TheUnionPlanto 2015

With a new Mission Statement attached to a set of organisational values, SUSU has a clear picture of how we would like to be perceived in five years’ time. The timing for this plan is ideal, as the University is also embarking on its new plan, giving SUSU the opportunity to ensure that our goals complement theirs.

This Union Plan identifies the key areas of work that SUSU needs to focus on to achieve that vision. We also develop annual departmental plans which incorporate the promises and aspirations of our elected student leaders.

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SUSU is at the

startof a

journeynew

SUSU is an ambitious, successful and friendly Students’ Union. There are enviable levels of participation from members throughout SUSU, as society and club members, voluntary officers, student leaders, voters, customers and high level decision makers.

This plan reflects the role SUSU plays in delivering improvements in the quality of life for all students: individually and collectively.

We seek to be a key differential factor that sways prospective students to

SUSU

choose the University of Southampton over other universities. I look forward to returning to celebrate SUSU’s successes within a strong culture of recognition and reward.

Billy FitzJohn Union President 2010-2011

Your Students’ Union

SUSU: Unlocking the potential and enriching the life of every student.

• To have a great reputation for our achievements and ambitions.

• To be at the heart of University life, fully engaged with all of our key audiences and supporting our members.

• To be the informed and legitimate voice of our members.

• To be adaptable, proactive and relevant to the entire student body.

• To encourage and cultivate innovative ideas and activities.

• To create a fun, safe and supportive environment with a strong sense of community.

• To help our members gain lasting friendship, great memories and experiences for life.

• Democratic• Dynamic• Representative• Student Led• Engaging

Mission

Values

Vision

• Responsible• Sustainable• Inclusive• Exciting• Transparent

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StrategicThemes

Voice

Support

CommunitiesBuild an Effective

Organisation

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SUSU’sStructuresSUSU is run by students for students. But our achievements are not possible without the support, expertise and partnership with our 100 strong core staff team.

We have well-developed and sophisticated systems of governance and decision-making that ensure our students are represented at every level of SUSU’s decision making structures.

The trustee board consists of seven elected full-time sabbatical officers and six elected part-time trustees, alongside four appointed non-

student trustees. The trustee board works in parallel with the SUSU AGM, which feeds the student voice through Union Council and Standing Committees. It is they who are responsible for ensuring the Union is a strong organisation.

Our uniqueness and relevance is secure in part because our students run the Union at every level. So whether they are standing in a trustee election, voting for change, proposing motions to Union Council, being Treasurer of a committee or just joining a society – it is students who make SUSU what it is.

DecisionMaking

AGMUnion CouncilStanding Committees

Trustee boardSub- CommitteesGovernance

Operationsand

Management

General ManagerSenior Leadership TeamDepartmental ManagersSupervisors, Co-ordinators, AssistantsFront Line Staff

Voice

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Elections Night Live 2011

1.1. Support people with passion and enthusiasm who campaign for real change for our members;

1.2. Create student feedback mechanisms which ensure we hear and act on student opinions;

Change 1.3. Speak on behalf of students and remain up to date and relevant on local, national and international student issues;

1.4. Create strong connections with local and national media in order to communicate the messages of students in an appropriate and timely way;

1.5. Evaluate the impact that our work has on the experience of our members.

We will always

speak on behalf

of students

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2.1. Reflect the diversity of our members and promote equality throughout SUSU;

2.2. Develop our equal opportunities policies alongside those of the University in order to better represent our members both academically and within Students’ Union experience;

We will reflect

our diverse membership

3.1. Working with the University to improve their offerings, their transparency and their accountability;

3.2. Creating partnerships to deliver exciting opportunities and to improve the personal development of our members;

3.3. Securing improvements to students’ access to academic and support resources, both online and otherwise;

We will secure

excellent value for

students throughout

their university

experience

3.4. Constantly pursuing improvements to the quality and value of the academic experience;

3.5. Keeping a constant eye on the student purse when pricing our own services;

3.6. Challenging organisations who deliver poor value to our members: acting as a watchdog on their behalf.

2.3. Keep abreast of changes to national and global policy in order to make appropriate updates;

2.4. Train Student Officers so that they can represent their constituent members to higher SUSU and University bodies, giving all students an equal voice in important decisions.

Represent

Value

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3

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5.1. Celebrating and reporting the successes and achievements of SUSU and its members, to each other and externally: locally, nationally and internationally;

4.1. Sharing our data and feeding back accurately to students in order to better develop the services that SUSU offers;

4.2. Informing students of significant change within SUSU but also on wider issues that affect them;

4.3. Creating transparency between internal departments, allowing us to work effectively and efficiently;

We will praise

involvement

and recognise

individuals

and groups

We will be transparent

4.4. Ensuring accessibility to our constitution, policies and procedures, making them more user friendly;

4.5. Broadening the appeal of our election processes, to ensure that all students have access to leadership and representative opportunities;

4.6. Using relevant media to communicate our varied messages; being “early adopters” of new techniques;

4.7. Establishing a practice of Student Leaders and Officers engaging with members in a variety of ways [e.g. Go out and Talk (GOAT), Go out and Listen (GOAL) and Find Issues Students Have (FISH)].

