Glasgow Caledonian University Students’ Association
Annual Report 2008/09
Glasgow Caledonian University Students’ Association is a registered Scottish charity, number SC022887
MISSION
To represent and enable students to enhance all aspects of their student experience
VISION
That our students will have an outstanding experience that will live with them forever
VALUES Diversity We are proud of our diverse student body and are dedicated to activities that celebrate this diversity. Community We foster a welcoming and inclusive environment, allowing students to form and build upon strong, lasting relationships that contribute into an enjoyable and productive university life. Participation We promote and provide the opportunity for widespread involvement through sports, societies, volunteering and in all our activities. Fun We are dedicated and passionate about the professional nature of working for students whilst maintaining a fun and friendly atmosphere. Support We provide a high level of consistent, reliable, confidential and independent support, ensuring the welfare of all our students. Leadership Throughout all our activities we encourage students to become leaders, to take pride in their university and fellow students, enabling them to be outstanding graduates.
Welcome! It is with immense pride and pleasure that I am able to introduce the first ever Annual Report from Glasgow Caledonian University Students’ Association. 2008/2009 was a real struggle of a year to start off with. In June 2008, the Students’ Association underwent a massive transformation with the loss of our commercial services. The newly elected executive arrived on the cusp of that change. The team had finally been presented with the sole focus of representing the students of Glasgow Caledonian University. It turned out to be an amazing year, smashing records of volunteer numbers left right and centre, giving a greater voice for students resulting in some of the highest profile campaigns we have ever won and building and providing extensive opportunities for our members to develop and strengthen their own University experiences. Reading this, it is more than likely that you were part of this success, whether it be as one of our volunteers, partner at the University or just a friend of the Association, well done. Thank you for all your hard work and give yourself a pat on the back for making a memorable year, unforgettable! As you’ll know, we had a good bit of fun along the way so hopefully the following pages will act as a nice reminder and hopefully inspire more to go out and GET INVOLVED!!! We are Caley,
Paddy Hastie Student President 2008 – 2009
Contents
Outgoing President’s Welcome
2
Democracy & Governance
4
Campaigns
5
Student Reps and Summit
6
Caledonian Conference
7
Student Welfare
8
Societies
10
Student Media
11
Student Leaders Programme
12
Freshers and GIAG
13
Engaging and Listening to Our Students
14
Sports
15
Sporting Success
16
People and Money
18
Awards and Recognition
20
Looking Ahead
21
Executive Committee Elections On Thursday 26th of March the elections took place for the new Executive Committee, the trustees of the charity. All four of the sabbatical officer positions were contested and all five of the part-time lay officer positions were filled. In all 16 students ran for Executive Committee places and the turnout was 1890 representing a 16% increase on 2007/08.
Caledonian Student Parliament There was greater engagement with Caledonian Student Parliament with the average attendance rising by 20% and an average of 33 students attending each meeting. A wide range of policies were passed by the Parliament including a renewed call for Wednesday Afternoons Off, support for the new Academic Year Structure with the exam diet moved to December, new Environmental and Fair Trade policies, and a policy against sports initiations. Parliament was also visited twice by members of the National Union of Students with Gurjit Singh, NUS Scotland President, and Richard Budden, National Secretary, both addressing meetings of the CSP.
National Union of Students This year also saw increased engagement with NUS democratic events with students attending fourteen conferences over the course of the year making sure that the voice of Glasgow Caledonian University students is represented at a national level. More students than ever chose to get involved with NUS leading to contested elections for National Conference and NUS Scotland Conference delegations. Other highlights of the year included the Student President, Paddy Hastie, making the opening speech on the NUS Governance Review debate at an Extraordinary Conference held to discuss the reform of NUS and Caledonian Student, Sampson Akwafuo, being elected onto the Steering Committee of the Black Students Campaign.
Governance The Students’ Association also took some time to look at its own governance structures this year and the Executive Committee took forward several reforms of the Constitution to the Caledonian Student Parliament for approval to make the Association’s democratic structures more transparent and understandable, to clarify the roles and responsibilities of Executive Committee members and to introduce and embed the new Mission, Vision & Values of the Association.
