Student Council Training Student Council Training 2013-142013-14

Eddie RowleyEddie Rowley

Students’ Union Liaison & Students’ Union Liaison & Quality CoordinatorQuality Coordinator

ChangeChange

There are lot of changes to SUThere are lot of changes to SU– New Governing documentsNew Governing documents– New opportunitiesNew opportunities– Development still on-goingDevelopment still on-going

Council role has changedCouncil role has changed

Needs to focus on Student experience and Needs to focus on Student experience and wider student concernswider student concerns

Move its focus from internal Union issuesMove its focus from internal Union issues

What today’s session will What today’s session will covercover• What's the SU / Aims and objectivesWhat's the SU / Aims and objectives

• Democracy, Governance and AccountabilityDemocracy, Governance and Accountability

• MetSU structureMetSU structure

• The Student CouncilThe Student Council

• How the Student Council worksHow the Student Council works

• Motions and QuorumMotions and Quorum

• Points or order & Procedural motions Points or order & Procedural motions

• SU TrusteesSU Trustees

• SU WebsiteSU Website

What's a Student UnionWhat's a Student UnionNo1 Representation of Students

• equal access is available to all Members of whatever origin or equal access is available to all Members of whatever origin or orientation; orientation;

• pursue its aims and objectives independent of any political party pursue its aims and objectives independent of any political party or religious groupor religious group

• pursue equal opportunities by taking positive action within the law pursue equal opportunities by taking positive action within the law to facilitate participation of groupsto facilitate participation of groups

• promoting the interests and welfare of Students at London promoting the interests and welfare of Students at London Metropolitan University during their course of study and Metropolitan University during their course of study and representing, supporting and advising Students; representing, supporting and advising Students;

• being the recognised representative channel between Students being the recognised representative channel between Students and London Metropolitan University and any other external bodies; and London Metropolitan University and any other external bodies; and and

• providing social, cultural, and recreational activities and forums providing social, cultural, and recreational activities and forums for discussions and debate for the personal development of its for discussions and debate for the personal development of its Students. Students.

Definitions Definitions

• DemocracyDemocracy

• GovernanceGovernance

• AccountabilityAccountability

DefinitionsDefinitions

• Democracy is ‘is system of Government by the Democracy is ‘is system of Government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives’state, typically through elected representatives’

• Governance is ‘the action or manner of Governance is ‘the action or manner of governing a state of organisation’ governing a state of organisation’

• Accountability is the requirement and expectation Accountability is the requirement and expectation to justify actions or decisions. To be held to justify actions or decisions. To be held responsible or accountable.responsible or accountable.

MetSU structureMetSU structure

There are six main groups which make up MetSU:There are six main groups which make up MetSU:

• StudentsStudents

• Student CouncilStudent Council

• Executive CommitteeExecutive Committee

• Student Academic Representatives (StARs)Student Academic Representatives (StARs)

• SocietiesSocieties

• TrusteesTrustees

Student CouncilStudent Council

What is the purpose of the Student Council?What is the purpose of the Student Council?

Student CouncilStudent Council

• Student Council exists as a democratic body for Student Council exists as a democratic body for students to bring forward and students to bring forward and discuss matters discuss matters of concern of concern to them, their education and in their to them, their education and in their dealings with the dealings with the University and/or UnionUniversity and/or Union. It . It can provide can provide recommendations to Trusteesrecommendations to Trustees, , offer offer direction to Officers and hold them to direction to Officers and hold them to accountaccount. It can r. It can raise its concerns to the aise its concerns to the UniversitUniversity and can be y and can be consultedconsulted on both on both University and Union development and change. University and Union development and change. Although having a role in union governance Although having a role in union governance it is it is not a primary governing body of the Unionnot a primary governing body of the Union. .

Some tings council does (I.E)Some tings council does (I.E)

•makes policy recommendations to the Trustees, makes policy recommendations to the Trustees,

•receive a quarterly report from the Trustees; receive a quarterly report from the Trustees;

•elect reps to the Board of Trustees. elect reps to the Board of Trustees.

•convene sub-committees convene sub-committees

•to admit and remove Honorary Members. to admit and remove Honorary Members.

•direct and hold accountable the Executive Committee. direct and hold accountable the Executive Committee.

•elect delegates to meetings and conferences.elect delegates to meetings and conferences.

