Students Unin Cnstitutin (6 July 2017) Sabbatical Officer Middlesbrugh Cllege students elect a paid Sabbatical Officer, wh leads n the Student Engagement Strategy, and is the main fcus and cnduit fr the Student Vice. The Sabbatical Officer is als knwn as the Student President. The Sabbatical Officer will develp the existing mechanisms and ensure that students are represented at all levels f Cllege life and that cnsultatin and aspiratin are at the heart f the Cllege Student Jurney. The Sabbatical Officer is the prime representative fr the Students Unin and the spkespersn t media and external bdies. The Sabbatical Officer is als autmatically elected as a Student Gvernr and attends all Gverning Bdy meetings, and, where appinted, Cmmittee meetings, frm the 1 August t 31 July. The Sabbatical Officer als acts as the Student Representative n any cmmittees, where necessary. The Sabbatical Officer acts as a liaisn within the Senir Leadership Team / Cllege Management Team, and prvides regular updates n Student Unin activity, utcmes and Student Cuncil infrmatin. The Sabbatical Officer liaises with the Natinal Unin f Students (NUS) lcally, reginally and natinally. The Sabbatical Officer wrks with the Student Experience C-rdinatr, Student Services Manager and the Assistant Principal - Students in terms f managing the Students Unin budget. In rder t make a partnership between students and staff, the Students Unin has agreed that all staff can apply fr an NUS card nline. Student Unin Cnstitutin (Final) - 6 July 2017 Page 1 f 9
Aims and Objectives T create a partnership between students and staff. T create a frum fr the sharing and exchanging f ideas thrughut the Cllege. T create a clear channel f cmmunicatin between representatives f the Student Cuncil and ther bdies. T invlve the whle Cllege cmmunity in raising aspiratins, attainment and standards thrugh the creatin f new initiatives, prblem slving and achieving gals. T empwer and enable students t cntribute and becme active citizens in the wider cmmunity. T represent the students views at the Gverning Bdy and Senir Leadership Team (SLT) / Cllege Management Team (CMT) t ensure a tw-way cmmunicatin between students and staff. This will include attendance at internal cmmittee meetings, as agreed with the Principal / Chief Executive. T create a netwrk lcally, reginally and natinally with ther Students Unins and the NUS. Student Membership and Opting Out Every student, when enrlled nt a Middlesbrugh Cllege curse, is autmatically pted int the Middlesbrugh Cllege Students Unin. Students are able t relinquish their right t membership f the Students Unin and, shuld they wish t d s, students shuld sign the Opt-ut Register, which is held in the Students Unin Office. Any student wh pts ut f the Students Unin cannt cntinue t attend Clubs and Scieties r run/participate in activities f clubs and scieties. Any student wh pts ut f the Students Unin will nt be able t participate in the demcratic decisin making f the Students Unin. This includes nt being able t stand fr the psitin f Sabbatical Officer r Vice President (Student Gvernr)r any ther psitin in the Students Unin. Any student wh pts ut f the Students Unin and then wishes t becme a member f the Students Unin again, must ntify the Sabbatical Officer in writing. If the applicatin falls within the 20 days f Students Unin Executive nminatins pening, then they are nt eligible t take up the privileges f membership until the nminatin perid has been clsed. Student Unin Cnstitutin (Final) - 6 July 2017 Page 2 f 9
Respnsibilities f the Student Unin The Students Unin has ne further executive rle, in additin t the Sabbatical Officer, and this is the Vice President (Student Gvernr). The Vice President (Student Gvernr) must fllw the Cde f Cnduct, if ne is apprved. The Jb Descriptin fr the Vice President (Student Gvernr) will be updated annually by the Sabbatical Officer, Student Experience C-rdinatr and the Clerk t the Crpratin. The Jb Descriptin fr the Sabbatical Officer will be updated annually by the Student Experience C-rdinatr and the Clerk t the Crpratin, and will be used as part f the Sabbatical Officer Electin Prcess. Representatin The Sabbatical Officer is autmatically elected as a Student Gvernr fr ne academic year beginning 1 August. The Secnd Student Gvernr is elected by students and will cmmence their psitin n the Gverning Bdy n the elected date and serve until 31 July the fllwing year. The tw Student Gvernrs will wrk with the Clerk t the Crpratin, wh will develp their crprate knwledge, and supprt them befre, during and after Gverning Bdy and / r Cmmittee meetings. Students Unin Cmplaints Prcedure Any student wh is a member f the Students Unin, wh has exercised their right t nt be in the Students Unin, is entitled t cmplain abut unfair/unreasnable treatment by the Students Unin. In rder t d this, they can speak directly t the Assistant Principal - Students r the Student Services Manager. Any student wh is a member f the Students Unin and wuld like t cmplain abut any member f staff shuld fllw the Cllege s Cmplaints Prcedure. Student Unin Cnstitutin (Final) - 6 July 2017 Page 3 f 9
