivery

100%

Launch of One

Brunel

Its Culture integration campaign to

build a community in Brunel. This

campaign encourages cross-culture

integration throughout the campus,

increase culture awareness and

reduce culture gap. This campaign

will give the students a platform

where they could showcase their

culture to create unity among

students and It also facilitates in

reducing culture segregation and

racism. Global awareness and

international collaboration during

the formative year’s results in more

rounded individuals, encouraging

our students to see things from

different perspectives and helping

them to make informed decisions,

acquiring transferable skills that will

be useful to them and will remain

with them for life.

65%

Objective/Manifesto point: Inter-college Integration


%

Brainstorming the

events

10%

Meeting with the

VPC’s to plan

20%

Meet with all

college deans

Along with college

VP’s to involve the

university and

brainstorm the

ideas of the event

40%

Met with the VPCs

to brainstorm

One of my manifesto points was to

enhance inter-personal skills and

creative thinking. Inter-college

integration would help students to

enhance these skills

20%

d) Vice President CBASS Officer Report

Meet with Student

activities along

with all VP

colleges and VPSA

to Plan the event

60%

Work with events

and student

activities to plan

the delivery of the

events

80%

Delivery

100%

Objective/Manifesto point: Bring in Speakers


%

Discuss with

relevant authorities

and people

20%

Decide on who to

bring and the

outcome of the

speeches

30%

Talk to the speakers

and Put together a

timetable

50%

Complete any other

requirements i.e-

booking the room

and making food

arrangements

60%

Promotion

90%

Delivery

100%

Spoke to business

life and PDC to

bring in speakers as

a joint project

Meeting to discuss

the events and

which speakers to

bring

Bring in speakers to talk about the

carer they succeed in. giving the

students an in-depth talk about the

challenges that they make face in

their career journey and how to

overcome them.

25%

Objective/Manifesto point: CBASS Treasure Hunt to increase engagement in CBASS


Joint with: International student officer - Om Sai

Objective/Manifesto point: Culture integration


One Brunel Launch of One

Brunel

Plan the next event-

fashion show

Working with the International

student officer to increase culture

integration and reduce BME gap

65%

Joint with: Women’s Officer- Aayushi

Objective/Manifesto point: International Women’s day


Currently in the

process of putting

together a plan

Working with the women’s officer

to deliver events on international

women’s day

0%

Joint with: VP CDEBS – Aayushi


%

Discuss with

relevant authorities

and people

20%

Decide on funding

and gifts

30%

Create the Treasure

hunt using the app

50%

Buy the gifts

60%

Promotion

80%

Delivery 1

90%

Delivery 2

100%

Done with treasure

hunt

100%

Objective/Manifesto point: Sexual violence Awareness


Raise sexual

violence awareness

on campus

Planning how to

approach the

campaign

10%

e) Vice President College of Health and Life Sciences Officer Report

Objective/Manifesto point: Academic feedback


WiseFlow

mandatory

training for

academics and

admins (20%)

WiseFlow

regulations on

feedback criteria

for all courses

(policy) (40%)

WiseFlow

induction

documents for all

students – ready for

Welcome Week,

along with an email

or letter from me

explaining the

changes and the

gains from the

service. (65%)

Agree with ADSE

and Vice-Dean

Education on a

system or platform

to monitor the

academics feedback

quality and

effectiveness

(100%)

Following the

Lifesciences DMB

meeting, it was

minuted that all

programme leads

should remind all

academic to take

register for the

August trainings

with the WiseFlow

team (I have

already confirmed

with Claudia Cox-

the university’s

Digital assessment

adviser responsible

for WiseFlow- that

the majority of LS

CHLS academics

have signed up)

Use the CHLS

Education catch-up

meetings to discuss

a possible feedback

framework for all

the CHLS courses.

Use the NSS

results as evidence

for the discussions

with the College

and Vice-Provost

of Education

Likely to be a

yearlong objective.

CHLS is introducing WiseFlow as

their online coursework submission

platform, and potentially the

platform for digital assessments.

Academics need to be trained on

how to use the programs, and

because BBL will be restricted to

classroom resources only.

This new college project is the

perfect timing to introduce my

manifesto point on ‘Academic and

Student feedback’, as it is possible

to digitally establish the criteria

consistency and effectiveness of the

academic feedback on coursework

or assessments. This is also a strong

point of interest from the ADSE,

who is whiling to make the all-

necessary changes to the briefing

and feedback regulations of the

departments, especially life sciences,

during the next year.

65%

Objective/Manifesto point: BTEC attrition rate and student engagement


Education

Exchange project

with the Uxbridge

College (25%)

Action plan with

the Student Success

Project, based on

the data from the

past years (50%)

Collaboration with

CHLS departments

and the Academic

Skills department,

on extra workshops

designed for the

transition, and

better

advertisement of

the ASK week.

