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Lapsed Policy – Out of date policies

Trustee Code of Conduct – 14 May 2012, Union Council (Ref: 1112P18)

This Union Notes

1. Existing policy creating a Trustee Code of Conduct [Code of Conduct for Trustees- 18 October 2002: Ratified 11 June 2007, 13th June 2011, Union Council (Ref: 0203P1)]
2. Changes in charity legislation since 2002
3. The incorporation of SUSU as a company limited by guarantee

This Union Believes

1. That the Code of Conduct for trustees should reflect current good practice.
2. Our trustees should operate to the highest standards

This Union Resolves

1. To replace the previous Trustee Declaration included within the code of conduct for SUSU trustees with the attached
2. To require each member of Trustee Board to sign the Trustee Declaration and in doing so commit to working to the Nolan Principles.
3. That anyone who is either unable or unwilling to sign the declaration may not be a trustee.

Recognition of International Identification – 14 May 2012, Union Council (Ref: 1112P17)

This Union Notes

1. That a number of supermarkets and local shops in Southampton will not accept international students’ ID as proof of age due to licensing guidelines
2. That international students may be unable to purchase age restricted  items from local shops as a result of these guidelines
3. That many international students are having to carry around their passports to ensure that they have proof of age and these are costly to replace if lost
4. That the University have previously spoken about including an identification hologram on student ID cards at a meeting of Safer Students Forum

This Union Believes

1. That SUSU should be working to support international students so that they can purchase age restricted products from local stores without the worry that their ID will not be accepted
2. That SUSU should set an example for local businesses by leading the way on accepting international student IDs
3. That the University should be lobbied about this issue
4. That students at the University should be treated equally both within the University and externally by, for example, businesses and UK law

This Union Resolves

1. To lobby the University to include an identification hologram on student ID cards
2. To ensure that SUSU takes the lead in accepting international student IDs where possible
3. To start a dialogue with local businesses about accepting international student IDs and lobby them to start doing so
4. To ensure that information is given to international students about identification before they arrive in the UK

HMOs and the Article 4 Direction – 14 May 2012, Union Council (Ref: 1112P16)

This Union Notes

1.    From the 23^rd March 2012, Southampton City Council introduced a city wide Article 4 Direction where landlords must now apply for planning permission to convert a family home into a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO)

2.    That Southampton City Council have posed a 20% constraint on the numbers of HMOs across the City, but in the areas of Portswood, Bassett and Swaythling a 10% constraint has been applied

3.    That the reasons stated for applying the Article 4 Direction is to do with imbalanced communities, anti-social behaviour and environmental impact,  amongst others

4.    That the Article 4 Direction policy is accompanied by a standards document which landlords have to comply with to receive planning permission

5.    That Southampton City Council claim that the Article 4 Direction will help to drive up standards in HMOs

Union Believes

1.    That posing a 10% constraint in the areas of Portswood, Bassett and Swaythling victimises students that attend the University of Southampton

2.    That the standards document accompanied with the Article 4 Direction policy should include more of the SASSH standards which were written and agreed by the University of Southampton, Southampton Solent University, Southampton City Council and local landlords

3.    That this policy may lead to an increase in rental prices for students as landlords will be limited in how many more properties they can build or renovate

This Union Resolves

1.    To engage students in lobbying Southampton City Council on making the 20% constraint across the whole City, including Portswood, Bassett and Swaythling

2.    To lobby Southampton City Council to include more of the SASSH standards in their standards document to ensure that an improvement in the standards of HMOs is seen

3.    To ensure a regular dialogue is held with Southampton City Council about the implementation of the Article 4 Direction and how standards are enforced

4.    To lobby landlords to keep rental prices at a reasonable level should they begin to increase as a result of this policy

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HMOs (House in Multiple Occupation) and the Article 4 Direction

Union Notes:

1.    From the 23^rd March 2012, Southampton City Council introduced a city wide Article 4 Direction where landlords must now apply for planning permission to convert a family home into a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO)

