University of Bath Students’ Union
University of Bath Students’ Union Officer Team win the Officer Team Award
Officer Team Award
1. How has the officer team effectively represented the views of the students’ union members?
A clear difference between the Officer team at the University of Bath SU (SU) and others, is the democratic structures in which they operate. Undertaking consultation through sub-groups of the SU, rather than Union Council, has created an incredible amount of student-led change.
Eight sub-groups of the SU led by the Officer team, executive committees, and general meetings, have provoked a campaigning culture, fighting changes to the academic year, securing the living wage, and the funding of facilities on campus. This form of engagement alone has ensured the Officer Team directly interacts with over 2000+ student leaders each month.
This year, the Officer Team appeared incredibly un-diverse; five, white British, self-defining Men.
The result of the elections prompted the Officer Team to reinvigorate representation at every level of the SU. Women are now more represented more than ever in leadership positions, most noticeably in sport clubs.
The most remarkable change for the 2015/16 Officer team however will be its make-up.
The current Officer team has led this change: Our Women in Leadership conference attended by over 120 students; Officers collectively spending 150 hours at cultural events discussing with international students the merits of participating in democracy. These efforts paid off - in Officer Elections, three out of five Officers for 2015 are women, and one an international student of colour.
Accountability of the Officers has also been a clear priority for the Officer Team this year, with each Officer increasing their student facing hours (30% of their working week) to ensure they are seen by, and available to, the student body.
On average, each Officer has attended 15 student groups over the year, as well as supporting the recognition of students through a month’s worth of ceremonies at the end of the year. Furthermore, the Officers have taken the ‘Union on Tour’ with each Officer racking up to 50 hours each bringing the SU to students across campus.
Additionally, priority has also been given to the Ideas to Action mechanism which ensures any student can directly appeal to the Officer Team about the issues they care about.
2. How has the officer team worked together to make positive impact for the students’ unions members?
The Officer team this year heavily focused on challenging ‘Lad Culture’ in the student community. The ‘Counter the Culture’ campaign looked to create an environment in which discussing and challenging issues of harassment, discrimination and bullying, in all its forms; from sexual harassment to use of language. The campaign, and research over a three week period, engaged well over 2000 students.
The ‘Counter the Culture’ campaign was incredibly unique, with each Officer working within, but across their portfolios to exercise energy on creating real social change in the student community. The development of bespoke training for student leaders, a behavioural framework, new reporting mechanisms, and a series of high profile events has created an environment where students on our campus not only feel safe, but are challenging the rhetoric around disengagement in relation to issues of Equality and Diversity.
A prominent objective for team this year has been empowerment. In particular, the; Race Equality, Gender Equality, Mature and Part Time Students and LGBT+ student groups have become integral in building collective power to challenging institutional problems. Integrating challenging the attainment gap for black and international students, the ‘Tampon Tax’, enhancing student activities and the #That’sSoStraight campaigns into cross Union activity has been essential to affecting change.
Bath SU each year develops a set of ‘Top Ten’ priorities to guide the SU. This year, the Officer team split the priorities, focusing broadly on academic issues, but also the wider student experience. Huge achievements have occurred this year: securing space in town, the prioritisation of e-learning; and ensuring international and postgraduate students at the heart of SU activity.
Through the Ideas to Action process, students have submitted 200 ideas which have all been acted upon, or supported for policy, or for them to take further action.
As a result of the Officers’ higher profile, there was a huge 75% awareness of their work by members.
3. How has the officer team ensured that the students’ union communicates with all of its members?
The Officer team this year heavily focused on challenging ‘Lad Culture’ in the student community. The ‘Counter the Culture’ campaign looked to create an environment in which discussing and challenging issues of harassment, discrimination and bullying, in all its forms; from sexual harassment to use of language. The campaign, and research over a three week period, engaged well over 2000 students.
The ‘Counter the Culture’ campaign was incredibly unique, with each Officer working within, but across their portfolios to exercise energy on creating real social change in the student community. The development of bespoke training for student leaders, a behavioural framework, new reporting mechanisms, and a series of high profile events has created an environment where students on our campus not only feel safe, but are challenging the rhetoric around disengagement in relation to issues of Equality and Diversity.
A prominent objective for team this year has been empowerment. In particular, the; Race Equality, Gender Equality, Mature and Part Time Students and LGBT+ student groups have become integral in building collective power to challenging institutional problems. Integrating challenging the attainment gap for black and international students, the ‘Tampon Tax’, enhancing student activities and the #That’sSoStraight campaigns into cross Union activity has been essential to affecting change.
Bath SU each year develops a set of ‘Top Ten’ priorities to guide the SU. This year, the Officer team split the priorities, focusing broadly on academic issues, but also the wider student experience. Huge achievements have occurred this year: securing space in town, the prioritisation of e-learning; and ensuring international and postgraduate students at the heart of SU activity.
Through the Ideas to Action process, students have submitted 200 ideas which have all been acted upon, or supported for policy, or for them to take further action.
As a result of the Officers’ higher profile, there was a huge 75% awareness of their work by members.
Nominated by Ian Robinson, Students’ Union Staff
What the judges said…
“They demonstrate high levels of student engagement and a commitment to student led change, as well as a strong focus and drive on improving democratic structures and addressing equality and diversity issues” Karen Mellanby, Mind
“They have worked to tackle lad culture and sexual violence and has had a theme of empowerment – in particular tackling race equality, gender equality and LGBT student groups.” Abby Young-Powell, Guardian Education