(60%)

Meeting with the

Level 1

coordinators and

life sciences DTL

to plan the extra

support and how to

embedded into the

different modules

(80%)

University entry

requirements

differentiation from

RQF and other

BTEC

(100%)

Met with members

of staff from the

Uxbridge College

from both Applied

Sciences and Sport

Sciences to discuss

the structure of the

classes and

coursework criteria,

and also to compare

the new BTEC

framework (RQF)

with the old

framework (QCF).

Meeting with the

LS DTL.

Contact level 1

coordinators and

identify the key

modules students

struggle the most.

As part of the Student Success

project and all the plans to fight the

attrition rate, the university is finally

investing the talking the differences

between the BTEC students and a-

level students, and their struggles

when adapting.

The meetings are led by Katie

Osmon, the transition project

manager from the Academic Skills

department, and the short-term goal

is to differentiate the RQF and the

QCF when applying to university.

However, there are no plans to

change the offers policy relating to

the type of BTEC for 2018/2019 and

2019/2020 – Andrew George is in

conversation with Pearson, but does

not agree it is a relevant concern.

The College LS DTL is involved in

the project as well.

70%

Objective/Manifesto point: Sexual Health Week Campaign


Plan the key

activities of the

week, and how to

promote the sexual

health testing week

(20%)

Meet with Kieron

Allford to discuss

the collaboration

with the student

centre

(30%)

Advertisement plan

with Yasmin and

Communications,

and potential

sponsoring

(50%)

Schedule of the

week

(80%)

Recruiting

volunteers for the

online campaign

and contact Ricki

from the

accommodation

services

(85%)

Delivering

campaign

(100%)

Plan all the

activities relevant

for the week.

Would like to

request Executive

committee to

authorise the

replication of the

campaign in the

end of term2.

This campaign is one of my main

manifesto points and is one of the

main areas of interest and

cooperation with the Student Centre

for term one.

100%

Objective/Manifesto point: STI Testing Week Campaign


Plan the key activities

of the week, and how

to promote the sexual

health testing week

(20%)

Meet with the

Medical Centre to

discuss our

collaboration

regarding logistics

and testing kits

(30%)

Meeting with the

Venues manager to

discuss the award and

the award night

(50%)

Advertisement plan

with

Communications and

campaign ticket

(70%)

Schedule of the week

(80%)

Delivering campaign

(100%)

Plan all the

activities relevant

for the week.

Meeting with the

Medical centre

scheduled, to

discuss their

involvement with

the testing process.

This campaign is one of my main

manifesto points and is one of the

main areas of interest and

cooperation with the Student Centre

for term one.

20%


Joint with: VP SA George Wardle and Student Centre (Well@Brunel)

Objective/Manifesto point: Mental Health and Wellbeing campaign


Mental Health and

Wellbeing campaign

(08/10/2018 –

12/10/2018)

George and I meet

to discuss the plan

for the university’s

Mental Health and

Wellbeing week.

We highlighted the

activities for the

week, including

video promotions

This campaign is part of our first

team objective for the year

(Wellbeing) and is one of the main

areas of interest and cooperation

with the Student Centre.

100%

Plan the key

activities of the

week

(20%)

Meet with Kieron

Allford to discuss

the collaboration

with the student

centre

(30%)

Advertisement plan

with Yasmin and

Communications

(50%)

Recruiting

volunteers for the

campaign – Clubs

and Societies

(65%)

Schedule of the

week

(80%)

Delivering

campaign

(100%)

and a dedicated day

for a sports

campaign.

Met with Kieron

Allford to discuss

the collaboration

with the student

centre.

Use four Team

Brunel Students in

the recreation of the

video ‘’In your

corner’’ from Time

to Change.

Objective/Manifesto point: Motion to create the post of European Union (EU) Students’ Officer role

Successfully presented a motion, during General Meeting, to add an EU Officer to the Executive committee,

coming next academic year.

Objective/Manifesto point: Isambard Prayer room carpet change


Finding the need of

new carpet in

Isambard Complex

prayer room.

10%

Meet with relevant

the union staff

member who can

facilitate the

connection between

the union and the

university estates

department.

20%

Find out who to

contact within

University and

book meeting

30%

Sent out an email

with the pictures

attached of how

bad and worn and

torn the carpet is.

40%

Take them on the

tour of the prayer

room and explain

them/make them

feel what the

student has to go

through 5 times a

day for 365 days of

the year.

60%

Agreeing on the

dates of the

renovation work

and commencing

the work as

scheduled.

80%

Once the carpeting

is done, opening the

facility to public for

daily use.

90%

Investigated

already where there

is a lack of services

by the university.

Met with university

services to assess

the metrics for how

things are being cut

and students are

suffering.

Met with the carpet

to professionals and

agreeing on the

carpet change along

with the university

staff in presence.

The proposal was

agreed and has

been sent off.

Update:

Waiting for the

carpet company to

get back in touch

with the union on

better quality

carpets because

they initially

suggested hard

surface carpets for

the prayer room.

Which are not very

health and safety

and suitable as

well.

To see if we can

get the better

quality carpets and

agree on dates for

the final work to

commence.

The work has been

completed and the

students are happy

with the SU’s

intervention and

helping them with

having an

appropriate praying

facility.