2.    That Southampton City Council have posed a 20% constraint on the numbers of HMOs across the City, but in the areas of Portswood, Bassett and Swaythling a 10% constraint has been applied

3.    That the reasons stated for applying the Article 4 Direction is to do with imbalanced communities, anti-social behaviour and environmental impact,  amongst others

4.    That the Article 4 Direction policy is accompanied by a standards document which landlords have to comply with to receive planning permission

5.    That Southampton City Council claim that the Article 4 Direction will help to drive up standards in HMOs

Union Believes:

1.    That posing a 10% constraint in the areas of Portswood, Bassett and Swaythling victimises students that attend the University of Southampton

2.    That the standards document accompanied with the Article 4 Direction policy should include more of the SASSH standards which were written and agreed by the University of Southampton, Southampton Solent University, Southampton City Council and local landlords

3.    That this policy may lead to an increase in rental prices for students as landlords will be limited in how many more properties they can build or renovate

Union Resolves:

1.    To engage students in lobbying Southampton City Council on making the 20% constraint across the whole City, including Portswood, Bassett and Swaythling

2.    To lobby Southampton City Council to include more of the SASSH standards in their standards document to ensure that an improvement in the standards of HMOs is seen

3.    To ensure a regular dialogue is held with Southampton City Council about the implementation of the Article 4 Direction and how standards are enforced

4.    To lobby landlords to keep rental prices at a reasonable level should they begin to increase as a result of this policy

Engagement and Involvement Focus – 2 May 2012, AGm (Ref: 1112P15)

This Union Notes

1.       That SUSU is one of the most active Students’ Unions in the country with a high turnout in elections each year.

2.       SUSU engages with thousands of students everyday through a variety of activities and services.

3.       Not every student who engages with SUSU really knows what SUSU is about.

4.       The Board of Trustees is in the process of drafting a Membership Engagement Strategy to increase overall student engagement in SUSU.

This Union Believes

1. That we should “be at the heart of University life, fully engaged with all of our key audiences and supporting our members”.
2. That SUSU can do more to increase its relationships with less engaged students
3. That SUSU should do more to understand why some students don’t actively get involved with the Students’ Union.
4. There should be someone to take a lead in tackling the issue of getting more people involved with SUSU, leading an in-depth and joined approach to fully understand the complex issues in this area.

This Union Mandates:

1. The VP Student Engagement to setup a group to lead a review and research into the overall involvement of students with SUSU to compliment the Engagement Strategy.
2. SUSU Trustee Board to work with the group and give an update at each Union council meeting throughout the academic year 2012-13 about the progress on the research.
3. The Trustee Board to present the finalised research by the final Union Council of the academic year 2012-13

Reforming the Role of Union Council Chair – 2 May, AGM (Ref: 1112P13)

This Union Notes

1. There is a lack of written guidance about the role and responsibilities of Union Council Chair.
2. Union Council has suffered from a lack of engagement and involvement by elected and non-elected members. A number of meetings have been inquorate during the current academic year.
3. There is currently no suitable mechanism in place to ensure Sabbatical Officers (or others responsible) implement Union Council policies. The current medium is through disciplinary procedures.
4. Union Council is one of the highest policy-making bodies within the Union thus an important place for scrutiny of Union procedures and Sabbatical Officers.

This Union Believes

1. Council Chair should be a champion of Union Council, speaking on behalf of council members when holding Sabbatical Officers to account
2. In the interests of impartiality and separating the Sabbatical Officers from the body which holds them to account, responsibility for publicity of Union Council meetings should be transferred from the VP Communications to the Chair
3. The Council Chair should not be charged solely with the order and speed of Union Council Meetings but also its effectiveness, integrity and overall success
   1. Whilst it is the Chair’s responsibility to keep and ensure progress during the course of meetings, the Chair is accountable to Union members and should not seek to control meetings entirely at their own discretion

This Union Resolves:

1. Require Constitution Committee to implement constitutional chances to the effect that:

(a)      The role of Chair should include responsibility for the unbiased publicity of: the development of the agenda prior to Union Council meetings; providing all relevant details of all meetings, including agenda, locations, dates and times etc.; all decisions and outcomes made during Council meetings.

