Student Councillor Training 20 th April 2008

Learning Objectives / Agenda Introduction & Icebreaker Student Council Charter Revisited The Purpose of Student Council: What It’s For Who are the Student Councillors? The Structure of Student Council: How It Works Introduction to Writing and Understanding Motions Effective Representation Your Duties as a Student Councillor Summary and Close

Student Council Charter 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

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 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 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; Cont…

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

Who are the Student Councillors? 35 Student Councillors 5 Sabbatical Officers (4 until July 2008) President – Martin Farr VP Education and Welfare – Lisa Burton VP Student Activities – Ivan Blackwell VP Finance and Commercial Services – Steve Ross - Elected by cross-campus ballot

Who are the Student Councillors? 9 School Reps Applied Sciences – Carol Hamilton Arts and Social Sciences – Jamie Phillips Built Environment – Paul Hamilton Computing, Engineering and Information Sciences – David Caldwell Design – Tom Gyr Health, Community and Education Studies – Clare Prudham Law – Holly Hughes Newcastle Business School – Simon Sundberg Psychology and Sports Studies – Lynsey Dawson - Elected at School Rep Forum

Who are the Student Councillors? 1 PGR Rep – Libby Orme - Elected at PGR School Rep Forum 4 Chairs Chair of Societies – VACANT Chair of Coach Lane Forum – VACANT Chair of Student Community Action – Anna Harland Chair of RAG – Hilary Ellis - Elected at the relevant Committee or Forum

Who are the Student Councillors? 5 International Students’ Caucus Group Representatives China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Rep – Allie Chang East Asia Rep – Amunah Venugopal South Asia Rep – Harshad Parashare Europe Rep – Endika Huescar Gutierrez Rest of World Rep – Babasola Bamiro -Elected at a meeting of the relevant Caucus Group -Only students from the appropriate region may vote in each election

Who are the Student Councillors? 6 other Caucus Group Representatives Black and Minority Ethnic Rep – Josephine Mudzingwa Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Rep – Peter Woodward Women’s Rep – Jennifer Empson Mature Students’ Rep – Steven Clarke Disabled Students’ Rep – Dean Stobbart Part-Time Students’ Rep – VACANT -Elected at a meeting of the relevant Caucus Group -Only students from the appropriate section of the student community may vote in each election – principle of “autonomous liberation”

Who are the Student Councillors? 5 Lay Student Councillors Nicola Porter Tom Sanderson Paul Phillips Paul Clifton Roz Khan - Elected by cross-campus ballot

The Structure of Student Council: How It Works Submitting Policy Motions Submit your policy motion to the Advice and Representation Centre 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 and made available at and on the Democracy Board 5 working days before the meetingwww.mynsu.co.uk

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 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 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

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: InstructCommend MandateLobby Condemn

Effective Representation What are the issues that most affect Northumbria students today? What is representation? “representation - the act of representing; standing in for someone or some group and speaking with authority in their behalf” Evidence-based Representation How will you represent your constituents?

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 To chair the Meetings or Forums of the group that you represent e.g.School Reps – Course Rep Forums Caucus Group Reps – Caucus Groups 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

Summary & Close Thank you – any questions?