Due to cuts made by the university

and their constant negligence of

providing adequate services to our

students, this was going to have a

severe impact over students’

satisfaction and us as union fulfilling

the promise of our core values of

being accessible and proving a

welcoming, safe and friendly

environment for all. Actively taking

positive interventions to drive

equality and remove barriers to

inclusion.

We the union has had meeting with

the university and the industry

professionals to ensure that we

should provide a better quality

service starting from the prayer

room carpet which has been

neglected since last 10 years of it

being installed.

Once the university’s estate

department has drawn a business

case and the dates for the renovation

work in the prayer room has been

agreed we are on the move of

delivering the promise of our core

values to our membership and

making a positive change happen.

100%

e) President Report

Thank all the

members involved

in the project.

Happy students =

Happy staff.

100%

Objective/Manifesto point: Creating A Successful Islamophobia Awareness Month


See what happened

last year and assess

what can be done

this year/what can

be improved on.

20%

Get some external

speakers as well as

internal speakers

40%

Hire the IAM

exhibition

60%

Provisionally set up

the Hijab

Experience in the

Atrium

70%

Set up the Football

Charity

Tournament

80%

Hand out

flyers/posters

90%

Have a successful

month

100%

Had an initial chat

with the students

who have been

actively involved in

this campaign since

last year or two

years and discuss

informally what we

can do differently.

This year’s aim is

to break the stigma

around

Islamophobia

staring from

Brunel.

Met with Yasmin to

draw up a project

plan for the

campaign.

Introducing new

bits to the

campaign to keep it

more student

engaging and fun.

Finalise a full plan

for the campaign

this year.

Will introduce the

students to Jasmin

who has been

involved in the

campaign since last

year or more.

Re-brand the

campaign name

from

“Islamophobia

Awareness Month”

to “Islamic

Awareness

Month”. This is in

lines to eradicate

the victim

mentality from our

younger generation

students.

Budget approved

from the Executive

committee for the

IAM campaign.

Due to the record levels of

Islamophobia and anti-Muslim

bigotry, this IAM campaign is to

ensure that misconceptions are dealt

with, how people can ally to help

stop these attitudes toward Muslims

and to create a better understanding

of the experiences that Muslims

have to go through each day.

25%

Objective/Manifesto point: Wudu/Ablution facilities


Find out the

relevant contacts

from the University

Provost to initiate

the wudu facility

project.

10%

Set up a meeting

with the university

Estates department

Met with the Vice

Provost of the

university and took

the contact of him.

Set up initial

meeting with the

students to discuss

the issue they are

suffering from and

get statics from

The university to

come back with a

drawing proposal

of the building and

where they can fit

the wudu pods.

Share the drawing

proposal with the

students and take it

from there.

Due to the record levels of

complains and decrease in the

student satisfaction with the

university provided services in the

area of Isambard Amenities the

union took up a stand for the

students to represent them and get

the best level of services available

for them. The university had

previously spent hundreds of

thousands of pounds on services

50%

to look at the

proposal.

20%

Invite the student

body to share their

first-hand

experience of the

current wudu

facilities provided

by the university.

30%

Set up a joint

meeting with Union

+ Students +

University to take

the project forward.

50%

Look at what the

university has to

offer from their end

and negotiate the

best terms for the

students.

70%

Agree on the

project initiation

dates and clear up

the space for the

work to commence.

80%

Thank the

university for their

work.

90%

Check if everything

is functioning and

students are

satisfied with what

the university has

provided/build for

them and feedback

to the university

and thank all the

parties’ involved.

100%

them to back the

case.

Had a meeting with

the university to

raise the issues that

our students are

facing because of

lack of services.

which were not practical and fit for

the purpose they were built for so

the aim of this project is to fix the

services which revolve around the

daily needs of the students. This new

project plan will cost less and save

more money and most importantly

will increase the student’s

satisfaction and a good brad name of

the Students Union.

Objective/Manifesto point: Multi-Faith room

Project Plan

Research about the

needs of Brunel

students about if

What’s done?

Initial fact finding

about if there is a

What’s next?

Waiting for the

university to get

Context

This project will consider this under-

researched element of faith and

diversity with a view to producing

Ach %

25

they want a multi-

faith room on

campus.

20%

Do in-depth

researches about

how other

universities

facilitate something

of this nature?

40%

Check which is the

best location to

serve the needs of

students.

50%

Draw up a proposal

for the university

backed with the

research and the

needs of the

students.

60%

Set up a meeting

with the relevant

staff members of

the university to

take the plan

further.

70%

Come to a mutual

agreement on the

space and location

for the multi-faith

facility.

80%

Wait for the

completion of the

project.

90%

Open the doors of

the new-multi faith

facility to our

membership.

100%

real need of such

facility on campus.

Surveyed the

commuter students

as it is most likely

to be used by

commuter students.

Research on what

are the ground on

which the

university will

support such a

project which sits

perfectly with their

policy around

student’s

satisfaction and the

governmental rules

and regulation

which supports this

project, example:

Equality act 2010,

Human rights act

1998.

