How Does the Union work?

The most important thing to remember about the Union and the College is that any student can bring about change. The structure of the Union both itself and how it fits within the structure of the College has evolved into a hierarchy, which places students at the very forefront of decision making. Any student can submit a motion to Student Parliament regardless of whether they are an elected Class Representative, Officer, Governor or Sabbatical. Any student can make contact with their Class Representative or a member of the Executive and request them to raise their view or concerns to the College, that’s what they are there for… USE THEM!

Every student is primarily represented by their Class Representative who will sit on your School’s Council. They meet six times a year to discuss your concerns and requests. If your concerns can not be solved through these meetings it will then be taken to Student Parliament which meets four times a year. Parliament is open to discussion of any student matter and has an open door for any student to attend, there are some members of the College who will be required at Parliament meetings, such as Class Representatives, the Executive Committee, the Principal and other members of the Principalship should they be required. Motions that are passed at these meetings and students concerns that are not solved are then taken to Senior Management meetings and Student Affairs Committee by the Student Union President. At each stage of this process the Executive Committee will be updated by the President and discussions on the matters will take place. The Executive Committee meets every week. The Committee comprises of the President and Vice President, both of whom are sabbaticals, i.e. they take a year out of their studies

to fulfil their role. Then there are a following ten executive officers, each working on their own criteria such as entertainments and welfare. The Executive committee is selected every Spring in a college wide ballot – where every student has the opportunity to choose their Representatives first hand.

The Executive Committee along with Parliament and School Councils feed work into the President who then has ultimate responsibility of turning all of the wishes of the student community into reality.