4
Democracy and Governance
#ALEDONIAN 3 T U D E N T 0ARLIAMENT
Campaigns 2008-2009 was a very successful year for Students’ Association campaigns seeing the decision to move exams before Christmas, have free drinking water provided on campus and 24 hour library opening around both exam diets.
Exams before Christmas Having been one of the most popular ideas to come out of the inaugural 2008 conference for Class Reps, the Caledonian Conference, exams before Christmas swiftly rose up the university agenda as the Executive Committee and the Student Parliament passed motions calling for this move. Successful lobbying by the Executive Committee led to the Principal of the University supporting the idea and University Senate agreeing to implement the change in academic year 2010-2011.
you d... wante
you got it! From next year the first semester exams will be taking place before the christmas break instead of afterwards thanks to student opinion expressed in –
www.thestudentsurvey.com
Free drinking water The lack of available drinking water on campus had long been an issue for students on campus had long been an issue for students at GCU who did not want to have to pay for drinking water while studying. This year Student President, Paddy Hastie, raised the issue with the university Executive who agreed to fund the installation of four drinking fountains on campus. The Executive Committee then promoted the new fountains by giving out GCUSA branded water bottles for students to use to get their free water.
Glasgow Caledonian University Students’ Association Scottish Charity No. SC022887
you d... wante
you got it! Free water is now available in the saltire centre and is coming to three more sites this semester thanks to student opinion expressed in –
www.thestudentsurvey.com
24 hour library opening Following the success and popularity of 24 hour library opening at universities around the country and strong student support for the idea at GCU, the Executive Committee convinced the university to pilot 24 hour library opening for this year’s semester A exams. Due to the great uptake of this scheme the pilot was extended to run for the exam period in the second semester and after that it was confirmed that 24 hour access would be in place for the exam diets in the coming academic year.
Glasgow Caledonian University Students’ Association Scottish Charity No. SC022887
nt? you wa
YOU can have it... If you want the trial 24 hour opening of the saltire centre to be extended to happen around every exam diet let us know at –
www.thestudentsurvey.com
Campaigns
Glasgow Caledonian University Students’ Association Scottish Charity No. SC022887
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Student Reps This year has seen the Students’ Association’s role in the Class Representative system grow even further with 27% more reps registered taking the total to 461 and a 25% increase in the number of rep receiving training for the role with a total of 139 attending one of the fourteen training sessions run by the Students’ Association. Developments using the Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment aim to make training more accessible to a wider audience of Class Reps for the new academic year.
Student Summit Following the success of the inaugural Caledonian Conference it was decided, in order to help make sure that future Conference events were more student led and to have greater engagement with Class Reps in Semester A, to create an afternoon event called the Student Summit. The first ever Student Summit took the key themes from GCU’s National Student Survey results and Class Rep Feedback and asked students about VLEs, timetabling, feedback and induction (the last topic feeding directly into the continuing development of the University’s New2GCU induction programme). Class Rep feedback for the event was overwhelming positive with all reps agreeing that it was a worthwhile and interesting event. The direct result of the Summit was the creation of a more detailed discussion with Class Reps on timetabling based on their concerns and a presentation on the latest developments with blending learning taking place at the Conference.
An excellent focussed event, good direction, kept to the point & seems like productive actions will be taken. – Feedback from a Class Rep on Student Summit.