Initial meeting with

the university

department to take

the project further.

back to me after

the initial meeting.

Come to a mutual

agreement on

which place best

serves the needs of

the students.

Rolling out a short

survey to find out

what religious

groups will be

keener on having a

centralised multi-

faith room.

comprehensive and practical

guidance for use across the sector. It

will aim to investigate in detail the

difficult questions of faith in this

context, such as the issues of the use

of shared space, praying together

and how to make people of all faiths

(and none) feel that the space is

genuinely open and available to

them without resorting to the

negative management approach.

The project will ask how a positive

approach in this space can:

Facilitate good campus

relationships and improve

the student experience.

Promote genuine interfaith

dialogue.

Enable effective risk

management – for

example identification of

warning signs relating to

radicalisation or

extremism.

Showcase the student

community that the

students union genuinely

cares about its

membership and wants to

promote a safe,

respectable and a

progressive religious

integration in Brunel.

Objective/Manifesto point: Off campus Kitchen facility


Brunel saw a rise in

commuter’s

students in last 2

years. The

university did the

intake of commuter

students but did not

look into providing

better services to

make their student

experience and

facilities better.

Mia and I are

working together to

improve the kitchen

provisions for the

off campus

students. Where

they can bring in

food from home

and heat the food

on campus and eat

it between their

breaks and manage

their finances.

Have spoken to the

vice-provost of the

university and

raised the issues

with the appropriate

department.

The issue has been

acknowledged and

the work has

started.

As part of the

universities annual

space audit the

university is

identifying places

to put the kitchen

facility.

Identify centralised

places where this

kitchen facility can

be put in place.

Raised the

commuter students

issue in the

university senate

meeting and got a

positive response

and support on the

project.

To make the time of our commuters

students the best it can be while they

are at Brunel.

Other reason why the kitchen

facility is our centre of focus as not

every student is rich enough to

afford buying food from outside. It

is about us as the Students Union

ensuing that all the students are

looked after in the best possible

manner does not matter if they are

on or off campus students and their

day to day experience can be made

better.

50%

Objective/Manifesto point: Improve the disability provisions across campus


Tackle the

misconceptions

around hidden

disabilities. This

project is about

taking strides

towards making the

university an even

more inclusive and

supportive

educational

environment for all.

For many people

with Inflammatory

Bowel Disease

(IBD), the sudden

and uncontrollable

need to use a toilet

is a genuine and

recognised

symptom of their

condition. Whilst

they may not look

ill on the outside

they are affected

from debilitating

symptoms that

affect all aspects of

their lives.

Have raised the

issue of appropriate

signage with the

senior management

of the university.

They have then the

work ahead to be

recognized and put

the right measures

to have awareness

raised of hidden

disability.

Waiting for the

relevant university

department to get

back to us with an

update.

Consulted the

Union Disability

officer and got his

approval and

support on the

project.

The university’s

estates department

has agreed to

update the signage

on the toilets.

The signs, placed on accessible

toilet doors, will urge customers to

remember not all disabilities are

visible. They are intended to make

students with conditions like Crohn's

disease; autism, anxiety, and

inflammatory bowel disease feel

they can use disabled facilities

without facing criticism from other

shoppers.

"We want to make sure all our

students feel comfortable using our

facilities – including those with

disabilities that aren’t always

obvious,"

50%

Objective/Manifesto point: Free Printing


All students have

experienced the

financial challenges

that accompany the

"privilege" of

further education.

Yes you're given a

loan, but what

about those extra

incremental costs

that slowly adds up.

Ink has quickly

become the most

expensive liquid on

the planet -

something you

learn very quickly

when you

undertake an

academic degree,

which requires

printing on a mass

scale.

Especially for the

third years who

really needs

printing support

especially during

dissertation period.

This project is to

reduce the financial

burden for students.

The idea is simple:

free printing to put

money back into

students’ pockets.

In talks with the

Pro-Vost of the

university to make

this idea into reality

for students and

ease the financial

burden from

students.

Head of the

University

customer services

has been involved

in the conversation

along with other

allies on the

project.

Need to identify

the exact number

of level three and

integrated master’s

students in the

university.

Waiting for the

student data from

the university.

Test the free

printing scheme

with third years

and roll it out to

other level of

students in the

university.

The purpose of this policy is to

implementation of a robust and cost

effective printing management

service in line with the digitalization

of the recent education model.

Where possible the University seeks

to deliver teaching and learning

materials and documentation in

digital form so it can be accessed

from any location but in many of the

courses printing and photocopying

of certain study materials is a must

such as the dissertation.

Moving forward we will adapt a

definition of “reasonable” amount of

printing and photocopying into

account.

Environmental Impact – save those

trees Saving trees, in a manner of

speaking yes, but the production of

paper has an impact beyond just

felling trees grown as a commercial

crop.

To play your part, please ask

yourself these questions

• Do I really need to print/copy or

will a digital version suffice?

• Have I securely backed---up my

work --- and, if so, is it still

necessary to print out a copy?

