7 Students’ Union Policies

Beartais Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn

University of Galway Students’ Union adopts policies on various issues. Policy can be set by the Executive Committee, SU Council or a referendum of all members of the Students’ Union.

The following policies have been agreed by referendum in recent years:

Referenda on Amendments to SU Constitution

Passed April 2021

Creation of a part-time Environmental and Sustainability Officer. Chairperson of SU Council replaced with an external independent Chairperson.

Referendum on Student Levy

Passed April 2021

From 1st July, 2021 the members of NUI Galway Students’ Union approve the cancellation of the current Student Levy of €224 and further approve its replacement with a new Student Levy of €140.

Students’ Union position on reunification of the island of Ireland

Passed March 2017

NUI Galway Students’ Union supports the reunification of the island of Ireland and calls on the State to hold a national referendum on the question of such reunification.

Students’ Union position on the Direct Provision System

Passed March 2016

The Students’ Union condemns the direct provision system which is inhumane and denies asylum seekers their basic rights and calls for its abolition and replacement with a system which respects the human rights of asylum seekers. In line with policy supported by the Migrant Rights Centre and other concerned NGOs.

Students’ Union position on the Decriminalisation of Drugs

Passed March 2016

The Students’ Union has adopted a position actively supporting the decriminalisation of drugs solely for personal use.

Students’ Union position on the Legalisation and Regulation of the Cultivation, Sale and Possession of Cannabis

Passed March 2015

The Students’ Union has adopted a position supporting the legalisation and regulation of the cultivation, sale and possession of cannabis.

Students’ Union position on the issue of couples of the same gender availing of Civil Marriage

Passed March 2014

The Students’ Union has a policy of supporting couples of the same gender availing of civil marriage. Following the national referendum in May 2015, this policy has been fulfilled.

Students’ Union position on the campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against the State of Israel

Passed March 2014

The Students’ Union adopted a position in support of the campaign of “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against the State of Israel” (BDS Campaign)

Students’ Union position on

Passed March 2013 the

Issue of Abortion

The Students’ Union has a Pro-Choice position in support of the national campaign for full reproductive rights, which include a woman’s right to abortion, whether elective or medically necessary.

No Platform Policy

Passed March 2012

The Students’ Union is mandated to oppose any invitation to members of various organisations to speak at the University. Full details available on the Students’ Union Website.

This year, CÉIM celebrated ten years of supporting 1st year students’ transition to university, academic success, health and wellbeing and progression.

Building learning communities

Initiated and coordinated by University of Galway Students’ Union, CÉIM is delivered via a partnership between the Students’ Union, University of Galway and students. It is now regarded as a proven model for providing small group academic peer learning on a weekly basis throughout the entire academic year and was offered to approximately 2,000 1st year students in 2022/23.

2022/23 highlights

• This year was another year of recovery after the pandemic with a renewed focus on small group work and building academic confidence and less reliance on technology.

• CÉIM was piloted successfully in Spanish in 2022/23 and will be rolled out to Shannon College of Hotel Management, Biotechnology, and Genetics and Genomics in 2023/24.

• A case study on peer learning during the pandemic written in collaboration with Lund University, the University of Manchester and Nord University was published in the Student Engagement in Higher Education Journal.

• A case study on CÉIM was also published in the NSTeP Case Study Hub, which showcases examples of good practice in student engagement and student-staff partnerships from across Irish higher education.

• A member of the CÉIM team was invited to be an Associate of the European Centre for SI-PASS (Supplemental Instruction/Peer Assisted Study Sessions).

How CÉIM works

CÉIM is based on the well-evidenced Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) or Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) model used in over 30 countries. Student leaders from higher years facilitate weekly study sessions for small groups of 1st year students, creating peer-led learning communities where it’s easy to ask questions.

‘It was nice to know I wasn’t alone and made me feel included. The CÉIM leaders were so friendly and really put me at ease.’

10-30% higher grades consistently achieved by regular CÉIM attendees ** 583 CÉIM student leaders have received intensive leadership training since 2013 *Many Arts students are offered CÉIM in multiple subjects ** On average in comparison to non-attendees based on research using 7 sets of data

2,445 3 4 90%+ Arts students currently offered CÉIM

Supporting the 1st year experience since 2013 Ag tacú le heispéireas na chéad bhliana ó 2013

OUT OF colleges run CÉIM

1st year student 2022/23

Approx Smooth transition to University of Galway Academic success

‘CÉIM has really added another dimension to our students’ experience. It facilitates every step of their undergraduate development, whether as a CÉIM leader or student.’

Academic staff member 2022/23

‘I’m in huge groups for lectures and Céim provides an opportunity to actually speak to people on my course and work through more challenging concepts.’

Start of 1st year Transferable skills

Supporting progression to 2nd year Learning communities and social networks

Independent learning skills 2nd Year Health and supportwellbeingand signposting

Scileanna Saoil 9

Life Skills Programme

The Life Skills Programme saw the Students’ Union running online and in person courses throughout the year to allow students the opportunity to enhance their life skills away from their academic studies and also improve their employability.

We held several in person Heartsaver AED courses with training provided at the Croí Heart and Stroke Centre.

In partnership with Galway Rape Crisis Centre in person courses in Disclosure Training returned. These courses equipped students with the skills to deal appropriately with a disclosure of sexual violence.

The SU worked with the HSE Suicide Prevention Officer to host safeTALK training on campus to equip students with the skills to recognise the danger signs for someone who is a suicide risk.

We also promoted the Ohana Zero Suicide Online Training course throughout the year which only takes 20 minutes for student to complete and the HSE LivingWorks Start Programme.

Jigsaw Galway ran two fully booked online Mental Health Workshops for University of Galway students.

A series of sold out sign language courses were held both in person and online during the year which gave students and staff the basic skills needed to converse in sign language.

Irish Language Classes were held both in person and online in conjunction with Gaelchultúr. These were hugely popular with 6 sold out classes offered each semester.

Our 6 week Pilates Courses were held throughout the year and delivered online to increase students flexibility and core strength with Marie Hegarty Pilates.

There was a welcome return of our Mixed Martial Arts for Self Defence course with the team at Shaolin MMA equipping students with important self defence skills.