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.

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.

SUSU and UCU (University and College Union) Strike Action – 21 November 2011, Union Council (Ref: 1112P5)

Union Notes

1. Current policy D4.5 states that “Southampton University Students’ Union opposes any increase or lifting of the current cap on top-up fees in England and  Wales”.
2. That the increase in tuition fees is only one part of the Higher Education White Paper which will result in the teaching budgets in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences being cut by at least 80%; part of an overall cut in the Higher Education Budget of £2.9 billion.
3. Thatthe University and College Union (UCU) state in their response to the White Paper that “Rather than improving the student experience these reforms will undermine academic quality and standards in higher education” and that “the greatest threat to the quality of teaching will be lack of public investment”.
4. That a large part of the motivation for UCU industrial action on 30th November are the cuts in the teaching and overall Higher Education budget.
5. UCU strongly believes that the cuts in teaching and the Higher
   Education budget will have a detrimental effect on students at Southampton
   University.

Union Believes

1. That all our members, irrespective of which subject they are studying, deserve the highest quality teaching and support throughout their time at Southampton.
2. That the teaching that our lecturers undertake is vital for the future success of our educational development and as such teaching at the University needs to be adequately funded not cut by 80%.
3. That the proposals in the White Paper will have a detrimental effect on students’ learning during their time at Southampton
4. That the Union should fully inform its members of the consequences of the White Paper.
5. That our lecturers and UCU need our support, as students, in their opposition to the White Paper.

Union Resolves

1. That we should, on behalf of our members, campaign to oppose the cuts in the  teaching budget being proposed in the Higher Education White Paper.
2. That SUSU should inform students about any changes being made to Higher Education and any action being taken against them.
3. That, subject to Union Council approval, we should support our lecturers and UCU in any industrial action that doesn’t have a severe adverse effect on the student experience and that tries to protect the quality of teaching at Southampton University.

Union Mandates

1. For the President to work with the VP Academic Affairs on ensuring that SUSU campaigns against the cuts being proposed to Higher Education in the White Paper.
2. For Education Committee to be responsible for taking a lead on informing students about future industrial action, and if mandated to do so, advertising SUSU’s support of any action.

Supporting the Military Education Committee (MEC) in Future Event Planning and Promotion – 13 June 2011, Union Council (Ref: 1011P18)

Union Notes

1. Southampton University maintains four student military organisations and is one of only two UK Universities with all four such organisations (SUOTC, SURNU, SUAS, DTUS).
2. These organisations accept members from all five local Universities (Southampton, Southampton Solent, Bournemouth, Winchester and Portsmouth)^[1].
3. Upon joining one of these organisations (with the exception of DTUS) there is no obligation to join the armed forces upon graduation.
4. As of December 2010, this represents 444 students from all five universities, 302 of whom are University of Southampton students/SUSU members (68.2% of total)^[2].
5. Southampton University’s stated aim is to promote “Awareness of social, civic and environmental responsibilities” as part of one of its graduate attributes^[3].
6. The Southampton Military Education Committee (MEC); as an open forum for the organisations and the universities, cannot publicise its own events to the wider student body^[4].
7. Current SUSU policy^[5] states that the union is opposed to engaging with Arms Companies, yet SUSU still promotes University Career Destinations’ events to which these companies attend.

Union Believes

1. Publicising MEC events to students will be beneficial to the student body and will encourage debate on national issues.
2. Publicising MEC events would heighten the profile of the university military organisations within the student body.
3. Improving access to MEC Events will help the university fulfil its obligations under its own graduate attributes.
4. SUSU may be opposed to military actions undertaken by the UK, but this should not prevent SUSU helping to fulfil the civilian “side” of the military covenant.

Union Resolves

1. SUSU will undertake to help publicise events organised by the MEC through either the Academic Affairs Sabbatical/SUSU MEC Representative in consultation with the University.
2. SUSU will not directly fund such events other than through in-house publicity (posters/website advertisements) so as to prevent a conflict of interest with current arms trade policy.