• Can I remove the need to

photocopy by scanning instead, with

the scanned document being sent to

my email box?

It’s about asking those questions and

not exploiting the services that are

hard earned for your own benefit.

25%

“This policy will put money back

into student’s pocket”.

Objective/Manifesto point: Postgraduate students accommodation contract


Campus

accommodation

contracts end before

their dissertation

hand in date each

September. This

results in our

resident PG students

handing in their

dissertation early

before they vacate

or finding

alternative off

campus

accommodation

during a busy study

period. Students’

course lengths are

required to be 52

weeks so as not to

affect the visa

regulations or

negatively impact

on the student

experience.

The proposal

moving forward is

i.e. students will be

allocated to the

Isambard Complex

with an additional

200 rooms rotating

between PG and

returner UG’s in

either Galbraith or

Fleming Hall.

PG course officially

starts on Monday of

fresher’s week

(week 0) with the

dissertation hand in

date being Tuesday

of fresher’s week

(week 0) the

following year.

Currently all

returning UG

accommodation

contracts are 38

weeks in length, this

proposal would see

Raised the issue of

contract lengths

interfering our PG

students during their

dissertation hand in

period and room

moving out period.

Mia and I raised it at

the university

accommodation

meeting.

University’s senior

managers since then

picked the issue and

has managed to get

a proposal for 37

weeks for UG

returning students

reducing it from 38

weeks.

University has

presented the new

proposal for

accommodation

contract length and

it was approved

successfully in the

meeting.

Present the proposal

in the SWEC

meeting and get

approval from it to

take it to the

University Senate.

If approved, this

would be piloted for

two academic years

19/20 and 20/21

entrants. At the end

of the pilot

consideration will

be given as to how

successful the new

process has been

and all stakeholders

given opportunity to

review and feedback

so a decision can be

made for

implementation for

future years.

Accessing the major

risk which is

cleaning the 800

rooms, 88 staff

members would be

required to work

10hr shifts.

PGT campus contracts end before

the student’s dissertation hand in

date each September.

This results in our resident PGT

students handing in their

dissertation early before they

vacate or finding alternative off

campus accommodation during a

busy study period.

Students’ course lengths are

required to be 52 weeks so as not to

affect the visa regulations or

negatively impact on the student

experience.

There are some very major benefits

such as:

PGT students are able to stay on campus until the dissertation submission date.

Positive impact on student experience for PGT students.

Reduction in PGT complaints.

75%

800 students being

offered 37 week

contracts with the

balance (approx.

1000) being offered

38 weeks.

This change would

allow the students to

hand in their

dissertation and then

vacate their room

following day.

APPENDIX A Bye-Law G: Student Assembly

Frequency

1. Student Assembly shall meet 5 times during the academic year. There shall be at least 1

meeting per academic term.

1.1 The schedule of meetings shall be published and agreed at the first Student Assembly meeting

of the academic year.

Membership

2. Student Assembly shall consist of the following directly elected members:

i. The Student Officers;

ii. The Standing Committee Chairs;

iii. Student members of the Executive Committee;

iv. 1 Student Rep Member from each Department of the University; Including LBIC

v. 15 Community Members from the student body at large;

vi. 30 randomly generated students from a variety of colleges and course levels selected as “Jury Members”. These Jury Members shall be different for every meeting and shall act as full voting participants of the meeting;

vii. The Chair of Student Assembly as a non-voting member.

3. All members of Student Assembly must be Full Members of the Union.

4 . Any Member of the Union may attend Student Assembly but only Assembly Members may

vote.

Chairing

5. A Chair shall be elected by a cross campus ballot of full union members. The Chair will be

elected in the spring elections. The Vice-Chair of Student Assembly shall be elected in the first

Student Assembly of the year from amongst the Community and Department members of

Student Assembly.

6. It is the responsibility of the Chair of Student Assembly to ensure the smooth running of

meetings in accordance with Bye-Law L.

7. The Chair shall have no voting right during their term of office. If a vote of Student Assembly

is tied the status quo shall remain.

8. It is the duties of the Vice-Chair to assist and advise the Chair in their capacity. The Vice-Chair

of Student Assembly shall assume the duties of Chair in the absence of Chair. In the absence

of the Chair and Vice Chair, the President shall assume the duties of Chair.

9. If a non-jury member fails to submit unapproved apologies for an absence three times in a

year then that member is considered to have resigned from Student Assembly.

9.1 Apologies must be approved by a vote at the beginning of each Student Assembly

Quoracy

10. It is the responsibility of the Chair to check at the beginning of any Student Assembly meeting

that it is quorate, through a count of those members in attendance.

10.1 If a member believes a meeting to be inquorate they may challenge the decision of the chair

through a procedural motion as outlined in Bye-law L, 53.

11. Student Assembly meetings shall be inquorate if, 5 minutes having passed since the published

time for the beginning of the meeting, fewer than 50%+1 of the elected Assembly Members

are present.

12. If a Student Assembly meeting is inquorate the meeting may continue at the discretion of the

Chair, should there be a desire for discussion and debate. No vote shall take place on the items

discussed. All business will be carried over to the next Student Assembly meeting.