6
Student Reps and Summit
ENT D U 3T
3UMMIT
Caledonian Conference After the inaugural Conference in 2008, Caledonian Conference has continued to grow in stature with over sixty reps again turning out for the full day conference. Opened by the Principal, Professor Pamela Gillies, Conference 2009 addressed the following themes: • • •
Placements, Work related learning & Studying Abroad Block timetabling, University support for personal study & Wednesday Afternoons Off Graduate Attributes in the 21st Century
O N D E L #A FERENIAN CE #ON
The last of these tying in with the research on the QAA Enhancement Theme of the same title. Class Reps found the topics to be interesting a huge deal of feedback was gathered showing support for greater access to placements, better designed timetables with Wednesday afternoons off and greater partnerships between academics and industry. The event also saw the election of students to sit on each of the University’s School Boards. These students, known as School Officers, will for the first time be paid a small sum of money for the additional work required in this role. Overall, feedback from university staff and students was very positive with some of the following comments left by reps on their feedback sheets:
ractive meetings One of the most enjoyable and inte that something I have attended. Felt listened to and es raised. Great may actually be done about the issu conference.
A very valuable opportunity to meet other class reps, from other schools & share views on issues that affect us all, both undergraduates & postgraduates. Speakers were great and a big thanks to all involved. Food was excellent. A great day. Tha nks.
and some very Fantastic event very interesting everyone had a worthwhile group discussions which say in.
Caledonian Conference
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Student Welfare We’re Here To Help The Welfare Department provides a free non-judgemental and confidential service to all our students and is open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm where students can drop in or book an appointment to see one of our two advisers.
Bereavement Self Help Guide
The Welfare Department dealt with a total of 1806 student enquiries 08/09 Increase of 431 from 07/08
We offer advice, guidance and support on a wide range of issues including: • Academic Regulations – Appeals and Special Factors • Student Disciplinaries • Personal and emotional problems • Employment rights • Financial worries • Sexual health
Panic Attacks
Glasgow Caledonian University Students’ Association
Scottish Charity No. SC022887
Self Help Guide
Aftercare Process Our aftercare initiative was developed last year to enhance the already established process for casework students. Students who required ongoing support for specific issues were contacted regularly to maintain contact with the department through telephone calls, emails and appointments. This proved to be extremely beneficial for many students who were going through an Academic Appeal, Disciplinary or Complaint and required additional re-assurance and support.
Glasgow Caledonian University Students’ Association
Scottish Charity No. SC022887
Sleep Problems Self Help Guide
C-Card Service (free condoms) We are approved as a registration and distribution site through the Sandyford Initiative which enables us to offer a free supply of condoms through this C-Card service. This service is particularly popular at lunchtimes and we have displayed our own C-Card banner in the foyer of the building which has attracted many new registrations during the academic year.
Glasgow Caledonian University Students’ Association
Scottish Charity No. SC022887
Depression & Low Mood Self Help Guide
Glasgow Caledonian University Students’ Association
Scottish Charity No. SC022887
Stress Self Help Guide
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Glasgow Caledonian University Students’ Association
Student Welfare
Scottish Charity No. SC022887
Welfare Volunteering Programme Following a review of the programme every campaign was given specific aim/ objectives including targets and outcomes. This allowed us to monitor the impact of each campaign and record the findings. These were communicated to our volunteers at awareness sessions which allowed the volunteers to engage more appropriately with students on campaign days. Campaigns 2008/09 • Personal Safety • Alcohol Awareness • SHAG (Sexual Health & Guidance) • C-Card promotion • Money Management • Wellbeing Fair Our volunteer recruitment was crucial this year as we only had one volunteer remaining on the programme from the previous year. However, we did manage to achieve 15 volunteers who actively engaged in the programme and without their commitment we would not be able to deliver such a wide and varied programme.
Nightline The Welfare Department, together with Strathclyde Union, jointly co-ordinate the student volunteer run Strathclyde and Caledonian Nightline service. Nightline has grown from strength to strength in its first year within the Welfare Department. Volunteer numbers have expanded to a team of 40 – the highest number of volunteers in Strathclyde and Caledonian Nightline’s recorded history! This has enabled service levels to significantly improve compared to 2007/8 and, as a result of this and of sustained Nightline Awareness-raising over the year, the number of calls taken by the volunteers has increased to more than twice the number recorded in 2007/08. Nightline has also achieved significant quality improvements: publicity and recruitment materials were updated and fully re-designed; and the weekend long introductory training schedule was revised and updated. The Nightline Policy document was fully revised and all policies and procedures were updated in line with the Telephone Helpline Association Good Practice Guidelines. In March Nightline successfully became an Associate Member of the Telephone Helpline Association.