Reprting All minutes f the Crss Cllege Student Cuncil meetings will be circulated t members f the Gverning Bdy and Senir Leadership Team / Cllege Management Team as sn as they have been apprved. The Sabbatical Officer will als wrk clsely with the Nminated Gvernr fr Student Vice / Prevent & Safeguarding, ensuring they are kept infrmed f prgress and invited t all apprpriate meetings. The Sabbatical Officer will als wrk clsely with the Vice President (Student Gvernr) n a range f issues, and will meet regularly, prviding feedback t the Student Experience C-rdinatr and Clerk t the Crpratin n actins agreed. Respnsibilities f the Student Cuncil The Student Cuncil can discuss a range f issues brught by Department and / r Directrate Student Cuncil Representatives r any ther internal surce e.g. Gverning Bdy, Principal / Chief Executive r ther staff. The Student Cuncil will be invlved in the decisin making prcess at all times. The Student Cuncil will clearly disseminate infrmatin thrughut the Cllege via all established means e.g. E-mail, Canvas, Cllege Website, Cllege s main Twitter, Facebk, Snapchat and Instagram pages, Directrate Cuncil Meetings, Plasma Screens, Ntice Bards and the Middlesbrugh Cllege Students Unin Twitter, Facebk and Snapchat pages. The Student Cuncil shall respect all issues f cnfidentiality, privacy and data prtectin at all times. The Student Cuncil will determine the key rles and respnsibilities f its representatives annually. Members f the Student Cuncil have the pwer t apply a Vte f N Cnfidence in the Sabbatical Officer and / r the Vice President (Student Gvernr). Student Unin Cnstitutin (Final) - 6 July 2017 Page 4 f 9
Structure and Membership The Student Cuncil will be chaired by the Sabbatical Officer, wh is als a member f the Student Cuncil. The Crss Cllege Representatin is detailed belw and is subject t change thrugh discussin and agreement with the Crss Cllege Student Cuncil, Sabbatical Officer and Assistant Principal Students. The Directrate Representatives are: Sprt, Travel and Public Services (Up t fur students) Services Industries & Retail Skills (Up t fur students) Cmputing and Visual & Perfrming Arts (Up t fur students) Cnstructin (Up t fur students) Engineering (Up t fur students) Health and Scial Care (Up t fur students) Business & Educatin (Up t fur students) A Levels (Up t fur students) 14 16 students MC ACADEMY (Up t tw students) Additinal Learning Supprt (Up t fur students) Higher Educatin (Up t fur students) Class Representatives are als elected frm within their respective Department and / r Directrates, and these students wrk with the Department / Directrate and the Sabbatical Officer t prmte the Student Vice. Key managers will als attend the Student Cuncil meetings t prvide feedback and answers t key issues being raised by students. The Sabbatical Officer is elected as the Chair f the Student Cuncil. Student Unin Cnstitutin (Final) - 6 July 2017 Page 5 f 9
The Vice President (Student Gvernr) is autmatically pted-in as the Vice- Chair f the Student Cuncil. The Sabbatical Officer will be ne f the elected Student Gvernrs, attending Gverning Bdy and / r Cmmittee meetings frm 1 August nwards. The Vice President will als be autmatically elected as the secnd Student Gvernr, and they will nrmally be elected in September / Octber and will attend Gverning Bdy meetings frm when elected t 31 July the fllwing year. The Student Cuncil will nrmally meet n a termly basis and will be planned int the Cllege s meetings schedule. When minutes are taken they will be circulated t the Senir Leadership Team / Cllege Management Team and the Gverning Bdy as sn as they have been apprved. It is expected that all elected members f the Student Cuncil attend every meeting, but if they are unable t attend, a nminated substitute can attend subject t the agreement f the Sabbatical Officer. All members are expected t cnduct themselves in an apprpriate manner cnducive with their psitin as elected representatives f the Student Cuncil. Training fr Student Cuncil Representatives will be made available, and t ensure cntinuity it is expected that all members remain n the Student Cuncil fr the duratin f their curse. This will be rganised by the Student Experience C-rdinatr. All psitins will run frm 1 Octber t 31 July the fllwing year respectively. 14-16 Students (MC Academy) Students aged 14 t 16, wh enrl in MC Academy, are classed as being students at Middlesbrugh Cllege. Hwever, when they enrl they d nt autmatically pt int Middlesbrugh Cllege s Students Unin. Hwever, MC Academy students will have the pprtunity t attend Student Cuncil meetings, and tw members will be respectively elected by their peers. These students will have their wn agenda item and they can raise any cncerns/issues in this item. Student Unin Cnstitutin (Final) - 6 July 2017 Page 6 f 9
