University of South Wales Students' Union
Impact Report 2016-17
Contents Student Voice 5 Democracy 9 Campaigns 13 Advice & Support 14 Sports & Societies 15 Freshers & ReFreshers 18 University Restructures 19 Officer Wins & Outcomes 20 Venues 22 Student Engagement & Insights 23
Welcome from the President What a year it's been! I'm delighted to present our Impact Report, highlighting some of our achievements and successes of the year. We strive to ensure students have the best possible experience here at the University of South Wales; and through our partnerships with the student body, the University and external stakeholders, we've been able to deliver some key wins for our membership. These include taking your impassioned restructure recommendations directly to the University and fighting for a fairer outcome, flexible teaching to remedy Reading Week issues and through a vocal, productive consultation with our students; ensuring an Advice Zone remains at the Glyntaff site. The collective voice of our student body and the partnerships we have developed has allowed our Exec officers and Students' Union team to make real change this year. It is thanks to the effort of both students and staff that we've had a progressive and truly fantastic year – so thank you all for your contributions and hard work.
Jonathan Jones, President, University of South Wales Students' Union, 2016-17
About the Students' Union As the recognised voice of students at the University of South Wales, we make sure a collective voice of over 28,000 students is heard at the highest level. The Students' Union is all about representing you, so if there's something you need, we can help. Every student is a member of the Union, regardless of whether you are a full-time, part-time, undergrad or postgrad student, so if we aren't currently providing something you'd like us to, drop in and talk to us, we'd love to meet you.
Our values
+
Equality, Empathy, Democracy, Diversity, Learning and Openness.
Our vision To be the best we can be.
3
18,300 Students attended SU event nights
5k Sign-ups to clubs, teams and societies at Freshers'
248
772
Gifts pleged to Santa Appeal
Registered Course Reps
Students supported by Exec Officers
160 +
1332
43k+
Student Choice Awards nominations
Pints sold in SU venues
Responses to Speak Week
200
Student Voice The student rep team exists to represent the academic views and interests of students at the University of South Wales. Annually elected by their peers, Student Council, Course Reps and Student Voice Reps bridge the gap between the Students' Union and the University to ensure the student voice is heard and taken seriously at every level.
794
Student Reps
203
Course Reps trained
159
Course Reps engaged in extra activities
5
Course Reps
Student Voice Reps
The primary role of a Course Rep is to effectively gather feedback from classmates and pass it on to teaching staff. They play an essential part in assuring the high quality of learning and teaching provisions at the University by being the first point of contact between Course/Module Leaders and students. Course Reps are in a prime position to help students with course related problems, tell staff when something is working well, and make positive changes for current and future students on their course.
Student Voice Reps represent multiple courses, and work towards enhancing the quality of learning, teaching and student experience. They liaise with Course Reps, Exec Officers, the Students' Union and senior managers from the University. By establishing communication channels with students, SVRs are able to effectively represent the student body and influence strategy and decisionmaking at faculty committee meetings. During their time in position, SVRs research, campaign and produce a report for their faculty on academic issues that have arisen.
1332 8
Categories
4
Panels
Nominations Received
200 Guests
Student Choice Awards The Student Choice Awards gives students the opportunity to nominate USW staff and students who have made a real difference to their learning and development. The Awards recognise innovative and inspiring teaching practices and celebrate excellence at USW. The Students' Union works with students at USW to organise and deliver the awards, which are in their sixth year. 7
Speak Week
164
Responses Received
Speak Week is a campaign which takes place during one week in the academic year and provides a platform for students to share their thoughts on all aspects of being a student at USW. Speak Week gives students the chance to meet their student reps and feedback on their University experience. The Students' Union collects all feedback and uses it to inform the University of the changes our students want to see.
Student Charter
The Student Charter outlines what students can expect from the University of South Wales and its Students' Union, and their role in making the most of their time whilst a student at USW. This year, the Student Charter was reviewed and rewritten in collaboration with Pro Vice Chancellor, Students' Union President and Students' Union CEO. The Charter has been updated to reflect University projects, including the Student Experience Plan. 8
21
Students sent to represent USW at National Conferences
8
Students elected to National Committees
1
Former SU President elected as NUS Wales President
9
Democracy The Students' Union is a democratic organisation independent of the University and run by students, for students. The Students' Union actively encourages every student at USW to participate in policy making bodies like the Annual General Meeting and to use their vote to shape their Officer team at Student Elections.
10
Elections
Annual General Meeting
Every year, a team of Executive Officers is elected by the student body to represent and guide the Students' Union. The Executive Officers work together with a team of dedicated, part-time Officers, staff and volunteers to make sure the student voice is heard at the highest level.
The Students' Union's Annual General Meeting takes place once a year and all students are invited and encouraged to attend. Whether it is debating and adopting policy or mandating the Exec Officers to campaign on specific issues, the AGM is an opportunity for students to have a say on the direction of the Students' Union.
1960 Voters
As well as this, the AGM is an opportunity for students to scrutinise the work of elected officers and to ensure that they are fulfilling the promises they made during their election campaign.
