The Union and You
Understanding and working with Durham Students’ Union
Krystina WarringtonDavid Morris
The beauty of collectivism
Society - A number of people joined by mutual consent to deliberate, determine and act toward a common goal.
Union - That which is united, or made one; something formed by a combination or coalition of parts or members; a confederation; a consolidated body; a league.
Charity and Corporate Governance
Board of Trustees• 5 Student Officers; 4 Elected Students; 4 co-opted (non-student) members.
• Responsible to the Charities Commission and Companies House (i.e. the
law).
• Hires and manages the Chief Executive.
• Legal, fiduciary, financial liability for the Union and everything it does.
• Responsible for ensuring general good governance and business practice.
• Sets and approves the Strategic Plan, and monitors progress against it.
The Union is:
• A statuary requirement under Education Act 1994; all students automatically members.
• A registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.
• An independent body with certain responsibilities to University Council.
The Strategy!!!• Based on extensive consultation with over 4000 students and staff.
• Ensures the Union is thinking long-term.
• Bring us in line with how good Unions are run: e.g. Leeds, Sheffield, Northumbria, Teesside,
Brunel, Newcastle.
Mission: We will be an enabling students’ union which develops and supports our students as they strive to create a lasting, positive impact in society and in their own lives through their university experience.
Vision: Students working together to create a lasting, positive impact
• Fun• Student-led• Engaging
• Helpful• Dynamic• Sustainable
Staff
Staff facilitate. Students lead!!!
But fundamentally…
The Union is not about doing things for students.
We want to enable students to do things themselves, together, and have a real impact.
We want to focus on student leadership, rather than student management.
Mission: We will be an enabling students’ union which develops and supports our students as they strive to create a lasting, positive impact in society and in their own lives through their university experience.
Vision: Students working together to create a lasting, positive impact
The link – Student Officers• Members of Assembly, and also Trustees. • The student faces of the Union.• Run the committees of the Union. • Sit on major University committees.• Interact with University staff.• Work with the Union chief exec and senior managers.• Lead campaigns and set change-priorities.• Held to account by Assembly
Democratic Governance
ASSEMBLYUnion Zone University Zone Community Zone
• Governance• Media• DUCK• Societies Forum• Societies
Committee• Grant Allocation
• Welfare, Equality and Diversity• Ethics and Environment• Community• JCR Presidents• MCR Presidents
• UG Academic Affairs• PG Academic Affairs• Science Faculty Forum• Social Sciences and Health Faculty
Forum• Arts and Humanities Faculty Forum• Facilities and Services
Subset - Associations• International Students• Disabilities• LGBTa• Mature and Part-Time
Assembly• 5 student officers• 1 from Media Committee• 1 from DUCK Committee• 8 from Societies committee• 9 Faculty Representatives• 16 College Reps• 1 JCR President’s Committee Chair• 1 MCR President’s Committee Chair• 4 Associations’ Presidents
• Elects a Chair at the first meeting• Colleges remain the biggest ‘bloc’, but now more representative of
all Union activity.• Aim to be less sectional, and more of a Union.• Responsibility to decide what’s best for the ‘student body’ in
totality.
Order of precedence
1. Referendum – Campus wide-ballot2. General Meeting – All members invited 3. Board of Trustees4. Assembly5. Zones – All members invited6. Committees
Committees and Forums
Forums – Societies Forum
Committees – Media, Societies, DUCK
Forums/Market Research
Trustees (maybe)AssemblyZoneCommittee
The ideal policy process
Issues raised
Policy discussed and formed
All students invited for comment and discussion
Approval as policy
Considered and approved if financial/legal implications
Policy – a statement of resolve, belief or process agreed democratically that the Union will adopt.
Student Group Representatives• Active: Marisa Plater [email protected]• Outdoor: Tom Stevenson [email protected]• Political & Causes: Will Yuill [email protected]• Music: Sophie Kidwell [email protected]• Hobbies & Games: Adam Symonds [email protected]• Academic: To be Elected• Culture & Faith: To be Elected• Arts: To be Elected• LGBTA Katie Reynolds [email protected]• Mature SA. Rachel Kurtz [email protected]• Disabled SA Steven Williams [email protected]• International SA Lei Wang [email protected]• DUCK Naomi Atkinson [email protected] • Media Ben Hamer [email protected]
Your Voice
Where to Go?Societies, DUCK and Student Fundraising Beth Pearson – Activities ManagerHannah Parratt- Activities Development Coordinator
[email protected] Clinch- Music Coordinator:
[email protected] Burnell- Theatre Coordinator:
[email protected] Thompson - Student Fundraising Coordinator
Democracy & ProcedureDaniel Morgan-Thomas – Assembly Chair
[email protected] Slavin – Union PresidentAndy Speed- Academic Representation Coordinator :
Admin or Unsure??? (room bookings etc.)[email protected]
To make a difference and change something…Krystina Warrington – Activities Officer [email protected] Pocock – Development Officer
[email protected] Abel – Community Officer
[email protected] Morris – Academic Officer
[email protected] Slavin – President
A reminder…
“Representation must never be seen, except in strategic and practical terms, as an end in itself. Too many union officers see it as a question of communication and merely sitting on the appropriate committee. The purpose of representation is to secure educational and social change.”
-Digby Jacks, NUS President 1971-1973
Apathy Staircase
40%
10%
20%
• We can all be shook out of our apathy at any moment
• Most people learn to love their limitations.
• We don’t like to think that we go through life trying to negotiate a load of problems.
• We aren’t asked to reflect on our experience enough – it’s really powerful.
• You’ve got to dig for experiences.
30%
If you push someone down the steps, you
break their legs!!!
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