Monday 17-12-2018 - 11:48

As the Christmas vacation begins, we asked our Full-Time Officer Team to let us know their highlights of a busy summer and Michaelmas Term. Here’s what they had to say…

President Rhiannon Llystyn Jones

Accommodation Bundling

Starting from the next academic year students will be able to include things such as gym memberships and laundry credit with their on-campus rent. This eases the burden of having to budget, and discounts will be provided on some items.

LU cost transparency audit

I launched an audit of the university website to ensure that they are compliant with CMA guidelines, in regard to associated course costs and changes in course structure/content.

The Student Money Hub

I’ve been working on the creation of a page on the SU website that encompasses all things money related from part-time work, to scholarships and bursaries, to tips on how to save money.

Vice-President (Education) Ian Meeks

Working to improve study space

I have been heavily involved with the library, including representing student views on the new extension, looking at the possibility of bringing books in from a more diverse range of authors, working on general improvements. I have also been exploring ways of improving study space facilities on campus and in the city.

Tackling the Black Attainment Gap

Students from BME backgrounds are less likely than their white peers to get first or upper second-class degrees. I have raised this issue with the university several times and attended several conferences across the UK to learn methods of making change. In January the university will be presenting the current statistics on the Black Attainment Gap at Lancaster and opening discussion on how to reduce it. I have also been working with students leading the ‘Why is My Curriculum White?’ campaign to ensure diversity in the curriculum is on the agenda and will be up for detailed discussions in the New Year.

Academic Reps

We held an Induction Conference for our Academic Reps at the start of the year, attended by with more 250 students - empowering the reps and bringing a real sense of community to the scheme. Faculty Forums later on in the term were also a huge success with some highly beneficial feedback on the likes of the library, 6-7pm lectures, and study space. Lead Reps and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion reps have also been appointed.

Vice-President (Welfare & Community) Emily Delaney

Extended teaching day campaign

I actively worked to shape and organise the protest that forced the university to take us seriously over the extension to Lancaster’s teaching day, and consequently formed the Teaching Day Working Group that I attend regularly to work on finding fair and feasible solutions to the current teaching day problems

Improving laundry facilities on campus

I pressured the university facilities team and continue to pressure launderette operator Circuit to provide a decent service for a fair price. 10 minutes were added to dryer cycles for no extra cost to students. I have also established a group for officers from various SUs nationally to work in collaboration to lobby Circuit for better service at a fairer price – there are currently 15 officers from seven different universities across the UK.

Movember

I championed the Movember campaign (after running a Pendle focused one for the past two years) focused on bringing communities together and discussing mental health, general wellbeing and healthy life styles to encourage more open and honest discussions about how we are doing and how we can get help for our issues, which are nothing to ever be ashamed about. We had a number of events such as the Sugarhouse Tasche Bash, the Dave Chawner Comedy Night, college pub quizzes and the Pendle Lip-sync Extravaganza. Colleges, sports team and societies have raised £11,910.73 for the Movember Foundation which will go towards work on men’s mental and physical health.

Vice-President (Campaigns & Communications) Islay Grant

Launching the Bite Club Campaign

It was great to give away more than 250 free tasters of Mexican Rice and teach students how to make an easy, quick meal that can be made as a group.

Launching ‘How to Student’

I've released a couple of videos for the series and I especially like the one that focuses on showing the process of finding off-campus accommodation whilst encouraging students to Rent Smart.

Communicating with Students

I’ve been posting on my Instagram (@LUSUComms) daily, live tweeting meetings, using Instagram stories to show what’s happening in meetings, appearing on the WhatSUp Bailrigg show and using the Discussion Board to involve students

Vice-President (Union Development) Matty Robinson

Protesting the extended teaching day

One of my objectives is around taking positions on issues that matter to students, and being a part of an officer team that protested an open day and were transparent with students about meetings and decisions being taken around the extension to the teaching day was a really good way to start the year.

Increased engagement with elections

This term’s elections have seen an increase in votes in PG elections, a doubling of voters for NUS delegates (as well as more candidates) and a total voter number increase for JCR elections, too.

Improving the handover period for student officers

I made a handover document template which has been trialled with JCR officers, received positive feedback and is being used in this handover period.

Vice-President (Activities) Toby Wilkinson

Securing funding for Roses 2019

I was thrilled to successfully apply for £88,000 in Roses development funding in August – which has allowed our Sports teams to take part in additional competition and receive high quality coaching.

Championing Movember

It was a pleasure to see our clubs raise so much money for the Movember charity, and to put together the Thank You video for the Men’s Rugby Union team.

Improving Carter Shield

We’re reworking the Carter Shield tournament, to encompass all inter-college sporting competition. By growing what the Carter Shield incorporates, we believe that attendance and interest in the tournament will be restored to its former success.