Order of Business

14. It shall be the responsibility of the Chair of Student Assembly and Vice-Chair of Student

Assembly, with support from Democratic Support, will meet to allocate suitable time to each

item on the agenda. This will be done at a time that ensures the agenda can be circulated 5

working days before the meeting in question.

15. The Chair shall ensure that any Student Assembly meeting adhere to its agenda, unless a

relevant Procedural Motion is passed.

16. Printed copies of the meeting agenda, minutes of the previous meeting, and all other papers

shall be available on request.

17. The order of business at Student Assembly meetings shall be:

i. Members present, attendees present, Apologies for Absence;

ii. Minutes of the Previous Meeting;

iii. Matters Arising;

iv. Motions to revoke or amend the Bye-Laws;

v. Motions;

vi. Scrutiny Panel Report;

vii. Officer Reports;

viii. Student Matters;

ix. Urgent Other Business;

18. Urgent Other Business is defined as any item that has arisen since the deadline for agenda

items but that cannot wait to be resolved until the next meeting.

18.1 Urgent Other Business must be submitted 24 hours prior to the meeting, and the Chair will

decide whether to accept the item.

19. Motions to Student Assembly must be submitted in accordance with Clauses 5 to 15 inclusive

of Bye Law K.

Powers

20. Student Assembly shall act as the primary policy setting body of the Union but may ONLY be

overruled by the authority of Referenda, General Meetings or the Trustee Board as outlined

in Bye-Law D, Bye-Law E and Bye-Law A respectively.

21. It is the role of Student Assembly to:

i. Hold the Student Officers to account with advise from the Scrutiny Panel;

ii. Develop and ratify Union Policy;

iii. Create, debate and pass Union Motions;

22. Motions to Student Assembly must be submitted in accordance with Clauses 5 to 15 inclusive

of Bye-Law L.

23. Student Assembly may, by a two-thirds majority:

i. Revoke or amend any Bye-Law of the Constitution;

ii. Pass a Motion of No Confidence against Union Chair, Executive Committee Member, Department Member, or Community Member; this does not include Student Officers.

24. Student Assembly may, by a simple majority:

i. Refer any matter, including revocation of or amendments to the Constitution, to Referendum;

ii. Refer a Motion of No Confidence in a Student Officer to referendum;

iii. Pass a Motion for Policy;

iv. Approve received reports;

v. Require the submission of a report at the next Union Meeting;

vi. Request the attendance of any person at the next Student Assembly;

vii. Mandate any Student Officer, Standing Committee Chair, Executive Committee Member, or Student Assembly Member;

viii. Commend any Student Officer, Standing Committee Chair Executive Committee Member, or Student Assembly Member;

ix. Censure any Student Officer, Standing Committee Chair, Executive Committee Member, or Student Assembly Member.

24.1 Student Assembly - All Policy set by Student Assembly shall apply to the Union, its actions,

officers and all its Elected Representatives but may be superseded by Policy set by General

Meeting or Referenda.

Motions of Commendation, Censure and No Confidence

25. In holding Members to account, the following procedures must be adhered to:

25.1 Motion of Commendation for any Member:

25.1.1 Should it be felt that any Member of Student Assembly has performed their duties to

a high standard or made an important contribution to the Union any other Assembly

Member may submit a Motion of Commendation for that Member.

25.1.2 A Motion of Commendation must be brought to Student Assembly and debated in

accordance to the Standing Orders as set out Bye-Law L of the Constitution.

25.1.3 If passed, the Motion of Commendation shall be noted in the meeting minutes and

on the Assembly Member’s record.

25.2 Motion of Censure against any Member:

24.2.1 Should it be felt that any Member of Student Assembly warrants disciplinary action

but is not deserving of a Motion of No Confidence, any other Assembly Member may

submit a Motion of Censure against them.

25.2.2 A Motion of Censure must be brought to Student Assembly and debated in

accordance to the Standing Orders as set out Bye-Law L of the Constitution.

25.2.3 If passed, the Motion of Censure shall be noted in the meeting minutes and on the

Members record.

25.3 Motion of No Confidence against any Member:

25.3.1 Should it be felt that any Member warrants severe disciplinary action as a result of

continued unsatisfactory performance, misconduct or gross negligence, any other

Assembly Member may submit a Motion of No Confidence against that Member. A

third Motion of Censure within one Academic Year automatically qualifies for a

Motion of No Confidence.

25.3.2 A Motion of No Confidence can only be brought to a Student Assembly, and debated

in accordance with the Standing Orders as set out Bye-Law L of the Constitution.

25.4 Outcomes of Motions of No Confidence

25.4.1 Student Officer:

25.4.1.1 If passed, a Motion of No Confidence against a Student Officer shall be put to a

Referendum as detailed in Bye-Law E of the Constitution. During the period between

the passing of the motion and the Referendum, the Student Officer concerned shall

be suspended from their duties as a Student Officer and Trustee of the Union. Prior

to Referendum it is the responsibility of the Chair of Student Assemble to ensure all

reasonable steps are taken to inform the Membership of the Motion and any relevant

information.