Higher Educatin (HE) Students Higher Educatin students wh enrl via Middlesbrugh Cllege/Teesside University are entitled t run fr Sabbatical Officer, if they have been issued a Middlesbrugh Cllege Student ID Card. If requested, there will be an agenda item fr Higher Educatin students n the Student Cuncil Agenda fr them t raise any cncerns they may have. Higher Educatin Students, wh have a Middlesbrugh Cllege Student ID Card, are able t vte in Middlesbrugh Cllege Students Unin Electins and / r run fr a psitin. Financial Matters T disseminate available funding in line with Cllege Financial Prcedures. T be fair and student led in distributin f afrementined funds. T ffer equal and clear pprtunities t access the fund t all students. T present, t the Gverning Bdy, an annual up-date f the Student Cuncil accunts. Each Students Unin Club/Sciety that is set up will receive a start-up fee f 30, and if the Club is successfully run it will get an incme f 20 per mnth if needed fr equipment, trips, rming etc. Clubs and Scieties Middlesbrugh Cllege Students Unin will allcate a set budget t Clubs and Scieties that are set up by Students f Middlesbrugh Cllege. This budget will allw Students t access between 15-20 a mnth fr equipment, rms, trips etc. in rder fr the Club/Sciety t run and recruit mre smthly. All Middlesbrugh Cllege Students can participate in Clubs and Scieties that are set up in Cllege whether affiliate, Higher Educatin r 14-16 students. In rder fr a Club/Sciety t run, there must be at least 10 sign ups and active members. The Sabbatical Officer and the Vice President (Student Gvernr) can participate in Clubs/Scieties. Hwever, they cannt be the President f such Club/Sciety. Clubs and Scieties are pen t all Students studying in Middlesbrugh Cllege, including MC Academy (14-16 Students). Student Unin Cnstitutin (Final) - 6 July 2017 Page 7 f 9
Electins Sabbatical Officer Electins Sabbatical Officer Electins are nrmally held in April / May each academic year and the dates are determined annually by the Student Services Manager in cnsultatin with the current Sabbatical Officer, and cmmunicated t the Senir Leadership Team and Clerk t the Crpratin. The Sabbatical Officer can be re-elected fr a secnd and final time subject t a satisfactry review f the first year in ffice. In the event that nly ne student applies fr this psitin, electins will still take place. Hwever, n the Vting Frm there will als be anther ptin which states that the student bdy can re-pen nminatins. Vice President (Student Gvernr) Electins The Vice President (Student Gvernr) Electins are nrmally held in September / Octber each academic year, and dates are determined annually. In the event that nly ne student applies fr the psitin as Vice President (Student Gvernr), electins will still take place. Hwever, n the Vting Frm there will be anther ptin t vte them in/ut f the psitin. This will state repen nminatins. If the individual is vted ut, then nminatins will have t re-pen fr mre students t apply fr the psitin. If the abve ccurs then the ptin f re-pen nminatins must be placed n all Vting Cards. Student Unin Cnstitutin (Final) - 6 July 2017 Page 8 f 9
Appendix 1 Vice President (Student Gvernr) The student wh is elected as the Vice President f the Students Unin will als becme the secnd Student Gvernr and shall: Attend all Gverning Bdy meetings and training days s that the Student Unin and wider Student Bdy is represented. Be part f the decisin making prcess f the Gverning Bdy. Attend regular meetings with the Clerk t the Crpratin, Sabbatical Officer and Student Experience Crdinatr t develp the understanding f the rle f Student Gvernrs further. Cmply with the Gverning Bdy s Cde f Cnduct. Attend relevant training and meetings t fulfil their rle as Vice President f the Students Unin and as Student Gvernr. The Vice President (Student Gvernr) shall als: Attend relevant crss Cllege meetings t represent the Students Unin. Attend meetings with the Sabbatical Officer, as required. Shuld the Vice President (Student Gvernr) nt attend meetings withut aplgies r gd reasn, then they may be remved frm the Students Unin Executive Team, and any decisin will be made in cnsultatin with the Student Experience Crdinatr. Shuld this situatin arise, then the Sabbatical Officer will cmmence electins fr that pst. The Student Cuncil will have the pwer t vte ut the Vice President (Student Gvernr), and this may happen if they feel they are nt fulfilling their jb rle. Student Unin Cnstitutin (Final) - 6 July 2017 Page 9 f 9