Student Representative Council Meeting #1, 16th October 2017 Agenda and Papers

Meeting of the Student Representative Council held on 16th October 2017 at 17:00pm in room 1007 of

Abertay University. Present: Conor Marshall (Chair), Alexander Fernandez-Ritchie (Clerk), Student Leadership Team, Class Reps Apologies: Full Record in Minutes In attendance: Academic Curriculum Managers, Shuwanna Aaron, Fiona Brunton (Class Rep Coordinator)

Item Owner Content Action Time Allotted

Housekeeping 15 Minutes

01) Welcome Chair To Note

02) Apologies Chair To Note

03) Minutes of last Meeting All Paper #0 To Approve

04) SRC 101 Chair Presentation To Note

Business 1 Hour

05) Introductions Chair Oral To Note

06) Guest Speakers: ACM’s & NUS Scotland’s Women’s Officer

ACM’s Shuwanna A

Discussion To Note

- Reserved Business -

07) Officer Updates SLT Presentation To Accept

08) Motions Updates SLT Oral To Note

09) Motions Chair Papers #1 & #2 To Approve

a) Demonstration

b) Save Our Student Centre

10) Trustee Report Tam W Paper #3 To Note

Wrap-up 5 Minutes

11) A.O.B. All To Discuss

12) Date of Next Meeting Chair To Note

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Paper #0 “Minutes of Last Meeting” | SRC #1

Author: Rory Bruce, Clerk of SRC 16/17

Date Produced: 10/04/2017

Meeting Date: SRC #1 - 16/10/2017

Meeting Of: Student Representative Council

Summary: A record of the minutes and decisions taken by the meeting

Action: Approval by Student Representative Council

Notes: N/A

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SRC Meeting Minutes 10th of April 2017

Section A: Housekeeping Item Minute Action Welcome Daniella Bandeva (DB) welcomed everyone to the

meeting.

Apologies Annabelle Goard Claire Mackenzie Marnie Stirling Megan Johnstone Owen Wright Ross Baxter Rutendo Mhonda Shona Maxwell Craig Alexander Andrew Gourley

Minutes from the previous Meeting

DB asked for SRC to review the minutes of the previous meeting.

Minutes approved

Section B: Business Item Minute Action

Required Final Officer Reports

Connor has been focusing on the Who speaks for you campaign. He reported that the 11th of April is the launch of the fair housing campaign and that he has been making sure active policy is up to date Gerard has been focusing on Student referendum and career campaign. He recently gained student feedback from around 200 students using coin voting Free Periods campaign has been sent to Philip Hammond, with endorsement of the Principal of Abertay Kailey set up the fully operational class rep system and has helped with the Conferences. She also sat on a lot of academic committees and programme boards to hear the student voices. She also assisted with setting up the multi-faith room.

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Eddie sat on various committees in order to assist in various projects. Craig Alexander has been working on the blood bank project. Ester James has been working on inter-cultural activities.

SA Structures and Class Rep Feedback

Gemma Riddel (GR) introduced herself and explained her old roles and current ones, including taking on further responsibilities with the class reps Matt will be taking on more responsibilities regarding the election of the class reps Andrew McKenzie – two class reps being elected wasn’t made clear, staff were uncooperative about class rep position (in terms of timetabling) DB – difficult to get feedback from classmates, but that it is up to the individual to share their problems with their class rep Mckenzie – said that her original class rep left halfway through which left her confused about what to do next. It took her the first semester until she understood what the SA did, and what the NUS did, and explained this was due to her being an international student, she was further backed up by another international student in attendance. She also made the point that it wasn’t clear what the power of the class reps was Eddie – said that there could be more emphasis for class reps to engage with the SRC and classes Charlotte – claimed that she didn’t get class rep list of e-mails for the class, faculty officers (class reps answered to them and brought issues to them) Shona – Put forward the idea that class reps should always get someone to go in place if they cannot, to ensure representation of all classes at meetings. Eddie - Put forward the idea of School reps Connor - responded by saying that we should instead empower the class reps, rather than create a new

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office, because it will make it less likely for the class reps to take responsibility It was agreed that more emphasis should be put on class reps attending meetings and programmes. Abertay University did the training of class reps for the first time this year, so there were some discrepancies with the training from previous years. The idea was put forward that there should be a template for the class reps to give feedback to classes and that more training could be offered on giving feedback to their class