Welfare Department
9
Student Societies Societies saw their highest membership ever this year, with 1236 members, compared to 812 in 2007/08 with membership of individual societies ranged from 10 members to over 200. There are a total of 34 affiliated societies, an increase of 12 from last year. New societies include: • Signs 4 Life • Poker, Comedy • Photographic • Nigerian Students • Accountancy • Erasmus, • Tamil Nanbarghal • Politics • Radiography • Biomedical • Hellenic • Research Students • Dance Society This year saw the launch of the fortnightly societies newsletter which has increased engagement with societies wanting information circulated within the community. The newsletter is sent to all society committee volunteers and members.
10
Societies
Radio Caley Radio Caley launched with a live broadcast on 16th February 2009 after approximately 4 years of planning. After the launch shows have been pre-recorded and broadcast for 3-4 hours per day Monday to Friday on www.radiocaley.com Radio Caley have a group of regular contributors and a very active committee. With studio access being extended to 9am-9pm and new equipment purchased, everything is now in place for shows to be broadcast live in the new academic year.
Re:Union The Re:Union student magazine has had a really successful year with four magazines printed, a full editorial team and an increase of 97 students on the writers mailing list from last year. For each edition 2,000 copies are distributed across campus and the magazine is also available on www.caledonianstudent.com. The Re:Union magazine was entered into the NUS, Guardian and Herald Student Press Awards for the first time. The magazine was a finalist in the ‘Best Magazine’ in the Herald Student Press Awards 2009.
Student Media
11
Student Leaders Programme The Student Leaders Programme aims to recognise students who engage in leadership roles within Glasgow Caledonian University. The programme has now been running for 4 years and has developed from just one level to three separate levels of Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each level supports students in their representative, voluntary or mentoring role and challenges the participants to develop their leadership attributes and reflect on how they can be further enhanced and transferred to the workplace. There were 313 students registered onto the Student Leaders Programme, this is an increase of 92 students from last year. This was broken down with 249 participants at Bronze Level, 50 at Silver Level and 14 at Gold Level. The Association has been working closely with Occupational Development in the University on developing the Leadership and Personal Development Seminars that students can complete. This has included reviewing the Bronze Leadership Seminar, the creation of the Silver Leadership Seminar to concentrate on ‘emotional intelligence’ and the pilot of a mock assessment centre that will be rolled out for the Gold Leadership Seminar next year. The assessment centre involves participants undertaking group problem solving, an in-tray exercise and a coaching task. The Association has also been working with the Caledonian Academy to review the reflective elements of the programme. The Association have met with Enterprise Rent-a-Car, The Princes Scottish Youth Business Trust, The Council for British Industry and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations in the hope they will deliver Personal Development Seminars next year. We are also exploring ways of utilising the knowledge of academic staff on campus in supporting and delivering these seminars. Additional seminars that could be offered could include entrepreneurship, conflict resolution, motivating individuals, cultural awareness and intelligent risk taking. In total, 209 students completed the Programme this academic year. This has risen from 143 in 2007/08. Some investigative work was undertaken to identify the reasons for non-competition, the reasons include ‘too much course work’ and ‘being on placement’ as their main reasons. The Association has started to review how the programme supports placement students more, such as evening seminars or e-learning.
12
Student Leaders Programme
Get Involved Fayre The ‘Get Involved Fayre’, on Tuesday 17th September, provided a focal point for all sports and societies and volunteer groups to attract student members. The event ran from 10am to 3pm with over forty different stalls set up in the refectory extension it offered students the opportunity to find out more about the Students’ Association services and meet those involved.