•agree new and review existing affiliationsagree new and review existing affiliations

•discuss and feed back on University initiatives and actions discuss and feed back on University initiatives and actions

Structure of the Student Structure of the Student CouncilCouncil• 10 Executive Committee Officers

• Up to 24 Affiliated Clubs and Society Representatives

• Up to 24 Student Academic Representatives (StAR’s)

• Up to 10 Elected Representatives

Up to 64 seats in total

Student Council – Executive Student Council – Executive ReportsReports• Executive Committee shall present via the President a written

report to every council meeting which shall outline past work performed since the last council meeting

The report shall:-

• List work, activities, developments etc since the last meeting• List the directions and action points from the previous Council

Meetings, which have been delegated to that named Executive Officers

• Indicate whether all or part of the directions has been fulfilled• List success, problems, concerns etc• Encourage student council members to ask you questions on

your report and share any thought and issues with them

Student IssuesStudent Issues•Your concern can be raised in a number of waysYour concern can be raised in a number of ways

•We encourage formal motions but you can get We encourage formal motions but you can get help with thesehelp with these

•If you got something you want to raise speak to If you got something you want to raise speak to the chair, Eddie or Presidentthe chair, Eddie or President

•It important you let us know what you want It important you let us know what you want discussed discussed

•Must be of interest or LMU studentsMust be of interest or LMU students

Student Council – Policy and Student Council – Policy and MotionsMotions

What is a policy?What is a policy?

What is a motion?What is a motion?

Student Council – Policy and Student Council – Policy and MotionsMotions

• A policy is a course or principle of action adopted A policy is a course or principle of action adopted or proposed by an organisation or individualor proposed by an organisation or individual

• A motion is A motion is a formal proposal put to a legislature a formal proposal put to a legislature or committee, with the aim of making the policy or committee, with the aim of making the policy happenhappen

Oxford dictionaryOxford dictionary

Student Council – Policy and Student Council – Policy and MotionsMotionsA motion is split into 3 partsA motion is split into 3 parts

This council notes… (this is facts)This council notes… (this is facts) This council believes… (this is opinion)This council believes… (this is opinion) This council resolves… (this is action for the exec)This council resolves… (this is action for the exec)

Motion tips:Motion tips:• Motions should be student centred and on issues Motions should be student centred and on issues directlydirectly facing facing

studentsstudents• Motions should have a proposer and a seconderMotions should have a proposer and a seconder• Keep them brief and to the pointKeep them brief and to the point• Motions and policies need to be submitted and passed for the SU to take Motions and policies need to be submitted and passed for the SU to take

a specific policy on an issue or to support a specific campaign. a specific policy on an issue or to support a specific campaign. • Motions and policies do not need to lay out in great detail what your plan Motions and policies do not need to lay out in great detail what your plan

or actions are. Your actions and steps to take can be seen as ‘within the or actions are. Your actions and steps to take can be seen as ‘within the spirit’’ of the policy. spirit’’ of the policy.

• For example if the motion is about a campaign, you don’t need to list all For example if the motion is about a campaign, you don’t need to list all the ways you may campaign: letter writing, posters, face-book, petition, the ways you may campaign: letter writing, posters, face-book, petition, lobby, placards , protests etc. It is enough to say ‘ SU to actively lobby, placards , protests etc. It is enough to say ‘ SU to actively campaign and take action on this issue’ campaign and take action on this issue’

If you want help just ask usIf you want help just ask us

Motion exerciseMotion exercise

• ExerciseExercise

• Write a motion Write a motion

Submission of motions & Submission of motions & amendmentsamendments• All motions must be submitted emailed to of the All motions must be submitted emailed to of the

Student Union (which will be passed to the chair) at Student Union (which will be passed to the chair) at least 10 working days before the date of the council least 10 working days before the date of the council meeting. meeting.

• They will then be circulated. Amendments to motions They will then be circulated. Amendments to motions (changes to them) can be submitted by any Student (changes to them) can be submitted by any Student council members. to make an amendment you must council members. to make an amendment you must have another SC members to support or ‘second’ you have another SC members to support or ‘second’ you amendment the amendments.amendment the amendments.

• The chair will then update the agenda and send it The chair will then update the agenda and send it round again at least 48 hours before the meeting. It round again at least 48 hours before the meeting. It will also be printed ready for the meeting. will also be printed ready for the meeting.

Student Council – QuorumStudent Council – Quorum

What is Quorum?What is Quorum?

Student Council – QuaracyStudent Council – Quaracy• ““Quorum” is a minimum number of members of Quorum” is a minimum number of members of

council who should be present at a meeting to make it council who should be present at a meeting to make it officialofficial

• This number is set based on the total number of This number is set based on the total number of people who should be on council but can be adjusted people who should be on council but can be adjusted if people are not elected to positionsif people are not elected to positions

• If a meeting is not quorate, votes can be taken but If a meeting is not quorate, votes can be taken but they are merely recommendations for future meetingsthey are merely recommendations for future meetings

• SC quorum is 50% + 1. SC quorum is 50% + 1.

• ANY QUESTIONS?ANY QUESTIONS?