Final Policy Updates

Connor discussed the active policies of 2016/2017 Policies are active for 3 years Chill out zone – supporting student around exam times. This led to the creation of the snack trolley (taken around various study spaces). This policy lapses this year, but will be taken forward Divesting from fossil fuels – Connor took this policy to the finance committee of Abertay, divested £260,000 from fossil fuels reinvested in green fuels Gender balance trustee board – keeping the trustee board gender balanced Abertay Loves Democracy – position must be democratically elect, not chosen by Adobe software update – different rooms had different version, got a plan put in place and many already updataed, automatic updates are being put in place Life Blood – Went to NUS, spoke on motion and passed it, despite president of NUS speaking against it Motorcycle parking – putting in more motorcycling parking space, however at present they can be used only by staff, which the SA is hoping to change

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Water Fountains – There are far more water fountains now on campus, and the older ones have been updated Lecture Capture – 3 SRCs ago this was brought up, and it is still ongoing TEF Off, and Stay Out – The policy to try and prevent the university from implementing the new TEF policy

TEF Update Connor discussed the TEF Policy Work is ongoing There are ongoing talks with MSPs and Local MPs However, the University has opted in. However, the SRC argues that the decision should not have been taken without SRCs approval

New Officer Introduction

DB introduced the new officers President Tam Wilson VP Daniela Bandeva Executive Officers Owen Wright Eddie Baines Kat Marshall Lisa Halley Jade Forrester Open sixth position that needs to be filled – vote will be opened in term 1 of next year

Trustee Report Connor reported to the SRC on the trustees meetings 8th of January SRC will receive quarterly reports from the trustees Trustees keep the SRC ongoing Two new trustees were welcomed Officer role review process Monthly accounts were produced Agreed to open account with Skipton 14th of March Increase of Affiliation fees Reviewed accounts

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Annual block grant is £240,000 given to Trustees from the University, and other funding comes from different organisations, and a small amount comes from advertising

Section C: Wrap up Item Minute Action

Required A.O.B. Connor said goodbye as this was his last SRC meeting

Awards night is on Wednesday at Duke’s Corner for the Student Led Teachers Award, tickets are still available

Date of Next Meeting

Next semester

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Paper #1 “Demonstration for Education” | SRC #1

Author: Tam Wilson, President of Abertay SA

Date Produced: 12/10/2017

Meeting Date: SRC #1 - 16/10/2017

Meeting Of: Student Representative Council

Summary: Motion for consideration and debate by SRC

Action: Approval by Student Representative Council

Notes: If passed by SRC a motion becomes policy of Abertay SA for a year and then lapses, unless SRC chooses to renew it.

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Title: Demonstration for Education Prosper: Tam Wilson Seconder: Coleen Gollan SRC Notes:

1. The Westminster government’s austerity agenda has led to wide ranging cuts that are having an adverse effect on the education sector, students’ prospects and opportunities.

2. That while the system of education funding is different in Scotland, funding decisions made in Westminster have an effect on Holyrood’s budgets.

3. Education is not free in Scotland; there are many circumstances in which students have to pay for their education here at Abertay such as; international, rest of UK, postgraduate, returning and some mature students.

4. That students’ are leaving education with expansive and often unmanageable debts.

SRC Believes:

1. Austerity is a political decision and not necessarily the only way to manage the current education budget.

2. Taking part in a national campaign against fees and cuts offers support to a larger campaign to change education.

3. University fees cause barriers to education when education should be seen as a societal good.

4. That the current system of funding views students as customers and consumers purchasing a service rather than as learners in an academic environment.

SRC Resolves:

1. That we will endorse the NCAFC National Demo: Free Education Now in London on 15th November 2017.

2. We will work with partners to create the opportunity for students to attend and support the demo.

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3. We will continue to engage with action against cuts to vital education services and lobby government at all levels promote free and adequately funded education.

4. That we will stand in solidarity with other education institutions that are experiencing unnecessary cuts across the sector.

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Paper #2 “Save Our Student Centre!” | SRC #1

Author: Tam Wilson, President of Abertay SA

Date Produced: 12/10/2017

Meeting Date: SRC #1 - 16/10/2017

Meeting Of: Student Representative Council

Summary: Motion for consideration and debate by SRC

Action: Approval by Student Representative Council

Notes: If passed by SRC a motion becomes policy of Abertay SA for a year and then lapses, unless SRC chooses to renew it.

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Title: Save the Student Centre! Prosper: Tam Wilson, President of Abertay SA Seconder: Daniella Bandeva, Vice-president of Abertay SA SRC Notes:

1. Abertay University is currently making plans to sell the Student Centre, meaning it’s services and facilities will no longer be usable by the Abertay community - both staff and students.