A-Team There were 12 student recruited onto our Freshers A-Team. These students went out and about across campus providing help and information to lost looking students and promoted and encouraged students to attend Students’ Association events. Freebie Fayre
Freebie Fayre This years Freebie Fayre was very successful, with a high footfall of students. We had a great range of 26 companies and charities including club/pubs, STA Travel, Rape Crisis, First Buses, Ethnic Law Centre, Tron Church and Powerleague to name but a few. The Students’ Association also had a stall which was a great opportunity to talk to the freshers and introduce ourselves.
Give it a Go Freshers Week saw the launch of our Give it a Go programme for its second year. A total of 35 events were held over the year with 26 in Semester A and 9 in Semester B. Examples of events include: Bollywood Dancing, Whisky Trials, Hip Hop dancing, Wine Tasting, Paintball, Sign Language and Belly Dancing. Some events were free and some events were subsidised. The Give it a Go programme is not proving as successful as the Executive Committee feels it could be and recommendations for the next academic year include starting the promotion of this programme earlier and working with other student groups to run one off events. Other Student Unions run this type of programme very successfully and it would be worthwhile for us to learn from others’ good practice.
Freshers Week
13
Website Our website is an important information and marketing tool for the Students’ Association. From August 2008 to May 2009 we have had 49,793 visits to the website with an average of 3.76 pages been looked at each visit. We also continue to engage with our membership through social networking sites such as BEBO (a General Association page and an Elections page), and a Facebook account. These mediums allow us to promote activities and news from the Association, especially to those who may not visit at our own website.
All Student Emails The Students’ Association has continued to send all student emails informing students on what the Students’ Association has been doing, how they can engage with the Students’ Association and what is happening that affects students in the University. This has been sent out fortnightly.
Ask Paddy
The Student President had an Ask Paddy section on the website where students could ask email the Student President directly.
14
Engaging and Listening to our Members
Sport Involvement The 28 active Sports clubs continue to benefit from a positive relationship with the Arc via the joint membership (ACTIVE student) and have a comparable membership figure to last year. There are now over 100 volunteer committee members within twenty eight sports clubs. Sports club have a wide variety of activities including thirty regular weekly training sessions both on and off campus.
Sports Come and Try First year students had the opportunity to try out Arc based sports clubs for free before the regular activity started in week 1. The sessions on the 17th and 18th September included badminton, basketball (m&w), cricket, martial arts, trampolining, gymnastics, table tennis, volleyball, football (m&w) and netball.
Freshers Intervarsity Sports Day
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The Students’ Association continues to make a positive contribution to the university’s sports bursary programme through committing funding and organising a welcome event for the athletes. The morning event welcomed new students onto the programme and was attended by eleven student bursars, the Principal, sabbatical officers, Sports Policy Group students and Arc staff.
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Sports Bursary Programme
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The 6th Annual Freshers Intervarsity Sports Day took place on Wednesday 1st October. First year students from Strathclyde, Glasgow and Caledonian had the chance to sample a flavour of what university sport is all about at this fun inter university competition. Students participated in Basketball, Football, Hockey, Netball, Rugby, Swimming and Volleyball.
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Alumni Sports Event Working in conjunction with the universities Alumni staff, three student v’s alumni sports matches in rugby, football and hockey were organised in March. The events were attended by 60 alumni and held over two days. The events were part of the development of a new Sports Alumni Group named the ‘Caley Legends’.
City of Glasgow Cup The City of Glasgow Cup is a multi sport student competition between Caledonian, Strathclyde and Glasgow universities, now in its fifth year. The event consists of fixtures in 7 sports including Badminton (mixed), Basketball (m&w), Football (m&w), Hockey (m&w), Netball, Swimming (m&w) and Volleyball (m&w). The winners of the competition were Strathclyde with Caledonian second.
Overseas Trips GCU Snowsports Club organised a trip to Val Thorens in the French Alps for seventy eight students to enjoy snow sports activities during the intersemester break (23rd-30th Jan). Additionally, the rugby and hockey clubs organised a Sports Tour to Loret De Mar during the Easter break and 40 students travelled by bus to the resort.