5.2. Creating a reward system that can be applied to everyone within the Students’ Union: rewarding both students and staff for their contributions, impact and dedication;

5.3. Collating records and establishing an accessible archive of SUSU’s history.

Communicate

Reward

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6.1. Engage all cohorts in SUSU activities, wherever they are based;

6.2. Actively encourage students to be involved in activities which enable them to unlock their full potential in a balanced and responsible manner;

6.3. Structure all of our engagement opportunities to ensure students can fulfil them whilst still achieving their full academic potential;

6.4. Support our student groups to help them to achieve their aims;

6.5. Support our student leaders to develop enterprising skills.

StudentEngagement

We will develop our students’ commitment to and involvement in our

activities

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Support

The SUSU Big Photo 2011

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We will take action

which makes students’

lives better

7.1. Promote our values and deliver an internal culture characterised by a can-do attitude and strong sense of pride;

7.2. Ensure that everyone knows their contribution to the Vision and how they help to achieve it;

7.3. Become a centre of excellence for talent investment;

7.4. Define all of our volunteer opportunities so that students can select those which match their aspirations and capacity;

8.1. Having a research programme that identifies the shifting issues affecting students, so that SUSU understands these better than anyone else;

Student Talent

Student Life

We will offer support

which allows our students

to develop to their full

potential

7.5. Help students develop their skills and be able to describe what they have learnt;

7.6. Recognise and utilise students’ academic talents in all of our work;

7.7. Learn from the experiences of our members, including those who are leaving, ensuring a positive end to their experience at SUSU;

7.8. Continually attain external accreditation (for example in the form of retaining Investors in Volunteers) to show we are dedicated to developing and supporting volunteers.

8.2. Ensuring that all students can easily access our support and services through a variety of media which reaches all of our members;

8.3. Putting current student issues at the centre of all of our outputs and activities;

8.4. Supporting academic representatives to make positive improvements to students’ academic experiences;

8.5. Being a leading resource and champion for sustainable healthy living and practice alongside the University.

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Communities

Exploring Campus 2010

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9.1. Work in close collaboration with the University to deliver a student centred approach

9.2. Engage students as officers and ambassadors;

9.3. Break the ‘them/us’ culture: SUSU = students. We will challenge behaviours that support a blame culture;

9.4. Encourage membership of at least one club or society by every student;

Our Culture9.5. Develop a strategy for students

based away from the main campuses that encompasses and delivers this community strand to them;

9.6. Provide opportunities to settle socially in Southampton and the surrounding areas;

9.7. Find ways of engaging & incorporating UK and international students together.

We will develop a defining culture for the benefit of all students

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10.1. World-class social learning spaces which form the centrepiece of a welcoming and inviting Students’ Union building;

10.2. Facilities for our activities and services that will enhance opportunities for and quality of student participation, support and engagement;

10.3. Outstanding facilities that enhance the evening economy on campus and support a diverse social entertainments programme;

Spaces & Places

We will create modern,

accessible and

inspirational facilities

for our students and their

groups

10.4. Top-class SUSU presence for all students irrespective of campus;

10.5. Uncompromised spatial integrity of the main SUSU building through enhanced utilisation of space;

10.6. An internationally recognised building with strong environmental credentials;

10.7. Utilising latest technology to communicate with communities; creating a physical and virtual hub of information;

10.8. Ensuring SUSU’s presence in Halls (especially through the bars) gives the first positive impression of SUSU;

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Alumni

We will create an

active alumni

community

12.1. By creating a database of contacts and working with the University Alumni office;

12.2. By cultivating activities with alumni that encourage them to support, advise and help current students;

11.1. We will develop stronger working partnerships with colleagues in University departments and external agencies and organisations;

11.2. We will create partnerships for mutual gain, pursuing outcomes with a positive impact;

External Interaction

We will create strategies

to positively engage

with and impact on our local

neighbourhoods and

nationally

11.3. We will expand the scope of Union Films;

11.4. We will forge links with other Students’ Unions;

11.5. We will develop successful student-led Community Volunteering programmes.

12.3. By developing relationships for fundraising;

12.4. By promoting a range of services for former members and officers in order to reinforce memories for life.

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Organisation

Freshers’ Fayre 2011

13.1. Register as a charity; ensuring our governance is best practice;

13.2. Measure the impact of our work, with especial reference to Health & Safety, Financial Impact, Equality & Diversity and Ethical & Environmental considerations;