25.4.1.2 If passed by Referendum, a Motion of No Confidence shall immediately dismiss the

Student Officer from duties, bar them from future Union office, and permanently

remove them from their Trustee responsibilities. The vacant Student Officer position

may go to election if appropriate or the responsibilities may be assumed by other

Student Officers as appropriate.

25.4.2 Union Chair, Department Member, Executive Committee Member and Community

Member

25.4.2.1 If passed, a Motion of No Confidence against a Union Chair, Department Member,

Executive Committee Member or Community Member shall immediately dismiss

them from their duties, bar them from future Union Office and positions on Trustee

Board.

25.4.2.2 If a Union, Department Member, Executive Committee Member or Community

Member also holds the position of Student Trustee, a passed Motion of No Confidence

shall result in the same actions as a passed Motion of No Confidence in a Student

Officer.

Select Committees

26. There shall be the following select committees of Student Assembly:

i. Democracy Committee

ii. Appointments Committee

iii. Complaints and Disciplinary Committee

iv. Scrutiny committee

27. Democracy Committee

28.1 Membership

28.1.1 The Democracy Committee shall be chaired by the President;

28.1.2 The Democracy Committee shall have 5 members in addition to the Chair;

28.1.3 The Committees members shall be elected by cross campus ballot;

28.1.3 In the eventuality that a post becomes available on the Committee during the

academic year, this will be filled by election, from amongst the members of Student

Assembly.

28.2 Role and Responsibilities

28.2.1 To create and develop all procedures and regulations for the Unions democratic areas and

processes.

28.2.2 To ensure the committee is accessible and that out members are aware of their role within

the Union.

29. Appointments Committee

29.1 Membership

29.1.1 The Appointments Committee shall be chaired by the Chair of Trustee Board;

29.1.2 The Appointments Committee shall have 3 members in addition to the Chair

29.1.3 The Appointments Committee shall be elected from amongst the members of Student

Assembly who do not currently hold a post within the Union as a Trustee.

29.1.4 The Appointments Committee shall only be elected when there is a need for the

Committee.


29.2.1 Select Independent Trustees for approval by Student Assembly

30. Complaints and Disciplinary Committee

30.1 Membership

30.1.1 The Complaints and Disciplinary Committee shall normally be chaired by the President;

30.1.2 The Complaints and Disciplinary Committee shall have 8 members in addition to the Chair, of

these members 3 will be selected to sit on the Committee on a case by case basis.

30.1.3 The Complaints and Disciplinary Committee shall be elected from amongst Student Assembly

members.


30.2.1 As outlined in Bye-law N and O.

31. Scrutiny Committee

31.1 Membership

31.1.1 The Scrutiny Committee shall be chaired by the Chair of Student Assembly;

31.1.2 The Scrutiny Committee shall have 8 members in addition to the Chair

31.1.3 The Scrutiny Committee shall be elected from amongst the Community and Department

members of Student Assembly.


31.2.1 As outlined in Bye-law L

Electronic Voting

32. The Chair of Student Assembly, with the assistance of an identified member of Union staff,

may implement the use of electronic voting systems.

32.1 Electronic voting systems may be used within or outside of the meeting so long as the

eligible voters are able to access the systems.

32.2 In the case of electronic voting outside of the meeting at least 48 hours of notice must be

given and the ballot must be open for a minimum of 3 working days.

32.3 If the ballot taking place is an election for subcommittees of student assembly there will be a

nomination period of 5 working days prior to the ballot.

32.4 Any complaints received regarding the use of electronic voting will be addressed by the

Democracy Committee.

Bye-law S:

Accountability Open Forum

Frequency 1. The accountability open forum will take place 3 times during the academic year. There shall

be at least 1 meeting per academic term. 1.1 The schedule of meetings shall be published and agreed at the first Student Assembly meeting

of the academic year. Membership 2. Any Member of the Union may attend the open forum and speak. 3. The Executive Committee members are required to attend the meeting in order to be held

accountable. Chairing 4. It is the responsibility of the Chair of Student Assembly to ensure the smooth running of

meetings. The Vice-Chair of Student Assembly shall assume the duties of Chair in the absence of Chair.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Accountability Open Forum 5. The Accountability Open Forum is responsible for holding the Executive Officers

accountable. 5.1 The Chair may refer members to the commendation, censure and no confidence processes if

they deem it to be necessary 5.2 The scrutiny panel may make recommendations to Student Assembly following points raised

by members in the forum. Process 5. There are no quoracy requirements for this meeting. 6. A record of the meeting will be taken and published within 5 working days following the

forum. 7. Apologies from the Executive Committee members must be received at least 48 hours prior

to the meeting. Failure to submit apologies will trigger a censure vote in the following Student Assembly.

Conduct

8. It is the responsibility of the Chair to maintain order in the forum, and to ensure that the time allowed is not exceeded.

