Student Councillor Training 2011-12

Learning Objectives/Agenda

• Introduction & People Bingo• The Purpose of Student Council: What It’s For• Who are the Student Councillors?• The Structure of Student Council: How It Works• Communicating with your Constituents • Introduction to Writing and Understanding Motions• BREAK!• Mock Council session• Your Duties as a Student Councillor• Student Council Charter Revisited

People Bingo!

There IS a Prize!

The Purpose of Student Council: What it’s for

[From Bye-Law 2]• Student Council is established by these Bye-laws to fulfil the following

purposes.• 1.1. To receive and consider reports from the Trustees, Student Community

Forums, Scrutiny Committees and Action Committees/Groups;• 1.2. To make recommendations to the Trustees of NSU; The Trustees may

only refuse to adopt Council recommendations on financial grounds, charity and education law or other legal requirement.

• 1.3. To make motions of no-confidence in one or a number of Trustees;• 1.4. To review and scrutinise the decisions and actions of the Trustees of

NSU;• 1.5. To discuss, debate and decide on issues pertinent to students;• 1.6 To make campaigning, representation and political policy as

appropriate;

The Purpose of Student Council: What it’s for

Cont…• 1.7. To convene Student Community Forums, consider its reports and

agree actions required;• 1.8. To appoint and convene Scrutiny Committees and to determine their

remit and membership;• 1.9. To convene other committees, meetings and groups so as to carry

forward the mandate of Council and turn this into action to have a positive impact on student lives;

• 1.10. To consider and approve the appointment and re-appointment of Non-Student Trustees

• 1.11 To consider and approve the appointment and re-appointment of Student Trustees

• 1.12. To admit and remove Associate Members, Reciprocal, Life and Honorary Life Members of the Union.

The Purpose of Student Council: What it’s NOT for

• The day-to-day running of the Union’s services

• Managing the Union’s services and finances

• The strategic direction of the Union as a

service provider and charity

The Purpose of Student Council: What it’s for and What it’s NOT forWhich of these hypothetical situations would be the business of Student

Council, and which would be the business of the Trustee Board?

• Finalising budgets for the Students’ Union’s Membership Services department

• Agreeing the Students’ Union’s stance on the forthcoming review of higher

education funding

• Questioning the appointment of a trustee based on his/her links with the North

Korean arms industry

• Mandating an elected Sabbatical Officer to focus on access issues for

Disabled Students

The Ideal Councillor

What do you think?

Some good qualities.....

• Vocal, but not outspoken

• Listens well

• Communicates with their constituents

• Responsible

• Approachable

• Takes role seriously

• Punctual

• No hidden agenda

Who are the Student Councillors?

35 Student Councillors:

• 5 Sabbatical Officers

President – Jo Rhodes

VP Academic Affairs – Kate Bradshaw

VP Activities and Development – Andrew Cheung

VP Communications and Involvement – Holly Seabrook

VP Welfare and Equality – Hannah Horne

- Elected by cross-campus ballot

Who are the Student Councillors?

Lay Student Councillors x 5:

Alex Lenaghan

Mike Squair

Nicole Pegg

Ashleigh Mitchell

Rob Sharp

- Elected by cross-campus ballot

Who are the Student Councillors?

School Reps x 8:

Arts and Social Sciences – Rob Gowling

Built and Natural Environment – Pippa Summers

Computing, Engineering and Information Sciences – Gregory Newton

Design – Lauren Teague

Health, Community and Education Studies – Paul Heslop

Law – Yunus Akram

Life Sciences – Tanisa James

Newcastle Business School – William Downey

- Nominated from among their peers

Who are the Student Councillors?

• PGT Rep – VACANT

• PGR Rep – Conall Mallory

• Sports Rep – VACANT

• Environmental Rep – Amy Terry

• Halls of Residence Rep – Tilly Smith

• Community Rep – Sam Booth-Malone

- Nominated from among their peers

Who are the Student Councillors?• Black Minority Ethnic Students’ Rep – Bryce Moore

• Disabled Students’ Rep – Matt Dinnery

• European Union Students’ Rep – Sarah Urwin

• International Students’ (non-European) Rep x 2 – Gaurav Jain and Manish

Abraham

• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Students’ Rep - VACANT

• Mature Students’ Rep – Jacob Turner

• Part-time Students’ Rep – VACANT

• Student with Caring Responsibilities Rep – Amy Irving

• Women Students’ Rep – Rachel Smith

• Coach Lane Students’ Rep – Sophie Chilton

- Elected by cross-campus ballot

Student Council – Date of meetings

• Thursday 20th October 2011, 5pm, Stage 2

• Monday 14th November 2011, 5pm, Stage 2

• Tuesday 13th December 2011, 5pm, Stage 2

• Wednesday 25th January 2012, 5pm, Stage 2

• Tuesday 21st February 2012, 5pm, Stage 2

• Monday 26th March 2012, 5pm, TBC

• Tuesday 24th April 2012, 5pm, TBC

• Thursday 24th May 2012, 5pm, TBC

The structure of Student Council: How it works

Submitting Policy Motions

• Submit your policy motion to the su.democracy@northumbria.ac.uk 7

working days before the meeting

• All policy motions must have a proposer and a seconder

• Non-Councillors may submit a policy motion by petition of 50 signatures

from Northumbria students

• Meeting papers are circulated to all Student Councillors electronically

and a paper copy will be available on the day of meetings

The structure of Student Council: How it works

Debating Policy Motions

• Speech in favour – property of the proposer

• If the policy motion is proposed by petition, the non-Councillor proposing the

motion will have full speaking rights

• Speech against – open

• Further speeches for and against are at the Chair’s discretion

• The maximum duration of speeches for and against will be equal, but will be at

the Chair’s discretion

• Maximum 5 minutes of general discussion for each motion

• Summary speech – property of the proposer

The structure of Student Council: How it works

Amending Policy Motions by ‘Taking Parts’

• Following debate and before the summary speech, a Councillor may

propose to ‘take parts’ on a policy motion to remove part of the

text, but not to add to the motion or to change wording in the

text

• The process for ‘taking parts’ is a speech in favour, a speech

against and a summary speech by the proposer of the parts

The structure of Student Council: How it worksThe Voting Process

• Non-Councillors may not vote, even if they have proposed the motion

by petition

• Councillors will have to state in turn out loud their position on the

motion. Personal interests must be declared before voting.

• There are three options: in favour, against and abstain

• How you vote will be recorded in the minutes and is available to

any student to see – so use your vote wisely!

• Policy passed at Student Council remains in place for 3 years unless

further policy is passed to remove it

The structure of Student Council: How it works

Reminders & Apologies

• First call for Student Council papers will be sent 14 working days prior to each

meeting

• Second call for Student Council papers will be sent 10 working days prior to each

meeting

• Deadline for submitting items on the agenda, including motions and written

feedback will be 7 working days prior to each meeting

• If you are unable to attend a meeting, apologies must be sent to the chair and

secretary of Student Council as soon as you know you are unable to attend

The structure of Student Council: How it works

Written Feedback

A motion called ‘Feed the Poly; Let them know what you’ve been doing’ was passed

at council in March 2011. Therefore it is now compulsory for all Student Councillors to

submit written feedback for every meeting.

This Union Resolved 2

“Councillors who fail to submit written feedback to two councils throughout the year

(unless in exceptional circumstances) may be asked to leave Council”

Communicating with your constituents

What issues affect your constituents?

Groups of 4-5 :

• Think about the people you represent

• Who are they?

• What are their interests?

• What changes could you implement for them?

Writing & Understanding Motions

• What is the purpose of your motion?

• How should you structure a motion?

– Background/evidence – what’s the issue?

– Your input/argument – why does this matter?

– Your proposal – what should Council vote to agree to do?

• Example of a good motion

Writing & Understanding Motions

Note structure of motions - usually:

This Union notes…

This Union believes…

This Union resolves…

Some vocabulary for motions:

Instruct Commend

Mandate Lobby

Condemn

Write a motion!

• In groups:

– Select one of the issues for your constituents create a motion from it

– Think about how you would present it at Student Council

Mock Council Session

Your duties as a Student Councillor

• To attend meetings of Student Council, roughly once a month during

term time

• To participate in training sessions for Student Councillors

From time to time you might also be invited to participate in other events

and workshops in your capacity as a Student Councillor – these are

optional

Student Council Charter (Old)

• Respect – safe space

• Action points

• Feedback

• Constructive participation

• No arguing obstructively

• Supportive atmosphere

• Vote is final

• Stick to point

• People not judged

• Time

Agreed at Student Councillor training, February 2008

Student Council Charter (New)

It’s up to you!

Summary & Close

• The Purpose of Student Council: What It’s For

• Who are the Student Councillors?

• The Structure of Student Council: How It Works

• Communicating with your Constituents

• Introduction to Writing and Understanding Motions

• Mock Council session

• Your Duties as a Student Councillor

• Student Council Charter Revisited