Sport
15
Sporting Successes Team Sports Although competition is not a focal point for all activities, 14 of the 28 sports clubs participated in competition winning 102 of 199 fixtures: a 15% increase in wins compared to last year.
Kayaking in Vietnam 3rd year physiotherapy student Tim Hamlet was selected to go on the British Universities Kayaking Expedition 2009. Tim travelled to Vietnam with 8 students from other British universities in the summer, exploring and experiencing some new white water runs.
Athletics Gold Two GCU students won gold medals at the Scottish Universities Athletics: Track and Field Championship, the event was held at Grangemouth athletics track on Sunday 12th April. Lisa Glover (2nd Yr Radiography) threw 40.99m in the women’s javelin to win gold and Greg Boyd (1st Yr Construction Management) jumped 1.90m to win the men’s high jump. Donald MacLeod won gold in the 800m at the Scottish Universities Indoor Athletics Freshers Match at the Kelvin Hall on Wednesday 29th October. Donald won in a time of 1.56.2 beating 17 other students into 1st place.
Commonwealth Javelin 1st year Diagnostic Radiotherapy student Lisa Glover competed in the Javelin event at the Commonwealth Youth Games in India from 12th to the 18th October. The event had representatives from 71 countries competing in a variety of sports, with Scotland sending 44 young athletes to the games.
16
Sport
GCU Karate at British and Scottish Universities Three GCU students have won medals at the British Universities Karate Championship in Sheffield on the 14th/ 15th March. Lisa Cairns won gold in the senior female -55kg Kumite, Natalie Wood won bronze in the senior female -68kg Kumite and Lucasz Sadurek also won bronze for novice male +80kg Kumite. GCU Karate Club finished second overall at the Scottish Universities Karate Championship on Saturday 18th April and 4 GCU students won 6 individual medals. Lisa Cairns (3rd Yr Physiotherapy), won Gold in the Senior Ladies Kumite, Natalie Wood (3rd Yr Physiotherapy) won Bronze in the Senior Ladies Kata, Debbie Lee (2nd Yr Accountancy) won Gold in both Novice Ladies Kumite and Novice Kata and Michael Kay (3rd Yr Sports Management) won Silver in the Intermediate Kumite and Bronze in the Novice Kata. Additionally GCU Ladies Team won Bronze in the Ladies Team Kumite.
League Champions GCU Men’s Basketball Team and GCU Men’s Rugby won their respective BUCS Scottish Conference Leagues both winning promotion to division 2. GCU Men’s Hockey won the BUCS Scottish Conference League Divisions 3 with 3 games left to play, during the season 3rd Year Optometry student Michael Dorman scored consecutive hat-tricks in three games. GCU Netball Team won the 3rd Division in the Glasgow Netball League. The team won 19 out of 20 matches during the season to win the title and promotion to Division 2. Additionally, GCU Netball 1st Team won the BUCS Scottish Conference 3A winning 7 out of 8 matches to clinch the league title and win promotion.
Trampolining Synchronised 1st Two GCU students won the synchronised trampolining competition at the Irish Student Trampoline Open in Dublin on the 28th and 29th March. Jenny Gorman (1st Yr Food Biosciences) and Rachel Silk (3rd Yr Physiotherapy) were 1st out of the 65 pairs that took part.
Scottish Universities Cup Finals Three GCU sports teams competed in Scottish Universities Sport Cup Final matches on Wednesday 24th March in Edinburgh. GCU Men’s Rugby beat Edinburgh Uni 2nds 24-17, GCU Men’s Football 2nds were beaten by St Andrews Uni 2nds 7-4 and GCU Women’s Football were beaten by Heriot Watt Uni 8-0.
Double Ski Gold 2nd year physiotherapy student Michelle Bowman won Slalom Gold at the British University Indoor Ski Championship in Leeds on Wednesday 4th March, she also won gold at the Scottish Universities Outdoor Championships at Cairngorm Mountain Resort on the 28th February.