9. The Chair may close the meeting or adjourn the meeting for up to 10 minutes if they believe

it not to be in order. 10. The Chair may expel any attendee from a meeting for failure to adhere to its rules. 11. All attendees at the forum shall abide by the Union Constitution, Bye-Laws, and Policies.

12. At the forum the following speaking rules shall apply: 13. When any attendee speaks in order then all other attendees shall be silent; 14. Any attendee wishing to speak shall seek permission to do so from the Chair by raising their

hand; 15. No person shall speak until the Chair grants permission to do so; 16. The Chair shall decide the order of speaking; 17. At the request of the Chair each speaker shall introduce themselves before proceeding to

speak; 18. If the Chair requests a speaker to stop speaking they must do so.

APPENDIX B Bye-Law M: Student Assembly

Bye-Law M:

Democracy Committee

Membership

1. The Democracy committee shall be made up of 8 members, elected from the community and

department representatives within Student Assembly. The Chair of Student Assembly shall be

a member of the committee. Executive Committee members and Officers cannot sit on this

committee.

2. Election of the democracy committee shall take place in the first assembly of the academic

year, and bye-elections for any vacated posts shall take place as and when needed.

2.1 Members of this committee shall retain their seat until the first student assembly of the

following academic year, so long as they are still full members of the Union.

Frequency

3. The Democracy committee shall meet at least twice a term

4. The Chair of the Democracy Committee is responsible for ensuring that meetings are held in

line with this Bye-Law. If the Chair is unable to fulfil this responsibility it shall pass to the Vice-

Chair of the Democracy Committee.

Chairing

5. The Democracy committee shall be chaired by the Chair of Student Assembly. In the absence

of the chair a nominated member of the committee shall chair.

6. The Vice-Chair of Committee shall be elected from amongst the Democracy committee

members in the first meeting of the academic year.

Powers

7. The Democracy Committee shall have the following responsibilities:

a. Scrutiny of Elected Officers

b. To create and develop all procedures and regulations for the Unions democratic areas

and processes.

c. To ensure the committee is accessible and that ort members are aware of their role

within the Union.

d. Oversight of the Unions election processes

7.1 Quoracy shall be 50%+1 of the committee members, not including the Chair.

Scrutiny of Elected Officers

8. To scrutinise the following elected posts:

a. Executive Committee members

b. Student Officers

8.1 The elected roles will be scrutinised in three areas:

a. Remit

b. Policy

c. Manifesto

8.2 Each student officer shall submit a written report to the Student Assembly Accountability

meeting which will be provided to the Democracy committee along with minutes from the

standing committee meetings and the executive committee meetings.

8.3 The Chair shall have the power to determine whether questions are appropriate, and ensure

the relevant representatives are invited to the meeting to answer any questions.

8.4 Reports and minutes shall be circulated to the committee members 5 working days prior to

the meeting

8.5 If an Elected Representative performance is deemed unsatisfactory by the Democracy

Committee, the scrutineers have the power to:

i. Advise Student Assembly to not pass the report ii. Submit a motion of Censure to Student Assembly

iii. Submit a Motion of No Confidence to Student Assembly, which shall be conducted in line with Bye-Law E.

8.5.1 The committees reasoning for such action shall be submitted to Student Assembly in

the form of a report.

8.6 If the work conducted by and Elected Representative is found to be satisfactory by the

Democracy Committee, the scrutineers have the power to:

i. Advise Student Assembly to pass the report

8.7 In the case of exemplary work by an Elected Representative the committee may submit a

motion of commendation to Student Assembly.

8.8. Democracy Committee members shall either accept or reject reports; there will be no

opportunity to abstain.

8.9. All recommendations will be voted upon at Student Assembly, and this will form the only

process of appeal.

Elections and Referenda

9. The Democracy committee shall approve the rules and processes for any upcoming elections.

10. The Democracy committee shall appoint a subcommittee to oversee the Union elections and

any referenda during the nomination and voting period; Election and Referenda Committee

10.1 Membership of this subcommittee shall consist of;

i. The Union President or another Officer nominated by Student Assembly

ii. Chief Executive of the Union

iii. All eligible members of the existing Democracy Committee (Members cannot be

actively involved in an election or referenda process)

10.2 Any vacant posts on this committee shall be filled from the members of Student Assembly. In

the case of the Autumn elections members of the Executive Committee may be called upon

to fill any vacant seats.

10.3 The powers of this committee are outlined in Bye-law B, clause 15.

Unions Democracy

11. The Democracy committee shall create and develop all procedures and regulations for the

Unions democratic areas and processes and ensure the Union is accessible and that our

members are aware of their role within it.

11.1 Members of the committee may formally consult students and elected Officials to ensure the

Union is achieving these objectives.

11.2 The Democracy Committee shall be consulted on all potential changes to the Democracy and

Bye-laws of the Union.

11.3 Democracy Committee shall make recommendations for change to the Student Assembly or

General Meeting.

st November 2018 1. Attendance and Apologies · AGENDA Student Assembly Date: Thursday 1st November 2018 1. Attendance and Apologies 2. Minutes of the previous meeting –Thursday

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