Summary
of Officer Executive Decisions and Discussions July-September 2025
Summary of Key Discussions & Decisions
Present: Sabbatical Officer Team 2025-26 – Yakubu Jidda (President), Jimmy Carter (VP Education), Md Hasibuzzaman (VP Societies & Volunteering), Neve Curran (VP Sports), Huw Williams (Llywydd UMCB)
Staff in Attendance: Mair Rowlands (SU Director), Rob Samuel (Membership Development Manager), Sharon Brown (Finance and Operations Manager)
17th July 2025
University protest guidelines – Initial discussions were held with the University about their draft Protest Guidelines. It was agreed that the officer would have another meeting to discuss submitting a formal response to the University’s draft protest guidelines raising concerns around tone, accessibility, and the protection of students’ rights to peaceful protest. Officers felt strongly that if guidelines have to be in place they should support student activism and democratic engagement.
Business Cases & Curriculum Changes:
• Yakubu attended two meetings regarding accessible student communications and consultation feedback, and communications scheduled for release on 17 July.
• Jimmy received a Teach Out Plan Template from Nicky and requested a confirmed list of affected programmes.
• Huw scheduled a meeting with Enlli (18 July) to discuss Welsh-medium provision impacts.
• Neve contacted Michael Flanaghan and Sue Moss to request a meeting about Academi.
• Yakubu requested membership on the two additional workstreams as on top of the curriculum and teach-out plans group that Jimmy sits on.
• Officers expressed disappointment at the University's lack of engagement about Academi and concerns over Trilogy promoting AU nights without us being involved in discussions
• Yakubu has proposed that the SU host an all-student meeting/ Town Hall style meeting with University Executive Members, in order to address student concerns about changes and share the University’s current priorities.
23rd July 2025
Budget and Operational Planning: Officers participated in a dedicated session with the Senior Leadership Team to review financial and operational priorities for the year.
14th August 2025
• UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) Membership: Officers agreed for the SU to join UKCISA at no cost.
• Bangor Fund (Alumni Funding): Officers informed that applications open on 1 October; teams are exploring potential projects.
• Open Day Staffing: Yakubu and Huw confirmed availability for the 17 August Open Day.
21st August 2025
• Student Staff Recruitment: Officers involved in interviews; due to time constraints, shortlisting was completed by leads and teams with involvement from officers in the interview process.
• Officer Role Structure Consultation: Mair Rowlands updated officers on the upcoming consultation timeline. A governance paper is scheduled for the September Board Governance Sub-Committee.
4th September 2025
Student Ideas & Campaigns Process: An update was provided on the new process
• Officers will review ideas weekly during Exec meetings / Officers & SLT meetings
• SLT to advise on financial, legal, and reputational risks.
• Evidence to be submitted at least 2 days prior to meetings.
• If consensus is not reached, an all-student vote will be triggered.
Listening Sessions Naming: For one of the listening session the Student Voice team asked if officers could decide on a name from these sessions from the following options - Racialised Students, Global Majority Students, or Black Asian and Minoritised Students. Officers decided to name sessions “Black, Asian and Minoritised Students”.
Vice-Chancellor Engagement: VC confirmed to attend the next Student Leadership Council (SLC).
Sustainable Careers Policy:
• SU contributed to the University’s new policy launching in 2025/26.
• While the Ethical Careers Policy proposal the Officers made in 2024-25 was not adopted in full, key SU recommendations were included:
• Sustainability screening tools
• Alignment with national frameworks
• Emphasis on student empowerment
• SU continues to advocate for transparency and ethical guidance.
18th September 2025
• Business cases challenges with curriculum - Rob to liaise with LLG to get meeting between Sue Moss and some officers.
• Careers update - 0.6 study skills adviser - moving to group facilitation and online resources
• Access to club and socs hardship fund - RS presented the hardship info to the officers.
• Possible UCU industrial action: Officer discussed the possibility of UCU Industrial Action. It was agreed that if any student approach asking if the SU has a stance on the UCU decision on a vote of no confidence, it should go through the new democratic decision-making model. Need further discussion if industrial action goes ahead.