(b)      Under the direction of Council members, be charged with ensuring the implementation of Union policy by Sabbatical Officers, guaranteeing their accountability to Council, including mandating Sabbatical Officers to explain their actions/inaction to Council on specific policy issues

(c)       Any decision to restrict the length of any Council meeting or any part within it must be subject to a vote by Council Members

Referendum on NUS Affiliation – 2 May, AGM (Ref: 1112P14)

This Union Notes

1. SUSU left the National Union of Students (NUS) in 2002. This decision was made at the Annual General Meeting on 14 May 2002
2. In the autumn term 2010 a referendum was held on whether or not the Union should be a member of the NUS. This was the first referendum on the subject since 1999
3. The NUS has gone through a period of change, and has set out a new strategy for improvement over the coming years
4. The wide variety of student groups who are engaged in campaigning and activism who would benefit from linking up with national campaigns
5. The radical changes to the higher education sector over the past two years, and the strong mandate from Union Council and AGM to campaign nationally on these issues.

Useful Links:

The 2002 AGM NUS disaffiliation motion

The 2010 policy calling for a referendum

2010 referendum information website

NUS Strategic Plan

This Union Believes

1. Over the last two years the landscape of higher education, the structure of SUSU, and the structure of the NUS have to varying degrees changed
2. Over the last two years a large portion of our student population in Southampton has changed
3. It is fair and democratic to ask the question to all students whether or not under these new conditions SUSU should be affiliated to the NUS
4. A referendum should be held towards the end of autumn term of the 2012-13 academic year. The process should not be rushed, and both sides of the debate allowed time to develop.
5. Facts and figures linked to affiliation should be compiled and verified by a body independent of both SUSU and the NUS
6. The financial implications of affiliation should be considered by the Trustee Board, which would also provide a steer on the impact it would have on the Union as an organisation.

This Union Resolves

1. To hold the referendum towards the end of the Autumn term of the academic year 2012/13
2. If SUSU does affiliate then the question should be put to the student body again within three years

This Union Mandates:

1. Elections Committee to conduct the referendum which would ask the question “Should the University of Southampton Students’ Union (SUSU) be affiliated to the NUS?”
2. The Trustee Board to appoint an external body, independent of both SUSU and the NUS, to verify the facts and figures linked to affiliation, e.g. potential savings through NUSSL
3. The Trustee Board to evaluate the impact on SUSU both financially and as an organisation.

SUSU Media Code Of Conduct- 23 April 2012, Union Council (Ref: 1112P10)

This Union Notes

1. The policy motion brought to Council on the 13^th June 2011, “Wessex Scene Editorial Flexibility”
2. The minutes of 13^th June 2011 referring that motion to media committee “the issue ought to draw on the expertise of other qualified individuals and that other Media departments would value the opportunity to be involved in drafting the Media guidelines.”
3. A code of conduct has been drafted by VP Communications in consultation with Media Committee as well as writers and producers from each department.
4. It has been approved by Media Committee.
5. Previous to this Code of Conduct it has been down to the Vice President Communications as Editor in Chief and Director General to approve all content which often leads to unresolved disagreements between various members of the media department.

This Union Believes

1. It is important to have a clear code for all the members of the media departments to work to.
2. Although part of the Students’ Union it is important for the media departments to have a strong independent voice in the interest of free speech and to challenge the work of officers.
3. Equally it is important for the media departments to work within the law and to a strict code to ensure the highest standards of practise and protect the union as the legal entity responsible for the media departments.

This Union Resolves

1. To adopt the attached SUSU Media code of Conduct as a policy of the Union.
2. To mandate the media student leaders to circulate and inform all members of the code of conduct in time for the start of the 2012/13 academic year.

SUSU Media Code of Conduct

General code

1. SUSU Media shall consist of the media departments as defined by Media Committee bye-laws. Currently “Surge Radio” (radio station), “SUSUtv” (television station), “Wessex Scene” (magazine), and “The Edge” (entertainment magazine).
2. Members of SUSU Media shall consist of all SUSU members who have completed a media contract as described by Media Committee bye-laws.