2. Abertay University systematically and continually has cut funding, staffing, opening hours, the services and facilities that the Student Centre offers in order to recoup costs.

3. Key positions in the Student Centre’s running and management, such as General Manager and Marketing Manager, have never been scrapped or replaced with an inadequate part-time equivalents.

4. These sustained cuts and non-existent communication have caused student opinion towards the current state of the Student Centre to be quite poor, and they are less likely to use it now than they ever have been.

5. Abertay University has never undertaken effective consultation with the Student community to understand the needs and wants of Students in relation to the services provided.

6. Abertay SA undertook a comprehensive and exhaustive consultation campaign in Academic Year 16/17, with the support and understanding of the University Executive, surveying student thought and opinion on the future of the Student Centre and the role it should play in our community.

7. The campaign Survey showed that students are overwhelmingly in favour of keeping our student centre, and investing in it so that it can provide the best services and facilities possible for students.

8. The University Executive has backtracked on their support of the campaign in order to sell the Student Centre.

9. The University is already in a very strong financial position compared to other universities in Scotland, with the largest cash reserves relative to it’s size.

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SRC Believes:

1. The Student Community has a definite need of a physical hub for non-academic and social activity on campus, which the Student Centre has the potential of meeting.

2. The University's approach towards the Student Centre, sustained cuts over a period of time, has done massive damage to the reputation of the centre amongst students, and can only be undone by investing in the space with consultation from the students.

3. The Student Centre building is an iconic and visually integrated part of the Abertay campus, and contributes to the sense of place and belonging of students.

4. The Student Centre would benefit from a marketing and events team, like it once had during it’s popular years and before the cuts passed down by the university.

5. In the interests of creating a “sticky campus” and flourishing extra-curricular community, the Student Centre building offers a non-academic space in which students can come together and build a interdisciplinary support networks which we believe will help ensure student retention.

SRC Resolves:

1. To lobby the University's board and senior managers to not only Save Our Student Centre, but to invest in it to create valuable services and facilities so that there is an incentive for students to want to use the centre.

2. To launch a campaign to Save Our Student Centre, encouraging grassroots students to voice their concerns and lobby management also.

3. To build a cross-community campaign with staff and the unions based around investment in facilities, including the Student Centre.

4. To create a petition to be submitted to the university's governing body.

5. To engage with the wider local community and the local press to raise awareness of this issue.

6. To put students at the heart of a new rebranded, refreshed and refocused Student Centre.

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Paper #3 “Quarterly Trustee Report” | SRC #1

Author: Tam Wilson, Chair of the Trustee Board

Date Produced: 10/10/17

Meeting Date: SRC #1 - 16/10/17

Meeting Of: Student Representative Council

Summary: A report on the actions and decisions of the trustee board for noting by SRC.

Action: Scrutiny and noting by SRC

Notes: For more detailed information, a full copy of the minutes will be available at AbertaySA.com at a later date.

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Quarterly Trustee Report

Quarter 3, 2017 In Quarter 3 of 2017 The trustee board met formally two times, once for a meeting in August and once for a strategic planning meeting in September. 18/08/2017 In our August Meeting we did the following;

1. After a recruitment process the Trustees welcomed Elley to the Student Association in

her new role as CEO. Elley now sits as Clark to Trustees.

2. We discussed the recruitment of new trustees as there are positions still to be filled. We

discussed the role descriptions and how they can be refined to better represent the

positions (we will be recruiting student trustees soon so keep an eye on the website for

opportunity to apply).

3. We discussed the development of a new strategic plan for the student association. It was

decided that we would get an external organisation in to help us with the initial stages of

forming a strategic plan.

4. We discussed our lack of coherent risk register and decided to make a development of

this part of our strategic plan.

5. We discussed the continuation of the divestment strategy that passed at SRC last year.

6. Daniela fed back on freshers week and its successes.

25/09/2017 In our September (strategic plan) Meeting we did the following;

1. We welcomed Open Change who gave us a breakdown of some of the work they have

done with strategic plans previously and gave us ideas on how best to create a new

strategic plan.

2. We discussed and developed ideas that we found to be the most important to our

student association.

3. We now have the foundations to work to start building our strategic plan over the coming

months.

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Our second trustee meeting scheduled for the beginning of October was rescheduled for week beginning 16/10/17. Our annual general meeting (AGM) will take place in November which all are invited to and you will receive an email with details in due course. For more detailed information, a full copy of the minutes will be available at AbertaySA.com at a later date. Tam Wilson Chair of the Trustee Board President of Abertay Students’ Association

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