Falmouth & Exeter Students’ Union collect their Small & Specialist Students’ Union Award
Small & Specialist Students’ Union Award
1. How has the union ensured that it meets the needs of its members?
FXU reflects on student opinion gathered throughout the year by examining individual responses from the NSS survey, the FXU Student Survey, student experience survey, student polls, student rep data and actively engaging with students through ‘Woodlane Walkabouts’ and ‘Feedback Fridays’. This year we gathered quantitative feedback from 2772 members (47%) and qualitative feedback from 1242 students (20%). Topics included; student experience, academic experience, library fines, printing costs, FXU mission, vision and values and student arrivals.
Resulting from this feedback, our main strategic focus for the year was to enhance our student voice. The elected Officers developed our Top 10 student priorities in partnership with both institutions, currently in the final stages of completion. Falmouth University had retained management of the student representation system since FXU’s creation 10 years ago; however after a year of lobbying, FXU finally took over the recruitment, training and support of 245 student reps; this significant shift brought reps from both institutions together under the same representational banner. Furthermore, we drastically redesigned the Hall Rep system so that it could better access and represent students living in on-campus, off-campus, and private accommodation.
We have over 100 clubs & societies - an average of 84% more clubs & societies than other Universities with up to 10,000 FTE students. We have a club or society for every 69 students; the 4th highest ratio in UK students’ unions. We also have 104% more volunteers than other Small Universities; 1 of out every 14 students has volunteered with FXU.2. How have the activities of the union resulted in a positive impact for students and the community?
Students wanted increased financial transparency; we were able to release Falmouth’s financial figures online which HEFCE highlighted ‘good practice’.
Developed annual Falmouth & Exeter University Course Cost checker
Mental Health First Aid Training provisionally approved for ALL personal tutors. 11% of students are currently affected by mental health issues.
Campaigned for £50,000 increase (+10%) in Student Support Service budget.
2 Wellbeing Days and mental health campaign ‘#MindYourHead’ physically engaged 11% of the student population.
Nightline was set up to support students.
Study Abroad buddy scheme established to tackle student isolation.
Inputted into the 2020 Campus Master Plan demanding transparency of campus growth to accommodate student numbers
Successfully lobbied for different styles and prices for new student halls.
University of Exeter confirmed a fixed-fee guarantee for all international students.
International students will be supplied pre-arrival with ‘International Cornwall’, a new document containing tailored practical information.
£10,000 secured from both universities for ‘international’ events 2016-17.
Successfully lobbied Falmouth University to open the Access to Learning Fund to international students from September 2015.
£20,000 bursary ring-fenced to support students struggling to pay for university-owned accommodation from September 2015.
Gender neutral toilet facilities introduced.
The ‘Research & Performance Exchange’,, celebrated our broadly talented students in a multi-disciplinary cross-campus showcase.
70% of students wanted improved sports facilities; FXU lobbied to secure £4m of investment.
Supported by Falmouth Careers, 11% of students joined the Creative Skills Exchange, now actively ‘trading’ their skills with each other.
RaG fundraising total +51% on last year.3. What steps has the union taken over the last year to ensure that the democratic processes that are used to make decisions are open and inclusive?
Student Reps as mentioned above have opened our representational structures to all students and made them fully democratic.
The Falmouth President and VC re-drafted the Student Charter and the Falmouth University Academic Pledge was published using feedback from 26% of the student population. The University agreed that the results will be embedded into the University T&L Strategy. This will have positive impacts on all students.
For Exeter, in partnership with the Students’ Guild, a ‘Guild/FXU Vision for Education’ document was drafted and will form the basis of the University’s Student Engagement Strategy.
FXU Student Council voted to create 6 new liberation officers to the representation of minority groups within FXU.
All Exeter Student Staff Liaison Committees now have an Employability Rep who presents discipline-based employability initiatives as requested by students.
Introduced new roles to Student Council on student feedback – International Officer, two Post-Graduate Officers, Liberation Chair, Student Community Housing Reps (Private Accommodation), Hall Reps and appointing Subject Chairs as Academic Reps.
The My Vote Matters campaign saw a 559% increase in voter registration in campus halls, with approximately 300 students living off-campus registering on FXU Voter Registration Day alone. We hosted 4 MP Grills covering the two marginal constituencies our students live in, and we partnered with BBC and Royal Cornwall Museum for two more. Over 300 students attended these events. A polling station was secured (minibus shuttles running to other polling stations) and we were commended by both universities and the council for high voter turnout.4. How is the union perceived by its members, stakeholders, officers and staff, and what is it doing to improve its perception?
Oussama Kardi, 2nd Year Politics Student – ‘FXU is truly fantastic… committed to ensuring an enriched student experience and championing the student voice’.
Improved our NSS score for the 3rd year running 63% to 75%
Over 90% student satisfaction in the following FXU services; societies, sports clubs, advice and volunteering
Students suggested that FXU should work on their awareness and visibility. We have developed a new website (unique page views increased by 20%), written our first impact report and produced our Top 10 booklet.
A Mature Student Network and Mature Student Society set-up. Post-Graduate student flats are to be built in new accommodation. Exeter Postgraduate courses will have their own College based Student Staff Liaison Committee.
Every campaign the team has run this year has been represented at both the Penryn and Woodlane campuses, from FXU Loves You (15.4% physical engagement) at the beginning of the year to #MindYourHead (8% physical engagement) and our FXU Voter Registration Day (18% physical engagement).
Monday ‘Woodlane Walkabouts’ and ‘Feedback Fridays’, saw Officers moving around the campuses, to collect student feedback. This led to improved storage, higher election turnouts and better awareness of FXU activities.
The ‘Make a Change’ (Student Ideas) tab will be introduced in September 2015 to provide students with the opportunity to propose new policy in order to hold FXU fully representative and accountable to student needs.
Annual Garden Party sold out in 1 minute and 30 seconds and all other nigh time events were sold out.
Nominated by Rob Gofton, Students’ Union Staff
What the judges said…
“Innovative and creative approaches are delivering tangible improvements and results for FXU, underpinned by strong and accountable student leadership. The Union has invested in gathering an evidence base to underpin its work and inform its strategic direction.FXU’s portfolio of achievements spans the breadth of the student experience and ranges from securing bursary funding for students in need of financial support for accommodation costs, an increased student support service budget and improved induction materials for international students.” Shane Chowen, NIACE
“There was good evidence of the union and university working well together, such as the President and VC re-drafting the 
Student Charter and the Falmouth University Academic Pledge based on feedback from 26% of the student population. The University agreed that the results will be embedded into the University T&L Strategy.” Alex Bols, GuildHE