Fair Access to University – 13 June 2011, Union Council (Ref: 1011P17)

Union Notes

1. The rise in tuition fees cap for 2012-12 and the consequential drive for fair access to University
2. The University of Southampton’s submission of its Access Agreement to the Office for Fair Access (OfFA) including the University’s targets for the recruitment of students from under-represented groups in Higher Education
3. That the University’s targets are based on a location adjusted benchmark (LAB) which takes into account the regions that an institution recruits from
4. The following targets that the University has set in its Access Agreement for 2012-13:

(a)  Students from state schools: 5% above LAB

(b) Students from low participation neighbourhoods: meet LAB

(c)  Students from lower socio-economic groups: meet LAB

(d) Students from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds: Improve from 10.5% to 13.5% of total student body

(e)  Students in receipt of Disabled Students’ Allowance: meet or exceed LAB

       5.  The importance of widening participation to the diversity of the student body.

Union Believes

1. In fair access to University for talented students
2. That the University should be meeting its targets
3. That SUSU should be holding the University to account if it fails to meet its targets

Union Resolves

1. To mandate the Union President and VP Academic Affairs to hold the University to account for its access targets
2. That SUSU should lobby for more ambitious access targets in the years following 2012-13

Nestlé Boycott – 17 May 2011, AGM (Ref: 1011P20)

Union Notes

1. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 1.5 million infants die around the world every year because they are not breastfed. Where water is unsafe a bottle-fed child is up to 25 times more likely to die as a result of diarrhoea than a breastfed child.
2. Nestle is a company which continues to flout the World Health Assembly marketing code on breast milk substitutes despite this death and suffering.
3. 73 other student unions are part of the boycott.
4. The boycott is active in many in many different organisations and unions across 20 countries and is working on many levels: Nestle continues to find it difficult to recruit British graduates into their company.
5. That Nestle acts in a highly unethical manner in many other areas, including the price of labour for their chocolate and coffee production and in the harvesting of palm oil.

Union Believes

1. That we should join the boycott of Nestle by not stocking their products in any union outlets.
2. We do have consumer choice and you could choose to buy your Kit Kat elsewhere, but the positive thing about the boycott is that it sends a clear signal to Nestle © that as students we care about what they are doing. It is a statement that couldn’t be reproduced just by informing individual student’s shopping habits.
3. That Nestle has behaved in an unethical manner with regards to formula milk and other issues, and that they should change their practices.

Union Resolves

1. To make information available at union outlets advertising this and stating why it has been done.

Academic Representation Reform – 9 May 2011, Union Council (Ref: 1011P8)

Union Notes

1. The success of the 2007 Representation Development Plan
2. Union Policy D6.1 Representation Faculty Officers
3. Union Policy D6.3 School Presidents
4. The on-going evolution of the roles of Faculty Representative, School President & School Vice-President
5. The University’s imminent re-structure from 3 Faculties to 8
6. The University’s desire to increase Postgraduate recruitment
7. Previous ‘difficulties’ in representing both Undergraduate and Postgraduate students
8. The establishment of SUSU’s Democracy & Representation Department to support all Academic Representatives

Union Believes

1. That the Academic Representation System will only be effective if it fits the University’s structure
2. Postgraduates are alarmingly under-represented
3. That the SUSU’s Democracy & Representation department has improved support for all Academic Representatives

Union Resolves

1. That the job description for Faculty Representatives (Policy D6.1) should be amended to:

“A Faculty Representative is the Senior Course Rep in their Faculty, responsible for the coordination of Academic Unit Presidents, Academic Unit Vice-Presidents and course Representatives. They work with the aforementioned representatives to represent student views to SUSU and the University. Faculty Representatives will be the SUS officer responsible for representing these views on their relevant Faculty Education Committee, proposing papers and taking a lead on Faculty wide issues in their Faculty.”

2. That School Presidents will be known as Academic Unit Presidents (Policy D6.3) with the job description:

“An Academic Unit President is the Senior Course Rep in their Academic Unit, coordinating and supporting their Course Representatives. They work with their Course Representatives to represent views to their Academic Unit and to SUSU. Academic Unit Presidents sit on their respective Academic Unit Board, Academic Unit Education Committee and their SSLC (Student Staff Liaison Committee). The Academic Unit of Social Sciences will have a number of Academic Unit Vice-Presidents reflecting the multi-disciplinary nature of the Academic Unit.”

3. That School Vice-Presidents will be known as Academic Unit Vice-Presidents with the job description:

“An Academic Unit Vice-President is the Senior Course Rep in their Discipline, coordinating and supporting their Course Representatives. Academic Unit Vice-Presidents will be elected in the Academic Unit of Social Sciences only, reflecting the multi-disciplinary nature of study. They work with their Course Representatives in partnership with their Academic Unit President to represent views to their Discipline and to SUSU.”