Members of SUSU media are required to abide by the following professional principles:

Accuracy

SUSU media must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information, including pictures.

A significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distortion once recognised must be corrected promptly and with due prominence, and – where appropriate – an apology published.

Content must distinguish clearly between comment, conjecture and fact.

“The voice of opponents no less than of friends has a right to be heard. It is well to be frank; it is even better to be fair” (CP Scott, 1921). The more serious the criticism or allegations we are reporting the greater the obligation to allow the subject the opportunity to respond. We must always seek to give a right to reply especially in cases involving the Students’ Union or University.

Privacy

Everyone is entitled to respect for his or her private and family life, home, health and correspondence, including digital communications.

Editors will be expected to justify intrusions into any individuals private life without consent. Account will be taken of the complainant’s own public disclosures of information.

It is unacceptable to photograph individuals in private places without their consent.

Note – Private places are public or private property where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Harassment

Members must not engage in intimidation, harassment or persistent pursuit.

They must not persist in questioning, telephoning, pursuing or photographing individuals once asked to desist; nor remain on their property when asked to leave and must not follow them. If requested, they must identify themselves and whom they represent.

Editors/Producers must ensure these principles are observed by those working for them and take care not to use non-compliant material from other sources.

Intrusion into grief or shock

In cases involving personal grief or shock, enquiries and approaches must be made with sympathy and discretion and publication handled sensitively. This should not restrict the right to report legal proceedings, such as inquests.

When reporting suicide, care should be taken to avoid excessive detail about the method used.

Hospitals

Journalists must identify themselves and obtain permission from a responsible executive before entering non-public areas of hospitals or similar institutions to pursue enquiries.

The restrictions on intruding into privacy are particularly relevant to enquiries about individuals in hospitals or similar institutions.

Reporting of Crime

Reporting of crime is covered by the Contempt of Court Act which has strict restrictions on what can or cannot be reported.

In addition, relatives or friends of persons convicted or accused of crime should not generally be identified without their consent, unless they are genuinely relevant to the story.

Clandestine devices and subterfuge

SUSU media must not seek to obtain or publish material acquired by using hidden cameras or clandestine listening devices; or by intercepting private or mobile telephone calls, messages or emails; or by the unauthorised removal of documents or photographs; or by accessing digitally-held private information without consent.

Engaging in misrepresentation or subterfuge, including by agents or intermediaries, can generally be justified only in the public interest and then only when the material cannot be obtained by other means.

Personal content from Facebook, such as photos or quotes, can only be used if in the public interest and if the content is set to public. If a user has closed privacy settings then content cannot be used.

Twitter is in the public domain, therefore content from here can be used.  Members are reminded that photo’s and video’s will still be subject to copyright law.

Victims of sexual assault

SUSU media must not identify victims of sexual assault or publish material likely to contribute to such identification unless there is adequate justification and they are legally free to do so.

Discrimination

SUSU media must avoid prejudicial or pejorative reference to an individuals race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or to any physical or mental illness or disability.

Details of an individual’s race, colour, religion, sexual orientation, physical or mental illness or disability must be avoided unless genuinely relevant to the story.

Confidential sources

Members have a moral obligation to protect confidential sources of information.

Copy approval

The general rule is that no one should be given the right to copy approval. In certain circumstances we may allow people to see copy or quotes but we are not required to alter copy. SUSU Media should avoid offering copy approval as a method of securing interviews or co-operation.

Direct quotations

Should not be changed to alter their context or meaning.

Language

No swearing is to be used in front facing content whereby a person has not actively engaged in consuming the content, such as on the cover of any printed material on public display, an outside broadcast or headlines that could appear on the www.susu.org home page.

Aside from front facing content, the Wessex Scene, The Edge, Surge and SUSUtv will each have their own individual policies on use of harmful or offensive language based on their differing audiences and the way in which these audiences consume content.

