Students’ Unions are one of the most democratic membership organisations in the UK. Every one of them has its own structure for debating ideas and campaigns and making decisions. They’re run by students who are elected by students – and everyone can have their say.
Here at Christ Church SU, our democratic structure is called Union Council.
The Council meets at least 5 times a year and produces policy which is created from issues affecting students which can be to do with your life, your university life or your union.
The council also runs campaigns to change things for the better of the student experience and the community, and to create awareness about issues which matter to you.
Union Council Officers
The Union Council is made up of 22 elected officers who represent all of the cohorts across the university. This year's members of the Union Council are listed below. You can click their role to view their role description or email them using the email address provided.
Vacant Positions
For mid-year vacant positions you may put yourself forward to be co-opted in. To do this, you must attend the next Union Council meeting and present why you would like to stand for the position. You will then be asked to leave the room and the members will vote. If you are interested in any vacant roles and would like to put yourself forward at the next Union Council meeting please email pasha.hughes@ccsu.co.uk to confirm your attendance.
Click the name of the officer for their success plan and click the role for the role description.
Union Council Motions and Policy Guidance
Here at CCSU, the actions that are made are dictated by Student Officers that are elected by students and dictated on student-created policies.
If you as a student want to see change for the better in your Union/ University/community then we encourage you to write a motion and promote it to the Union Council to be decided if it should be adapted as policy. A motion only becomes a policy when the Union Council voted for it in one of the meetings.
If a proposal becomes a policy then the Union takes that as a statement of belief on the organisation on the particular issue. These policies, then placed, can then instruct officers to carry out tasks, such as running campaigns on a particular issue.
Once a policy is made, it normally lasts for three years, and within that time the Union Council reviews them
You can view current policies and motions including sabbatical and union council champions in the democratic policy tracking sheet HERE
Motions
As said earlier, before a policy is made, a policy proposal (motion) has to be made, and submitted to the Union Council so that it can be reviewed and considered. Every student at CCCU is automatically a part of CCSU, and all have a right to propose a Motion.
If you feel that you have a potential policy that will benefit to the students and the University/ Union then send a Motion in and see what happens. Who knows- it could make a big difference.
If you want to write a motion but do not know how to write one, then click here.
Once you have completed a motion, send it to pasha.hughes@ccsu.co.uk for it to be reviewed.
Who is responsible for ensuring policies are followed within the Union?
When a policy has been approved, the Union Council mandates and oversees the work on the policy; however the party that is responsible is the elected officer(s) that has been selected to ensure the policy is worked on.
When is the deadline before Student Council meetings to submit a motion?
The majority of time if you bring a motion of the day of the meeting a decision on it will be decided then and there. However if there is a lot to go through on the day then it is advised that the motion is to be submitted to Union Council members 5 days in advance.
Union Council Meeting Dates:
Current Academic Year 2018/19:
- 1st meeting 12 December 2018
- 2nd meeting 7th February 2019
- 3rd meeting 5th March 2019
- Agenda
- Minutes and Actions - Cancelled - not quotorate
- 4th meeting 3rd April 2019
- 5th meeting 10th May 2019
PREVIOUS YEARS
Academic Year 2016/17:
Academic Year 2015/16:
Academic Year 2014/15: