Elected Officer Committee MONDAY 25TH NOVEMBER 2022 Present: Eby Eldho, President Education Femi Abolade President Welfare Nigil Thathron, President Activities In attendance: Adam Cotterill 1. Apologies There were no apologies 2. Minutes The minutes of the previous meeting were approved 3. Declaration of interest There were no declarations of interest 4. Present a report on campaign activity to be ratified at the meeting for publication on the website This report was presented and ratified and available to be published. Action: AC to arrange for minutes to be published 5. Talk to TUSU open meetings twice per Semester The Committee committed to organising an annual plan of these meetings – first meeting is 12:00-14:00 on Thursday 15th December. The meetings will be called “Meet Your Officers” 6. Consider any mandates received from students and SRF (inc. Talk to TUSU) The following mandates received from students will be included in the report as part of ‘you said we did’ as follows: a) Accommodation shortage Accommodation continues to be the number one student issue. FA continues to attend the University accommodation meeting and the SU is publishing an accommodation help guide on the website b) Restudy/Resit period Requests from students to shorten the period to allow for earlier restudy/resits continue. EE discussing with the Pro-Vice Chancellor Learning and Teaching in the Education meeting.
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c) Tuition Fee payments Issues caused by international students not having UK bank accounts is causing problems in paying fees. EE has raised this with the University. There is an issue for Nigerian students waiting 60-90 days for the “Form A” to be processed in Nigeria to release foreign exchange and causing a similar delay in being able to pay their fees. Late receipt of invoices from the University has contributed to the issue as these are required to process the Form A. d) Inappropriate use of society social media (advertising change of visas) There is an active market with current and ex-students acting as informal agents for students wishing to change their visa sponsorship from the University to the social care sector. The University is aware. e) Cost of living crisis Cost of Living campaign day on 29/11/22 and FA is working with the SU on a potential cheap meals offer. Also working with the University on options. f) Security and safety Following the successful Safety Day with local partners including Cleveland Police on 26/10/22 FA is promoting Safe Zone App and Cleveland Police App. Will also be producing a flyer for students listing all community safety contacts. Other issues raised are crooked landlords, these can be reported to a contact in Middlesbrough Borough Council. A second Safety Day is planned for the end of January as part of Refresh with more community partners involved. g) Other campaigns The Officers are supporting “Support Brew” which will be a regular coffee morning drop in for students operated by SUSS and advice colleagues from the University and “Activities Free for All” to promote SU Societies and activities. Both these will take place on 1/12/22. h) Societies asking for transport to their events Societies are being advised to organise events well in advance with one months’ notice required to book transport, i) Sporting activity There are now students involved in local badminton and football on Sundays with a wide range of demographics involved 7. Report on any appeals received from clubs, societies or other student groups No appeals have been received 8. Date of the Next Meeting The date of the next meeting is Friday 15th December 2022 at 11:00
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