As a general point, consideration should be given by editors/managers of each department on the context the language is being used in and the strength of the words used. For consistency across departments we will refer to the BBC Guidelines on use of potentially offensive language when making these decisions.

These guidelines can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/editorialguidelines/page/guidelines-harm-language

Payment

SUSU media does not pay for stories, except from bonafide freelance sources. A list of current subscriptions is kept in the appendices of this policy

Plagiarism

SUSU Media students must not reproduce other people’s material without attribution. The source of published material obtained from another organisation should be acknowledged including quotes taken from other newspaper articles. By-lines should be carried only on material that is substantially the work of the by-lined journalist. If an article contains a significant amount of agency copy then the agency should be credited.

Suicide

Journalists are asked to exercise particular care in reporting suicide or issues involving suicide, bearing in mind the risk of encouraging others. This should be borne in mind both in presentation, including the use of pictures, and in describing the method of suicide. Any substances should be referred to in general rather than specific terms if possible. When appropriate a helpline number should be given (eg Samaritans 08457 90 90 90). The feelings of relatives should also be carefully considered.

Freedom

At all times uphold and defend the principle of media freedom, the right of freedom of expression and the right of the public to be informed.

Legal

All content must adhere to all aspects of UK law, paying particular attention to the restrictions on freedom of speech and also licensing issues and laws when broadcasting content. There is very specific legalisation detailing reporting of crime and prosecutions which is covered by the Contempt of Court Act. Editors and producers have a responsibility to alert their respective Student Leader Editors and Station Managers about content which could fall outside of the law, who will seek guidance from the Editor in Chief. (See appendix for outline of main legal considerations).
Constitutional

All members of SUSU Media must adhere to the Students’ Union Constitution in all of the work they do. Whilst editorially SUSU Media is independent in most cases, there are a small number of Students’ Union policies which restrict what the media departments can cover. All new policy proposals should explicitly state when they intend to restrict what the media departments can cover.

Currently editorial is restricted by:
- Elections Committee and the election rules set down by it.
- Staff Student Protocol Agreement: http://blogs.susu.org/policy/2011/09/02/staff-student-protocol-agreement/#content

Regarding the Staff Student Protocol, similar considerations should be given to University staff and any requests for interviews, quotes etc should be directed through the appropriate channels, for example the University’s press team.

If in any doubt, advice/permission should be sought from the Union President before material in question is published.

Impartiality

SUSU Media should aim for impartiality when reporting news and must remain impartial when reporting on Students’ Union elections.

However SUSU Media should also be a place whereby debate, comment and opinion are welcome. Opinion pieces must be clearly marked as so, and the following disclaimer used at the base of the piece “This article is opinion only, and in no way reflects the view of the entire editorial team or of SUSU as an organisation.”

SUSU Elections

SUSU Media must adhere to rules for reporting as set down by SUSU Elections Committee. Disagreements between Elections Committee and Media Committee should be resolved in a pragmatic manner and if this is not possible they will be resolved through Union Council.

The Public Interest

There may be exceptions to the clauses outlined above, where they can be demonstrated to be in the public interest.

1. The public interest includes, but is not confined to:
i) Detecting or exposing crime or serious impropriety.
ii) Protecting public health and safety.
iii) Preventing the public from being misled by an action or statement of an individual or organisation.

2. There is a public interest in freedom of expression itself.

3. Whenever the public interest is invoked, the Editor in Chief will require editors to demonstrate fully that they reasonably believe that publication, or journalistic activity undertaken with a view to publication, would be in the public interest.

4. The Editor in Chief will consider the extent to which material is already in the public domain, or will become so.

Ensuring SUSU Media acts responsibly

Editorial decisions shall lie with the Editor or Station Manager of the relevant department. The Editor or Station Manager shall follow the above professional principles in any editorial decision that they take. The Editor or Station Manager will be responsible for ensuring all committee members and other students adhere to the professional principles before their work is published or broadcast.

