1. Student Councillor Training 2011-12

2. 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

3. People Bingo! There IS a Prize!

4. 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;

5. 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.

6. 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

7. The Purpose of Student Council: What it’s for and What it’s NOT for Which 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

8. The Ideal Councillor What do you think?

9. Some good qualities..... Vocal, but not outspoken Listens well Communicates with their constituents Responsible Approachable Takes role seriously Punctual No hidden agenda

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. Student Council – Date of meetings Thursday 20 th October 2011, 5pm, Stage 2 Monday 14 th November 2011, 5pm, Stage 2 Tuesday 13 th December 2011, 5pm, Stage 2 Wednesday 25 th January 2012, 5pm, Stage 2 Tuesday 21 st February 2012, 5pm, Stage 2 Monday 26 th March 2012, 5pm, TBC Tuesday 24 th April 2012, 5pm, TBC Thursday 24 th May 2012, 5pm, TBC

16. 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 meetingsu.democracy@northumbria.ac.uk 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. The structure of Student Council: How it works The 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

20. 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

21. 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”

22. Communicating with your constituents

23. 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?

24. 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

25. Writing & Understanding Motions Note structure of motions - usually: This Union notes… This Union believes… This Union resolves… Some vocabulary for motions: InstructCommend MandateLobby Condemn

26. 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

27. Mock Council Session

28. 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

29. 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

30. Student Council Charter (New) It’s up to you!

31. 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