4.That the Vice-President roles in Humanities and Health Sciences will become Academic Unit Presidents, reflecting the University’s change of structure

5.That all Faculty Representatives, Academic Unit Presidents & Academic Unit Vice-Presidents represent Undergraduate, Postgraduate Taught and Postgraduate Research students

6.That all Academic Unit Presidents will have the ability to democratically elect Vice-Presidents for Undergraduate, Postgraduate Taught and Post Graduate Research from amongst the course representatives relevant to their portfolio, in which each course representative has an equal vote

7.That the changes listed above are effective from July 2011

Student Charter – 9 May 2011, Union Council (Ref: 1011P13)

Union Notes

1. The work of the 2005 sabbatical team in partnership with the University on the Student Entitlement[1] & Guidance[2] Documents
2. The introduction of Student Entitlement[3] & Guidance[4] Documents for Postgraduate Research Students in 2006
3. The comprehensive nature of each document, leading to a large combined length
4. The national project on student charters, commissioned by the Government department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
5. The recommendation of the BIS report that specifies that “Charters are a joint venture with the Students’ Union and must involve students and student representatives at the outset.”[5]
6. The recommendation of the BIS report that specifies that charters “should be kept as short as possible – suggest 2 pages maximum.”[6]
7. The recommendation of the BIS report that specifies that “a charter should be seen as a summary document, which provides signposts”[7]

Union Believes

1. The Student Entitlement and Guidance documents explicitly detail what is fair to expect of Students and what is fair to expect from the University.
2. The Student Entitlement and Guidance documents are especially useful in holding the University to account.

Union Resolves

1. That a Student Charter should not replace the Student Entitlement and Guidance documents.
2. That a Student Charter should act as a ‘signpost’ to the Student Entitlement and Guidance documents.

That any Student Charter for the University of Southampton should be brought to Union Council for approval, as it is a joint venture between the University and the Students Union.

Student Leader Constituencies and Elections – 14 March 2011, Union
Council (Ref: 1011P11)

Union Notes

1. Union Council’s decision on 31 January to delete the Executive Committee and Officers and create a Standing Order creating
   Student Leaders (Motion 5).
   1. Union Council’s mandate in the same policy for “The President to create a process which ensures all affected Standing Committees and current officers are consulted on the method, timing and constituencies for the elections of Student Leaders.”
   2. The various consultation methods established since the January Council (Sabbatical blogging, Big Box, discussion at Standing Committees, Forum on top of informal methods).
   3. Union Council’s mandate in the same policy: “Constitution Committee to bring back the related constitutional changes to a future meeting of Union Council such that Student Leaders can be elected in the Summer Term of 2011.”
   4. Union Council’s commitment at its meeting on 21 February 2011 to hold Student Leader elections this term.
   5. Some drafting errors were made in the role description for Student Leaders.

Union Believes

1. Students have had many chances to input their views.
2. The feedback received has been helpful, though there is no clear and consistent view across all involvement areas.
3. That the view received from most different areas is that Student Leaders should be held accountable to the whole student body and therefore should be elected by and from the whole student body.

Union Mandates

Constitution Committee to amend the constitution as outlined below:

1. To tidy up the drafting error around the Community Volunteering Officer and the Student Enterprise Officer.
2. To rename the ‘Halls of Residence Officer’ as ‘Junior Common Rooms (JCRs) Officer’.
3. To ensure elections for those Student Leaders representing a particular cohort of students (Post grad, international, Faculty officers and sites) are held early in Term 1 with only those in each constituency able to stand and vote.
4. To ensure elections are held during semester 2/term 2 for all other Student Leaders by cross campus ballot with all full members eligible to stand and vote.
5. To still determine the election method and timing for Chair of Council
6. To amend the Standing Orders as follows:

A.  To amend the Student Enterprise and Community Volunteering Officers’ job roles to remove the drafting error: Standing Order 5 delete clauses 11 and 16 and replace with new:

11. Community Volunteering Officer

11.1 Support and develop student led community volunteering projects;

11.2 Develop reward systems and social support for the volunteer;

Promote the benefits of community volunteering within the student community.

16. Student Enterprise Officer

16.1 Support and develop the enterprise activities of our students;

16.2 Develop reward systems and social support for the entrepreneurs;

16.3 Promote the benefits of Student Enterprise within the student community.

B.  To rename the Faculty Representatives, Halls of Residence Officer and the AU Clubs Officer: From Standing Order 5 delete sub-titles 2, 8 and 12 and insert new:

2. One faculty Officer for each University Faculty.

8. Athletic Union (AU) Officer

12. Junior Common Rooms (JCRs) Officer

C.  To expand the job role of the Union Films Cinema manager to more closely match other
Student Leader roles: From SO5 Delete 17.1 and insert new:

17.1 To coordinate the operation and output of the cinema,

17.2 To coordinate all volunteers and sub-committee members.

D. To amend the electoral qualifications of the new officers: Delete SO 5 clause 5 and replace with:

5.  Electoral Qualifications

5.1 Only and all full members of the Union may stand and vote in Union elections; this is subject only to:

(a) Members cannot hold more than one position within the Union at the same time, except that Voluntary Officers may also be Trustees without Portfolio.