The Editor in Chief or Director General (currently Vice President Communications) is responsible for final approval of all material published or broadcast. They can prevent publication or broadcast of all material which they judge breaks the professional principles and in doing so will have final interpretation of the professional principles.

The Editor or Station Manager may challenge the ruling of the Editor in Chief at Media Committee. To do so they must submit a complaint in writing (physical or email) to the Secretary of Media Committee, who will then place it on the agenda for the next scheduled meeting or at an emergency session if called for by over 50% of the voting members.

If the Editor in Chief is also the chair of Media Committee they will step down for the duration of the debate and vote.

Media Committee will hear from both sides and then take a vote on whether the content falls outside of the professional principles as above. In making their decision members of the committee will only consider an item acceptable if all of the above principles are met.

If the committee finds that the Editor in Chief was in error when restricting the publication they will issue an apology to the Editor/Station Manager concerned.

House Rules of the Media Departments

Students using SUSU media resources will adhere to the following conditions:

• Ensure that all equipment is used responsibly and correctly, for its intended purpose, and that it is left in a condition that you would expect to receive it.
• Ensure that anything found not to be in working order is reported to a member of the relevant committee.
• Any member shall be responsible for the conduct of any guest on air or being interviewed.
• Any member shall not go on-air at any time (for Surge and SUSUtv) or publish online content (all departments) without the prior approval of a member of a relevant committee member.
• Any member shall not promote or endorse excessive drinking, nor any illegal activity such as drug taking or theft.
• The collection and return of studio keys to and from the Students’ Union reception shall be solely borrowers responsibility. Any member who loses a key will be required to pay a replacement charge of £10.
• All content produced using Student Union equipment or published on a Student Union held website shall be sole property of SUSU and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License
• Members participating in a Surge Radio FM or AM broadcast certify that “I am not disqualified under the Broadcasting Act (1996) from participating in a licensed radio service.”

Students should also note that each department has an individual code of conduct and set of rules that must be adhered to.

Discipline

Any disciplinary action taken as a result of this code of conduct, or individual department codes of conduct, being broken are to be agreed at media department committee level except in cases of a serious breach where cases may be escalated to Media Committee/ Disciplinary Committee.

Complaints

Any Complaint received will be immediately forwarded to the department Student Leader (Editor/ Manager) as well as the Vice President Communications (Editor in Chief / Director General).

Complaints will be reviewed alongside these guidelines to determine the nature of the complaint and whether it should be upheld.

Once a resolution is reached, it will be shared with the relevant parties and Media committee. If a complaint is upheld an apology should be issued if deemed appropriate. If there is no resolution the matter will be taken to Media Committee
Each website and physical publication will have at minimum, contact details for Vice President Communications and Editor or Station Manager, and information stating that complaints should be addressed to them.

Appendix 1 – Payments for News

SUSU Media currently pays for news services provided by IRN (Independent Radio News) for the purpose of providing hourly news updates for Surge Radio broadcasts.

Standing Committee Structure Review – 23 April, Union Council (Ref: 1112P12)

This Union Notes

1. Union Policies from 31st January 2011 that restructured the Executive team into the current Sabbatical and Student Leader Structure.

Sabbatical: http://blogs.susu.org/policy/2011/01/31/sabbatical-officer-job-descriptions/#content

Student Leader: http://blogs.susu.org/policy/2011/01/31/executive-role-review/#content

2. Union Policy that reviewed and changed how Council works.

reviewed: http://blogs.susu.org/policy/2011/03/14/union-council-review-2/#content

changed:      http://blogs.susu.org/policy/2011/10/24/union-council-review-4/#content

3. The following excerpts from Standing Order 3:

“The Union implements its plans and policies through Standing Committees, who act on behalf of union Council”

“The following Standing Committees shall exist:

Athletic Union Committee

Constitution Committee

Education Committee

Elections Committee

Environmental and Ethical Committee

International Committee

Junior Common Room (JCRs) Committee

Media Committee

Postgraduate Students Committee

RAG Committee

Societies Committee

Welfare Committee

Winchester Executive Committee”

4. Performing Arts Committee exists as a Sub-committee of Societies Committee outlined in the Societies Committee by-laws.