Sport
17
Staffing The Students’ Association acknowledges the importance on building a motivated and engaged team of staff and this year has benefited from new posts of an additional Welfare Adviser and Societies and Volunteering Co-ordinator joining the team. This brings the total compliment to eleven staffing roles. A clear focus on staff development continues to take place with strategy planning meetings, staff development days, external training and qualifications being undertaken and staff socials.
Executive Committee The Executive Committee received a Trustee Induction programme that involves a four day residential, an ongoing training programme, away-days for strategic planning and team building activities in order that they understand their legal and administrative responsibilities.
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People and money
Financial performance Glasgow Caledonian University Students’ Association has continued to benefit from the recognition and support of Glasgow Caledonian University, and this year the annual block grant was increased from £490,000 to £510,000. In addition we also received £17,500 in grants to support the Student Leaders Programme and Caley Conference. Gross income from all sources this year totalled £551,676. Total expenditure for the year on the wide-ranging student services we provide was £551,645. This included the first annual Student Leaders Awards Ball, development of the second annual Caley Conference, thanks to additional funding from the University, and the launch of our new radio show Radio Caley. After a £7,955 transfer to Designated Reserves, a surplus of £31 (2008 deficit £93,831) was recorded in the General Fund for the year.
Income Budget 2009 Ͳ 2010 Income
Grant Income Other University Grants
Budget 2009 Ͳ 2010 Expenditure
£540,000 £8,000
Senior Manager, Finance and Admin Salaries
£99,870
Office Administration
£10,552
Magazine Income
£3,500
Staff Development
£4,000
Freshers Magazine Income
£4,200
General Maintenance
£9,741
Freshers Fayre Income
£4,300
Financial Overheads
£35,987
Student Leaders Sponsorship
£5,000
Student Representation
£74,377
Internal Printing Income
£6,750
Affiliations
£31,800
Sundry Income
£3,580
Communications
£42,458
Capital Release
£1,766
Welfare Department
£60,005
Welfare Grant Release
£4,500
Activities
£73,230
Sports
£49,100
Societies
£11,000
Student Development and Volunteering
£79,476
Expenditure Actual Results 2008 Ͳ 2009 Income
Grant Income Other University Grants
Actual Results 2008 Ͳ 2009 Expenditure
£510,000 £17,500
Senior Manager, Finance and Admin Salaries
£97,556
Office Administration
£15,730
Magazine Income
£4,019
Staff Development
£4,692
Freshers Magazine Income
£3,780
General Maintenance
£9,283
F h F Freshers Fayre Income I
£5 £5,606 606
Fi Financia i l Overhea O h ds
£39,402 £39 402
Internal Printing Income
£5,199
Student Representation
£74,098
Sundry Income
£5,572
Affiliations
£14,933
Communications
£41,896
Welfare Department
£54,367
Activities
£72,219
Sports
£53,523
Societies
£7,690
Student Development and Volunteering
£66,256
People and money
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Awards and Recognition
STAR Awards The 2nd Annual STAR Awards took place on Thursday 20th April 2009 in Walkabout to recognise and reward Association volunteers that run societies or volunteer within the Association. This event was very successful with approximately 80 students attending. Entertainment was provided by the Indian Social Group and Comedy Society. Awards were presented for Parliament member and convenor of the year, welfare volunteers of the year, Re:Union volunteers of the year, rag volunteer of the year radio caley volunteer of the year and best society, best society event, best new society and society volunteer of the year.
Student Leaders Ball The first ever Student Leaders Ball took place on Wednesday 8th April 2009 with 99 students in attendance. Members at all levels of the University and Students’ Associations were present. The event was a great success, with a complimentary meal, guest speaker (Gordon Richardson, founder of Beanscene) and a ceilidh to end the celebrations. All participants on the programme received their certificate from the PVC Learning Innovation. The event would not have taken place without the support of the Alumni Department in the University. This year there were 28 nominations for the Student of the Year Award; this has increased from 14 the previous year. The winner of Bronze Student of the Year was Marc Breen (Convenor of the Environment and Sustainability Society), the Silver Student of the Year was Beth Montgomery (Captain of Women’s Basketball Team) and the Gold Student of the Year was Angela McLaughlin (Student Mentor and founder of Rainbow Creations Ltd). Angela also won the Glasgow Caledonian University Student of the Year Award.