(b) Students shall be eligible to hold only two Sabbatical terms of office within the Union after initially registering as a student at the University of Southampton. Sabbatical Officers shall be otherwise awarded equivalent rights of election as those given to non-Sabbatical full members of the Union.

(c) Only students from a site may stand or vote in elections for the posts specific to that site or sites, with the exception of Vice President Winchester & Sites which shall be open to all full members.

(d) Only students from a faculty may stand or vote in elections for the posts specific to that faculty.

(e) Only postgraduate students may stand or vote in election to the position of Postgraduate Students’
Officer.

(f) Only international students may stand or vote in election to the position of International Students’ Officer.

(g) Only members of Council shall vote in an election held at Council meeting.

(h) Only members of Council shall be eligible for election to the Council member positions on other Union Committees.

E. To amend the timing of the elections of the new officers: Delete Standing Order 6Clause 6 and replace with:

6. Timetable for Elections

6.1 The following positions shall be elected by and from the relevant constituency in the Autumn term (such that they can attend the first Council meeting) except by a decision of Council:

(a) Faculty Officers

(b) International Students’ Officer

(c) Postgraduate Students’ Officer

(d) Southampton General Hospital (site) Officer

(e) Winchester (site) Officer

(f) National Oceanography Centre (Site) Officer

(g) Outreach (Sites) Officer

(h) Any vacancies for other Student Leader and Union Council positions

6.2 The following positions shall be elected by cross campus ballot no later than the penultimate week of the spring term, except by a decision of Council:

(a) Sabbatical Officers

(b) Remaining Student Leader positions

(c) Ordinary Members of Union Council

6.3 The following shall be elected by Council at meetings held in the autumn term but later than the penultimate week of the term:

(a) Council Members on other Union Committees

(b) Union Representatives on University Committees

6.4 Should a position become vacant, a by-election shall be held to fill the vacancy as soon as possible.

6.5 The Results of elections for Voluntary Officers will be reported to the next meeting of the relevant Standing Committee.

F.To amend the electoral body for the Council Chair: Delete Standing Order 1 clause 3.2 (a) and replace with:

3.2 (a) Chair of Council (to be elected by and from the full members of the Union at the AGM.

G.To define the term of office of Student Leaders: Delete Standing Order 5 clause 1.1 (a) and replace with:

1.1 (a) Student Leaders shall normally hold office from the 1^st July for 1 year, except those elected in the Autumn term who will take up office immediately elected for 1 year.

H. To amend the term of office of Ordinary Council Members: Delete Standing Order 1 clause 3.2 (d) and replace with:

3.2 (d) 10 Ordinary Council Members (who will normally hold office from 1^st July for 1  year, except those elected in the Autumn term who will take up office immediately elected for 1 year).

I. To create Voluntary Officers for every: Delete “Administrative Officer” throughout and replace with “Voluntary Officer”.

Constitution committee to revisit the entirety of the Standing Orders to ensure all inter-relations are resolved and report back to the Union Council any decisive changes.

NUS Referendum- 25 October 2010, Union Council (1011P1)

Union Notes

1. Southampton University Students’ Union has not been affiliated to the NUS for many years
2. That the process of deciding to disaffiliate was not clear, with the question considered at referendum and AGM before a final decision was made
3. The question of whether to re-affiliate to NUS has never been put to the members since disaffiliation
4. Holding a NUS referendum was a manifesto pledge of the current Union President

Union Believes

1. That it is fair and democratic to ask the question to all students whether or not SUSU should be affiliated to the NUS
2. A referendum should be held asking students whether the Union should now affiliate to the NUS
3. This referendum should be student led, carrying the normal election rules, with both a ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ campaign.
4. As it was a major manifesto pledge of the Union President, it would be undemocratic to deny students having the choice on whether or not SUSU should be a part of the NUS
5. The referendum should be engaging, democratic, informative & exciting.

Union Resolves

1. To hold a referendum on the question of SUSU’s affiliation to NUS
2. To instruct Elections Committee to run the processes of a referendum to be held this term.
3. The final decision should lie jointly with an elected sabbatical or executive officer and the marketing manager.