11885
12
10.14%
174
Votes Cast
Turnout
Ideas submitted and debated
Students in attendance
11
Campaigns A campaign is about making change. Students have a strong history of sparking change and making a difference to their community and further afield. The Students' Union runs campaigns with and for students, to make a lasting positive impact to students' experiences at USW. This year, the Students' Union, in collaboration with Student Council Officers and volunteers, delivered campaigns to raise awareness for better Mental Health awareness and encouraged young people to vote in the general elections. It also provided stress-relieving activities including, 'Pet a Pooch'. • • • • • •
Mental Health Awareness Week Pet a Pooch Movember Santa Appeal Charity Week Voter Registration
£616 Raised for Movember
248
Gifts pleged to Santa Appeal
40+ Pooches Cuddled
13
This year Exec Officers represented...
223
Students supported by officers
Advice & Support The Students' Union Exec Officers are committed to resolving academic and welfare related issues that students might experience during their time at University. The Exec Officers are trained to be able to provide support on a range of issues, from housing complaints to plagiarism. They offer a peer-to-peer support system and signpost students to relevant support services.
91
In academic casework
72
In welfare cases
171
Through informal action
14
The Students' Union facilitates the running of 177 clubs, teams and societies. Whilst the Students' Union oversees these groups, elected students within their cohort are responsible for the day-to-day organisation of their club, team or society.
Sports & Societies • • • • • • •
47 Teams played 478 games, with 152 wins 6 Teams reached semi-finals 3 Teams placed first in their league Women's Football won the Western Conference cup Women's Basketball won their League Dragon Radio was featured on BBC 1 and obtained a National Award for Student Radio 75 Students trained to lead student groups as Captains, Chairpersons, Secretaries and Treasurers
In 2016/17, 700 students were registered as part of a society and 100 registered as part of a club. Alongside this, the Students' Union introduced the trialling of a new Society Medal Scheme. In response to student demand, minimum membership for clubs and societies was successfully abolished.
BUCS The Students' Union enters teams in British Universities and College Sport. This year, 47 teams registered and competed in BUCS.
EAST vs WEST East vs West is the Students' Union's annual sporting event against University of Wales Trinity St David. This year, 16 USW teams competed against 16 TSD teams, winning 15 of the matches that took place, securing the East vs. West trophy for another year. 15
Freshers The Students' Union hosts a range of events and activities during Freshers' Week, which serves as an opportunity to meet and get to know our new student cohort. The pinnacle of Freshers' Week is our Freshers' Fair, giving students the chance to join a club or society, find out what services are available to USW students and make the most of freebies. This year, the Freshers' and Street Fairs had 5,317 individual sign ups to our 78 clubs, teams and societies that exhibited.
ReFreshers ReFreshers' Week is an opportunity for the Students' Union to meet its new student intake and remind returning students that they can register with a society or club any time of the year. ReFreshers' Fair was organised across three campuses and experienced over 250 student attendees. More than 50 societies joined in to help welcome the new students to the community and 20 companies provided freebies and the best student offers. 18
University Restructures
As a direct result of the Students' Union's commitment to ensuring student concerns were heard and addressed, we collated 25 recommendations from student feedback during the consultative process, which were then presented to the University. We worked closely with the on-campus trade unions and, through sustained lobbying of University senior management, we ensured vital wins for students for the next academic year.
Some of our biggest wins... • • •
the Nursery remains open the Advice Zone presence at Glyntaff to be maintained the library in Treforest to be open 24/7 during term time, the opening hours of the Newport campus library to be reviewed, and a pilot to commence for the same at the Cardiff campus
This work will have a positive impact on all of our students, across all of our campuses. We did not win all of our recommendations, but we remain committed to working with the University and exploring alternative options, if possible, where we have not been successful. 19
Officer Wins Reading Week resolution NSS Party funding NSS response increase Mental Health Awareness Glyntaff Student Box development Charge stations Reclaim the Night University Restructures Consultations Newport 12 Days of Xmas St David's Day #GenerationVote Newport Student forum Amazon Lockers Scrapping minimum membership fees for societies ÂŁ330 raised in charity week Student Charter revised Santa Appeal
20
Venues
The Zen Bar
The Students' Union plays an important role in developing friendships and providing students with opportunities to develop beyond their studies. We support these activities through our dedicated spaces on each campus.
The Zen Bar is your SU Bar on Cardiff campus. We exhibit your work, host your live music and welcome your unique events with open arms. The Zen Bar hosts a weekly Pub Quiz on Mondays and Open Mic Nights every other Wednesday. We also host a range of live music events throughout the year.
SU Shop
Eclipse Nightclub
The SU's on-campus shops are your one-stop-shop for day-to-day essentials such as stationery, refreshments, computer supplies and more. We have shops on campus in Treforest, ATRiuM, Glyntaff and a Pop-Up Shop in Newport City.
Eclipse Nightclub is the SU's largest venue. Eclipse comes equipped with a state of the art sound, lighting and effects system that enhances every night out. We host some of the best entertainment including live music, alternative nights, house nights, drum n’bass, international parties, plus all the major sporting events throughout the year.
The Randy Dragon Inn The Randy Dragon is located within the heart of the Students' Union on the Treforest campus, serving good home-cooked pub grub and both alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. This is the place to relax between lectures, grab a bite to eat, have a game of pool or just enjoy a pint with friends in a great pub environment.
Cables Sports Bar Cables Bar is the Students' Union's custom sports bar. Enjoy all the weekly sport fixtures on our widescreen TVs while enjoying a drink with your friends. This is a great place to start your evenings before venturing into Eclipse to enjoy our evening entertainments.
21
Student Engagement & Insights
10,435 followers
1,453 followers
5,048 followers
1,377 views
13,466 new website users 9,481 returning users
22
University of South Wales Students' Union www.uswsu.com