University of Salford Students' Union
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| University of Salford Students' Union | |
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| Mission | Enhancing Students' Lives |
| Established | 1967 |
| President | Andrew Snowden |
| Location | Salford, United Kingdom |
| Members | 18,722 approx |
| Member of | National Union of Students |
| Homepage | http://www.salfordstudents.com |
The University of Salford Students' Union (abbreviated USSU) is the representative body of students at the University of Salford, Greater Manchester, England
The Union is based within University House on the Peel Park Campus and represents the interests of the 18,722 full and part time members.
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[edit] Officers
The current sabbatical officers of the union are:
Andrew Snowden - President
Rachel Dunley - Student Activities Officer
Matthew Mold - Welfare and Education Officer
Fatima Abrar - Communications Officer
The remaining members of the Union executive are full time students.
Heather Kirk - Equality & Diversities officer (only non-sabbatical to have a defined portfolio)
Usman Ali - Executive Officer
Alan Bailey - Executive Officer
Ben Clay - Executive Officer
Asad Shah - Executive Officer
[edit] NUS
The University of Salford Students' Union is affiliated with the National Union of Students (NUS) and is one of a few in the North West that trialed the controversial NUS Extra Card in 2005. Despite a rejection of the scheme from many students, the scheme is now nationwide.
[edit] Governance & Representation
The Union is currently governed by Union council. This is the sovereign body of the students' union, holding the executive to account. it consists of a representative from each school, postgraduate students, the recreation sub-committe, e&d sub-committee and the executive comittee. The executive committee is the body that runs the union on a day to day basis. It is comprised of the officers of the union, and is a sub-committee of the Union Council. The officers are also the trustees, and guardians of the assets of the union.
The union employs Student Liason Representatives to co ordinate the educational feedback for the university, and has an advice centre that people can just drop in for almost every problem.
Governance review
Following in the footsteps of King's College London Students' Union, the Union is in the process of transforming its governace prior to achieving registered charity status, as required by the Charity Act 2006. Presently it is an exempt charity under the Education Act 1990.
The new structure, which will take effect on 2nd July 2007, creates a board of trustees to govern the union. This is made up of five sabbatical officers (President, VP Activities, VP Communications, VP Representation, VP Support and diversity), four student trustees, and 4 external non-student trustees. The board is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the Union and monitoring its long term performance and achievements. It is also responsible for the Union's financial performance, directing its staff, and ensuring that the Union's members are involved and consulted on the organisation's work. The Sabbatical Trustees are responsible for delivering effective student representation on a day to day basis, and their represention work is supported and montitored by the new Unoin Assembly. The Assembly is made up of 20 students elected equally from each of the University's 4 Faculties.
The elections for the student members of the 2007/8 Trustee Board were held in February/March 2007. The individuals who will take up office on 1 July 2007 will be:
Andrew Snowden - President
Usman Ali - VP Activities
Alan Bailey - VP Representation
Estefania Aguirre - VP Communications
Victoria Townsend - VP Support & Diversity
Stephen Armstrong - Student Trustee
Emily Peake - Student Trustee
Steven Maguire - Student Trustee
[edit] Commercial Activities
The union operates several commercial service. The revenue generated is invested in the Union to enhance the lives of the student body. Some of these activities are:-
- Shops. Sited on each campus is a student shop, the largest being on the Peel Park campus (next to which is a bank and bookstore).
- Print shops. Sited within University House and the Allerton building. Offering an assortment of print services.
- Bars. The union runs two bars. The Lowry bar situated in University House, and the Pavilion situated at Castle Irwell Student Villiage.
Fire
On the evening of Thursday 25th of January 2007, a fire tore through the Lowry Bar in Universtiy House, devasting the bar and its contents. Fortunately, the fire happened whilst the building was closed and there were no casualties. The Lowry Bar has been completely destroyed and is will remain out of action until September 2007. The situation was compounded by the temporary closure of the Pavilion at the Castle Irwell Student Village, which lost its roof in the high winds of 18 January 2007. Thanks to swift repair work, the roof was restored within a fortnight and the bar reopened on 6 February 2007.
Pictures of the fire and aftermath are available to view here.
[edit] Salford Student Direct
Student Direct is Greater Manchester's official student newspaper and one of the widest circulating student publications in Europe serving the University of Salford, the University of Manchester and the University of Bolton. The University of Salford edition aims to represent the views and interests of students and communicate the work of the Union, as well as informing members about local, national and international issues that effect them as students. It differs from the Manchester edition with 12 pages (cover, inside cover and an eight page centre spread) The editor of the salford edition is the current elected Communications Officer.
[edit] Clubs and Societies
The union clubs participate in many competitions, mostly within the BUSA organised leagues. The clubs within the union are:
- Badminton, Basketball, Cricket, Diving, Football (Men), Football (Women), Hiking, Hockey, Horseriding, Judo, Mountaineering, Netball, Ninjutsu, Rowing, Rugby League, Rugby Union (Men), Rugby Union (Women), Canoe and Kayak, Ski and Snowboard, Snooker, Trampolining.
In addition to the Clubs, there is a large society base within the union, comprising of activities, political groups, religious groups and other interest groups. They are:
- African Caribbean, Airsoft, Almost Famous, Breakdancing, Campaign For Real Ale Society, Cheerleading, Christian Union, Circus and Juggling, Conservative Future, High Rollers, Islamic, Jewish, Labour Students, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender, Liberal Democrat, Linux, Literary, Manchester United Appreciation, PhysSoc, RAG, Rock, Socialist Workers Students, United Against Fascism, Wargames and Roleplay
[edit] Shock Radio
The union also has a student radio society called Shock Radio. Formed in 2000 following the break up of Storm FM (a co-project between the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Salford). The first FM Restrictive Service Licence (RSL - valid for 28 days) broadcast was in 2002 and the 5th broadcast took place in November of 2006.