Sports Ball The 13th Annual Sports Awards Ball took place on Saturday 28th March 2009, 300 students and graduates attend the awards event celebrating sporting achievement and involvement. Awards were presented to Lisa Cairns (Sports Person of the Year), Claire Bannerman (Ross Baillie Award), Mhairi Green (Alex Goodman Award), Padraig Hastie (Coach of the Year) and Men’s Rugby (Team and Club of the Year).
Healthy Working Lives Bronze Award The Students’ Association successful achieved the Bronze Level of Healthy Working Lives.
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Awards and Recognition
Looking Ahead
Steph Pitticas Student President 2009/10
The Executive Committee for this coming academic session 2009/10 are looking ahead at the main aims and hopes for this coming year. A main project that the Students’ Association plans to participate for the next 2 years is the Student Union Evaluation Scheme. It is a unique quality assessment model that assists in improving the services and activities delivered to members of Students’ Unions by indicating areas for continuous improvement. Through this process the Association plans to produce a new strategic plan and to ultimately continue to enhance the student experience. The Executive Committee plan to monitor the success of the mini governance review that took place in academic year 2008/09 and to analyse the effectiveness of the Executive Committee and its meetings, the meetings of CSP and its sub-committees and to discuss the concept of external or co-opted trustees on the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will continue to review the Constitution, its Schedules and Bye-Laws and with the SUEI programme we anticipate this will lead to a full Governance Review. The Executive Committee also plans to pilot e-voting and the suitability of this being implemented for Executive Committee and NUS delegation elections. The Executive Committee also plans to work with the Quality Office in the University on the implementation of the School Officers positions and the co-ordination of class reps and to work with the University on achieving a 24 hour computer lab within the same building as the Association.
In sport & societies The Executive plan on campaigning to have ‘Wednesday Afternoons free’ for student personal development implemented along with the re-structure of the academic year to commence in 2010/11. The Executive believe that this is a vital element to the overall student experience and believe GCU students should have the option to represent their University both on and off the sports field or .participate in other extra curricular activities. Our ‘Give it a Go’ is going to be wider promoted this year with a variety of new activities.
In Student Development The Executive Committee plans to move forward with Radio Caley and put into place procedures to allow the radio station to produce live shows. This ties in with the Executive Committee improving the way it communicates and engages with its members and as such the Executive Committee plan to review the website to make it more interactive, online chat function, online videos and all student email mechanism. Our student magazine Re:Union is ever expanding, the Executive hope to further support the work of our students involved in media and to make the student magazine even more popular in and around campus. The Executive are enthused about the prospect of having student led teaching awards, which is an initiative that has never been undertaken by the Students’ Association before.
Looking Ahead
21
In Welfare Our trained student welfare volunteers are seeking to run a number of campaigns throughout this year, educating students on such issues as; healthy eating, money management, personal safety, cultural awareness and wellbeing fair and Nightline will continue to work towards full membership of the Telephone Helpline Association. Take care, Stephanie Pitticas Student President 2009/10
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Looking Ahead
Executive Committee 2008/09
Student President Paddy Hastie
Vice President Student Development Patric Donnachie
Vice President Sports & societies Hannah Dunwoody
Vice President Support & Advice Denise McCaig
Communications Officer Faisal Baig
Women’s Officer Jas Sangha
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Officer Officer
International Students’ Officer Josepth Antony Kizhakechethipuzha
Campaign’s Officer Stewart Marshall
Graeme McMullen
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Glasgow Caledonian University Students’ Association 70 Cowcaddens Road GLASGOW G4 0BA Telephone: 0141 331 3886 Fax: 0141 331 3363 Email: studentsassociation@gcal.ac.uk Glasgow Caledonian University Students’ Association is a registered Scottish charity, number SC022887