5. Some areas of SUSU activity are not represented in the current governance structure. i.e Union Films Committee.

This Union Believes

1. The current standing committee structure may not be the most efficient way of implementing council’s plans and policies.

2. The support needs of Performing Arts are considerably different to that of Societies.

3. Following the restructure of the Sabbaticals and Student Leaders positions a natural progression is to review the current standing committees and how they report to council.

This Union Resolves

1. To mandate the VP Communications to lead a review of the standing committee structure and to bring a report to the first council of academic year 2012/13.

Extra-Curricular Timetabling- 23 April, Union Council (Ref: 1112P11)

This Union Notes

1. That students at the University of Southampton are primarily here to get a degree.
2. Students may miss lectures/tutorials/labs/seminars due to mitigating circumstances/for valid reason.
3. that SUSU clubs and societies are highly successful and compete frequently
4. that clubs and societies are affiliates of SUSU, not owned by SUSU, and can organise trips and events of their own accord.
5. Students can seek advice from the advice centre where necessary.

This Union Believes

1. That students are mature and responsible enough to make fully informed decisions and manage their own timetable.
2. That it boosts the reputation of SUSU and the University to have our clubs and societies competing nationally
3. It is beneficial for students to participate in extracurricular activities as well as perform well in their degree.
4. SUSU has a moral responsibility for not hindering a person’s degree by organising events for students that may mean students miss a substantial amount of time from classes.
5. Students should consult the relevant staff, make sure they are familiar with their programme/course requirements and check University Calendar 2011/12 Section IV : Attendance and Completion of Programme Requirements.

This Union Resolves

1. SUSU will not dictate whether students should or shouldn’t miss lectures.
2. In the case of an event or trip carrying no significant benefit for the student and severely clashes with lectures, SUSU can advise student groups on how organise such an event, but will not provide significant staff time and resource in organising the event or trip for them
3. Students seeking to organise an event that clashes with lectures and is outside core club and society activity will be advised to speak to the Advice Centre.

VP Student Engagement Description – 23 April 2012, Union Council (Ref: 1112P9)

This Union Notes

The Constitution currently reads:

7.1      Support student-led groups:

(a)     Supporting the Societies Officer in implementing a strategy for the development of Union affiliated societies

(b)     Supporting Raise and Give (RAG) in co-ordinating charitable activities that engage students

(c)      Working with the relevant officers to support and develop individual JCR committees

(d)     Working with the relevant officers to support and develop Student Enterprise

(e)     Developing and implementing a plan for the Performing Arts’ societies with the relevant officers and staff and the way in which this student group can impact on our students and local communities

7.2         Create partnerships to provide more opportunities for our student groups:

(a)  Taking a lead in organising key events throughout the year that allow student groups to demonstrate their talents and skills

(b) Developing relationships with the local community to broaden the experiences of our student groups

This Union Resolves

The constitution will be changed to:

7.1         “Support student-led groups:

(a)  Supporting Raise and Give (RAG) in co-ordinating charitable activities that engage students

(b) Working with the relevant officers to support and develop individual JCR committees

7.2         Support affiliated student-led groups

(a)  Supporting the Societies Officer in implementing a strategy for the development of Union affiliated societies

(b) Supporting the Student Enterprise Officer in implementing a strategy for the development of affiliated Student Enterprise groups

(c)  Developing and implementing a plan for the affiliated Performing Arts’ societies with the relevant officers and staff and the way in which this student group can impact on our students and local communities

7.3         Create partnerships to provide more opportunities for our student groups:

(a)  Taking a lead in organising key events throughout the year that allow student groups to demonstrate their talents and skills

(b) Developing relationships with the local community to broaden the experiences of our student groups

7.4         Support the following Student Leaders

(a)  Junior Common Room (JCRs) Officer

(b) Performing Arts Officer

(c)  Raise and Give (RAG) Officer

(d)  Societies Officer

(e)  Student Enterprise Officer

(f)   Union Films Cinema Manager “