Latest News
Your Union
Your UnionLatest News
marketing & advertising opportunities click the media pack button.
YOUR UNION
What does your Union do for you?
Your Students’ Union is your organisation, run by students for students. Over 21,000 students studying at the University of Brighton are members. These members can expect to get the support and services they need to not only have a good time at University, but also to have the representation and support they need should they have a problem with the Institution. All students are automatically members of the Union and can access all of our services. However, if you wish to opt out you may do so by writing to the University’s Registrar and Secretary, 28 days before you enrol as a student.
How is the Union Funded?
The Union finances the services it provides partly from a block grant from the University which is currently £682,458, segregated fee income which is currently £180,000 (1% of all student top up fees at the University) and money raised from the Union's trading services.
What you can be sure of is that all officers and staff do their best to ensure that you can have access to the services and support you need from both the University and the Students’ Union.
How does the Union spend its funds?
The Union spends its funds on a range of activities; these include, but are not limited to:
• Sports clubs
• Societies
• Course Reps
• Academic Advocacy
• Community liaison
• 5 shops
• 2 cafes
• 5 frontline offices
• Staff costs
• Officer costs
• Campaigns
• Entertainments & trading activities
A breakdown of the Union’s annual income and expenditure from last year will be available to view online shortly.
So who decides what the Union does?
You! The Union listens to the needs of its student members in a number of ways. Any student can approach a front line office and ask to meet with an elected officer such as the President, or call or email them directly. You can find out more information about contacting officers directly by visiting the contact us page.
You can also attend the Annual General Meeting (often called an AGM), where ordinary students can propose motions to make Union Policy. This policy, if passed then binds the actions of the Union and its officers. So if, for example, you may want to make the Union sell fair-trade goods (which it already does!) you would submit a motion to the AGM and if passed this would bind the Union to sell fair trade goods in its retail outlets. You can find out more about the AGM and submitting motions by visiting the Democracy section of the site.
Once a month, during term time, the Union has a Council meeting. Council is made up of SU elected officers, it is open to all members of the SU to attend and ask for speaking rights. Council can set policy and receive reports from the Union’s various committees. Council then makes recommendations which are rolled out across the Union. Council also agrees to campaigns and ensures they happen. Council is the second highest decision making body within the Union after the AGM.
The Union as a democratic organisation, also has various committees which make recommendations to Council. Most committees meet once a month during the academic year and help set the objectives and work of the Union.
You can view a list of committees by visiting the Democracy section of the site. All committees are open to students to attend, with the exception of Union Staffing Committee, which deals with sensitive and confidential staffing issues.
16/04/09/JR
Bookmark with:
Delicious
Digg
Facebook
reddit
StumbleUpon
|