Elected Student Officer Review
Officers are elected to represent, advocate for and campaign with students to create change. Their roles are political by nature, based on the ideas and promises that they make in their manifestos at the point of being elected. However, over time, these roles have shifted towards more operational tasks like organising events or handling admin, which at times has taken focus away from their core purpose, standing up for students and driving change.
Why Are the Roles Being Reviewed?
The review aims to realign officer roles with the current needs and expectations of the student body. The goal is to establish a structure that is focused, strategic, and student led. Undeb Bangor is seeking to ensure that elected officers are empowered to lead campaigns, influence decisions, and represent students effectively, while operational delivery is supported by staff and student volunteers.
Key Issues Identified
Officer Roles are Unclear – This is especially true of the President role (who is also Chair of Trustees) and Llywydd UMCB (who balances events and representation).
UMCB Feels Disconnected – Some Welsh-speaking students, particularly those less involved in UMCB’s social activities, have expressed that they don't feel fully included or well represented.
Too Many Officer Roles – Compared to similar-sized universities, Undeb Bangor has more officers (5 currently which are – President, Llywydd UMCB, VP Education, VP for Sports, VP for Societies & Volunteering), which affects focus and support.
Officer Roles are Overly Operational– over time these roles have shifted towards more operational tasks like organising events or
handling admin. As a result, they have been taken away from their core purpose of standing up for students, campaigning and driving change.
The review therefore proposes a new officer structure that reflects the evolving nature of student life and the changing needs of the student body.
Proposals
Restructure the Officer Team to focus on what students really need:
President (Student Life) – This role builds on the existing President position, with a clearer focus on non-academic issues such as housing, rent, cost of living, and transport. The officer would lead campaigns aimed at improving everyday student life, and will continue to be the key liaison with the University.
Llywydd Cymraeg - UMCB – This role is being refocused to strengthen its core purpose: representing and campaigning for Welshspeaking students. While advocacy has always been part of the role, the emphasis on events has sometimes taken priority. The revised role would also promote Welsh language and culture across the whole student body, with the UMCB Committee taking a greater lead on social activities.
Vice President for Education – This role would remain largely unchanged, continuing to lead on academic representation, learning, and teaching. The focus is on ensuring students’ academic experiences are heard and acted upon.
Vice President for Student Communities – This newly defined role focuses on helping students feel a sense of belonging and build connections. It supports and champions student-led groups and
activities, encouraging students to find their community through societies, sports, and volunteering. The role promotes inclusive events and campaigns that celebrate diversity, encourage integration, and strengthen community ties. It advocates for underrepresented groups and those who may face barriers to participation, ensuring that every student feels included, represented, and empowered to lead.
Strengthening Student Opportunities Structures - Strengthen athletic union, societies and volunteering structures, such as Executive committees and elected roles, so that students can effectively feedback on these areas of SU activity and work with the VP Communities on issues which matter to them. More formalised roles for students could be explored within these structures such as part-time officers and execs to create leadership opportunities within the Union.
Final Thoughts
The proposed changes aim to:
Make Undeb Bangor more accessible, responsive and student led
Clarify Officer responsibilities and improve accountability
Build a Union that is focused on issues that matter most to students