Your Guide to
Student Council All You Need to Know!
HertsSU
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What is Student Council? Student Council is the highest student-led representational body at the Students’ Union. It’s a place where students are able to approve new ideas and policies within the Students’ Union, and help set its overall direction for the year ahead by discussing and voting on all of the key decisions being made. It’s also the main platform by which you can hold your Elected Officers to account, and ensure that they are working hard on the things they promised, and that matter to you most. • Is there something you want to be changed about your University experience? • Want to hear from the Elected Officers directly, and see what they actually get up to? Student Council allows you the opportunity for both, plus a whole lot more…
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Karthik Bonkur President
“Student Council helps us to understand your thoughts and feelings on a whole host of topics – make sure you attend so that we can listen to them!”
Saad Raees
Vice President Education “If there’s something you want to change about your academic experience, raising it at Student Council is a great way of putting it on mine and others’ radar!”
Kayleigh Malone
Vice President Community “Student Council’s great for building your experience in debate and public speaking – come along and be your own voice!”
Bobbie Jay
Vice President Activities “As Elected Officers we work in your best interests on a daily basis, and at Student Council you’ll have the chance to question and hear all about it!”
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Why does it exist? The Students’ Union, your Elected Officers, Student Council… it all exists so that you can have a direct say in shaping your experience here at the University of Hertfordshire. It’s important that your voice is heard, and Student Council provides the platform by which it can be enhanced and used to drive positive and meaningful change. The bottom line is, there is no Students’ Union without you! Everything we do and prioritise is done based on your feedback, for your benefit.
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What’s happened previously? In 2019/20, we covered a LOT of ground, and had some very useful and insightful discussions into several areas of interest… Society Inclusion Officers Led by last year’s VP Activities and the Student Activities team, a discussion around the importance of inclusivity and wellbeing within Societies meant that they became mandated committee positions for the year ahead. Their purpose will be to ensure that all students feel welcomed in joining a Society, and champion the overall wellbeing of their members. Environmental Policy Students expressed a desire for the Students’ Union to focus more attention on being environmentally friendly, and an enthusiastic discussion on the topic led to some really great ideas being collected for consideration in the development of a policy. Student Networks Following the expansion of the Students’ Union’s representational work to cover certain areas in more specific detail (e.g. BAME*, Postgraduate), there was appetite to create a proper structure for this, hence the introduction of Networks from this year. *Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Other areas included things like security on campus, the pros and cons of group work, campus accommodation prices and much, much more. All of it was led by you, as students of Herts. 5
Who attends? Given its importance, you will find a lot of key stakeholders at Student Council; starting, of course, with your Elected Officers: President - Karthik Bonkur Find out more about Karthik and his projects at hertfordshire.su/president
Vice-President Activities Bobbie Jay Find out more about Bobbie and his projects at hertfordshire.su/vpactivities
Vice-President Community Kayleigh Malone Find out more about Kayleigh and her projects at hertfordshire.su/vpcommunity
Vice-President Education Saad Raees
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Find out more about Saad and his projects at hertfordshire.su/vpeducation
In addition, the Chief Executive of the Students’ Union will be in attendance, alongside staff from the Student Voice team and across the SU, should any specialised insight or knowledge be required. Student-wise, a whole range of students attend, consisting of Student Reps, School Community Organisers (SCOs), Society Committee Members, and many more of your peers who simply want to be involved in the discussions and decisions that will affect the experience of themselves and others. And in terms of hosting the meeting itself, this is all led by a student as well; our Chair of Student Council. The Chair of Student Council In the first Student Council meeting of the year, our Chairperson is elected by the students in attendance. Their role, as the name suggests, is to chair all of the meetings we have throughout the year, and act as the anchor of the Students’ Union’s democratic processes, ensuring that every student can have their say, and that the Elected Officers are held accountable in their own roles. Being the Chair is an extremely rewarding position to hold as a student, as you will build key skills throughout the year that help with your personal development, from communication and leadership, to negotiation and public speaking. For more information on what the role entails, and how you can get involved in putting yourself forward for the Chair election this year, keep a close eye on our web page and Socials! 7
Why should you get involved? Your Elected Officers are paid to work for you full-time, so it’s important that what they do is driven by you – Student Council is your opportunity to hold them to account.
You’ll play your part in shaping the direction of the work the Students’ Union does as a whole. You’ll develop your own debating and public speaking skills, and learn from others at the same time. You’ll gain a wider and more in-depth understanding of the current issues facing students, and what your peers think about them.
You’ll be in the room when key decisions are being made, so can make sure that your own views and opinions are taken into account.
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How can you get involved? •
Follow our web page and Socials to keep up to date with what’s being discussed, what’s being done, and when the meetings are taking place.
HertsSU •
Submit a motion – a proposal of something you want to see changed, implemented or discussed – via our webpage, or get in touch with the Student Voice team to discuss an issue or policy that you want to be raised.
• Get in touch with your Elected Officers to get some background on what they’re up to, or give them feedback on something you want them to work on. •
Put yourself forward to be the Chair and become one of our Student Leaders. • Simply turn up to one of our meetings – all students are welcome to attend and get involved!
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Now that you’re all up on Student Council, we look forward to seeing you soon! Find out more about Student Council on our website hertfordshire.su/studentcouncil Email us at studentcouncil@hertfordshire.su
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