13.3. Develop robust and accessible information systems internally & for SUSU members;

We will create andmaintain exemplary organisational governance

Governance

13.7. Our legal compliance will be at the highest standard;

13.8. Provide timely, accurate and clear financial information to support decision making;

13.9. Invest in our Trustees to create a high performing Board;

13.10. Routinely refresh our plans to deliver our Mission, Vision & Values.

13.4. Ensure that decisions are made at the appropriate level within SUSU, are based on full information and are communicated appropriately once made;

13.5. Our risk management and Health & Safety practices will be instinctive and effective for all of our people;

13.6. Keep abreast of and act on changes in our external environment;

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14.1. Promote SUSU’s values and deliver an internal culture characterised by a can-do attitude and strong sense of pride;

14.2. Ensure that everyone knows their contribution to the Vision and how they help to achieve it;

14.3. Create and continue to recruit a high performing staff team: where each individual is clear about their role, knows what is expected of them and is motivated, valued and respected;

14.4. Implement a staff appraisal scheme where we can recognise and reward a job well done and ensure training is identified and fulfilled;

15.1. We will create a culture of constantly improving quality and delivering excellent customer service throughout SUSU - to members, customers and each other;

15.2. We will make a great first impression to members and visitors: they will enjoy a positive interaction with SUSU, every time;

15.3. Our reputation will be for providing swift and accurate answers to queries and problems.

Staff talent

We will invest in our

people to unlock

their talent

Quality

We will build a reputation for great service delivery

14.5. Review all of our HR policies and practices to support these aspirations;

14.6. Learn from the experiences of our people, including those leaving, ensuring a positive end to their experience at SUSU;

14.7. Continually achieve external recognition (for example through Investors in People) to show we are dedicated to developing and supporting our staff team.

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16.1. We will set targets and benchmarks for our activities which will clarify goals and allow us to be sure of our successes;

16.2. We will continually improve quality by monitoring and evaluating every project against our targets;

SystemsWe will create

transparent,

accessible and

flexible systems

and procedures

16.3. We will be clear about the role and purpose of each meeting we hold, to ensure the relevant people are engaged at the right time;

16.4. We will focus on the outputs we need from our systems and streamline the inputs and processes to ensure that good information is readily available;

16.5. Our systems will include clarity over how we tell people, especially SUSU members, about decisions and issues.

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17.1. Developing strategies to create an inclusive culture within SUSU;

17.2. Celebrating cultural diversity and systematically test the equality impact of our events, activities and systems;

17.3. Increasing involvement from under-represented groups.

18.1. Systematically test the sustainable impact of our events, services and activities – economically and environmentally, reducing impact where we can;

Environmental

We will reduceour impact on the environment

Diversity

We will be

relevant and

welcomingto all

18.2. Campaign with SUSU members to help them reduce their own environmental impact;

18.3. Benchmark our work in this area and achieve recognition for our successes.

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19.1. We will undertake regular member research to understand student lifestyles, aspirations and opinions;

19.2. We will refresh the SUSU branding in the light of our new Mission, Vision and Values, including a review of all sub-brands;

19.3. We will adopt targeted marketing strategies to highlight relevant activities to all of our different members;

19.4. We will develop our expertise in Public Relations to highlight our achievements and improve our responses in any eventuality;

Informing

We will maintain a

clear and constant

flow of information

with all key audiences

19.5. We will prioritise internal communications so that staff and key volunteers are informed on relevant issues in SUSU, the University, HE and beyond;

19.6. We will establish a strategy and positive circle of communication with all of our members, whereby their opinions inform our activities and behaviour, which in turn are of benefit to our members;

19.7. We will develop our practices online using cutting edge technology and practices.

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20.1. Explore further sources of income, diversifying our income streams, and develop a comprehensive strategy for the generation of income;

20.2. Make our trading activities relevant and commercially viable in order to invest their surpluses into other SUSU activities and services, including developing our reputation as the provider of the most talked about events amongst our members;

Business Development

20.3. Make use of new and emerging technologies to support the development of our business;

20.4. Deliver excellent facilities throughout, including producing a capital investment plan which will allow us to achieve our aspirations;

20.5. Allocate SUSU’s resources to financially support activities that best deliver our Mission;

20.6. Provide student groups with the knowledge and resources to fundraise effectively.

We will developour business in order to support our future aspirations20

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SUSU Through the Ages

Email: contact@susu.orgTel: 023 8059 5200

Students’ Union, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ

This document is available in alternative formats on request fromEmail: vpcomms@susu.orgTel: 023 8059 5226

All papers in this bookletare printed from sustainable forests.