UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD STUDENTS UNION Student Trustees Application Pack March 2015
UNIVERSITY OF SALFORD STUDENTS UNION Student Trustee Application Pack Section One Governance We hope that by reading this information it will tell you a bit more about how the Students Union works. The Students Union is dedicated to ensuring that a student s time at University is the amazing, life changing experience it should be. Our commitment is to enhance students lives. We are independently led by students, for students. The Union is a registered charity. All students are automatically a member of the Students' Union and can influence the Union s work in a variety of ways. As a democratic organisation, this is a core part of our commitment to ensuring the Union meets the needs of Salford students. The Union s objects are the advancement of education of Students at the University of Salford for the public benefit by: promoting the interests and welfare of Students at the University of Salford during their course of study and representing, supporting and advising Students; being the recognised representative channel between Students and the University of Salford and any other external bodies; and providing social, cultural, sporting and recreational activities and forums for discussions and debate for the personal development of its Students. The Union is democratically controlled by its members (students) through the annual election of a team of student representatives called sabbatical officers. The sabbatical officers (also known as the President and Vice President) are the five elected students who work to enhance students' lives at Salford. These are students who either take a year out of or at the end of their studies to represent students on a full time basis at the University. The sabbatical officers are members of the Union s Trustee Board. The membership of the Trustee Board is as follows: Five Sabbatical Trustees (President, 4 x Vice Presidents each of whom is responsible for one of the University s 4 academic Colleges) Four Student Trustees Four Non Student Trustees (appointed by the sabbatical and student trustees) Trustees are not be involved in day to day affairs, but take an overview of how the Union is performing, both financially and in delivering services to students. The Trustee Board is responsible for the governance and financial and strategic management of the Students' Union. For example, the Trustee Board approves the Union s financial plans and top-level strategies, oversees the Union s accounts and ensures compliance with relevant legislation. Although the Trustee Board has elected students as members (the sabbatical officers), it is not a political body and does not make decisions relating to the political campaigning work of the Union. The Trustee Board s remit can be summarised as: Formulating, implementing and monitoring strategic plans.
Providing effective financial management and oversight, including the formation of budgets. Monitoring and evaluating the performance of staff, services and activities. Supporting the Chief Executive and reviewing his performance. Providing effective Risk Management Systems. Ensuring comprehensive ongoing member consultation. Promoting the active involvement of members. Ensuring effective election/selection, induction and appraisal of Trustee Board members. Considering Committee Reports. The Sabbatical officers work alongside the permanent Union staff to implement and carry out the strategy and policies set by the Trustee Board. The permanent staff team is managed by the Chief Executive, who is directly accountable to the Trustee Board for the Union s performance. Our values USSU is a student-led, student-focused organisation with the principles of representation, democracy and informed campaigning at its very heart. Every student at Salford is a member of USSU. We value: Accountability - USSU conducts all its activities, services and working practices with the highest ethical integrity. We endeavour to be transparent, open and honest about our activities, and to allow ourselves to be held to account for our actions by our stakeholders. Enterprise - USSU seeks to be a leader in the field of Students Unions through challenging conventional thinking, responding quickly to changes in our environment, and through deliver innovative services and solutions that enhance students lives. Sustainability - USSU seeks to be a proactive Union in adapting to the demands of a low carbon economy. We will actively support the University s sustainability charter and seek to reduce the environmental impact of our activities and services. USSU also seeks to ensure that its services, activities and work practices are financially and operationally sustainable in their own right, and continually contribute to the Union s strategic objectives. Quality - USSU strives to deliver quality in all areas of its working practices, services, activities and opportunities. We will aim to ensure that where appropriate they are customer focused, professional, safe, viable, relevant and offer value for money. Fun - USSU is committed to and serious about its work but also believes that the Union should be an environment that is fun to be involved in both from a user and staff perspective. We believe this is what can make us different from other organisations Partnership - USSU will work closely with its members, the University and the wider community. We recognise the benefits of collaborative working to ensure the best possible outcomes for students and its role in building a cohesive student community and effective working relationships. Diversity - USSU values the diverse nature of its community. We recognise the importance of being able to adapt to meet the needs and demands of our members, to actively promote a greater understanding and respect for those differences, and to encourage an inclusive welcoming environment.
Finance The Union receives an annual grant from the University to fund its activities as well as an annual turnover from our and has an annual turnover from its commercial operations (Atmosphere Kitchen and Bar and Union Shops). The grant and the surpluses generated from the commercial operations enables the Union to spend over 900,000 on the direct provision of student representation, recreation and development activities. The Union is a not for profit organisation and any money that we makes goes back into supporting the student experience. We have a permanent staff team, student placement positions and approximately 70 student casual staff members who are employed on a seasonal basis. The Union has approximately 19,500 student members and provides services to a further 2,500 people who work in the University. Student Services The Union is involved in a very wide range of activities. Its core purpose is to represent students and provide activities for them to enhance the student experience. To that end the Union organises campaigns on issues of concern to the generality of students, administers the work of over 110 different student clubs and societies, trains and develops over 350 student course representatives and operates a Student Advice Centre. The Union s commercial activities and interests include three shops and a daytime food led licensed venue. The Union also has commercial partnership agreements enabling it to house a print shop and a hairdresser within its building. Overall the Union: provides a relaxed, safe social space and a place to unwind with drinks and meals in Atmosphere Kitchen and Bar runs three shops on campus, selling supplies and groceries offers academic support and advice in our advice centre provides over 100 different activity groups and sports teams to join through our Student Activities Department supports Shock Radio, our award winning student radio station supports The Salfordian, our very own online newspaper runs Give Sport A Go sessions, allowing students to take part in a variety of sports with no commitment runs fun social events, including Rec Nights, comedy nights and pub quizes sells discounted tickets for Manchester United, Manchester City and Bolton Wanderers football games offers the chance to participate and lead in University governance and leadership provides paid job opportunities for students to work in Atmosphere, Student Activities, our shops, Info Point and as promotions staff runs student elections, giving students a voice to stand and vote coordinates and works with the University of a variety of events, including Welcome Week sells NUS Extra discount cards, providing you with discounts at many popular high street shops and services provides a payment point for bills and transport ticket at our finance office window
Section Two Management Structure Chief Executive & Deputy Chief Executive Between them, the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive are responsible for the development and execution of strategic planning and governance across the organisation. Both posts play an active role in the support and personal development of the Sabbatical Officer trustees, providing guidance and advice on managing their representation and student engagement responsibilities. The Chief Executive takes the lead on strategic planning, resource allocation and managing relationships with the University, NUS, other Unions and other external stakeholders. The Deputy Chief Executive takes responsibility for quality management processes, staff and organisational development, and performance management against the strategic plan. The other members of the management team report into both roles in a matrix management structure. Student Engagement This department brings together the Union's advice and representation functions, and is managed by the Student Engagement Manager. The role s core responsibility is to make it undisputable that the Students Union is the voice and the will of students at the University of Salford. The post also focuses on developing, driving and monitoring long-term strategic plans, and mid-term operational plans for the section that enable the priorities of the annually elected Sabbatical Officers and the Union s Strategic Plan to be realised. The post holder will be expected to work very closely with the Sabbatical Officers on delivery of effective student representation and campaigns together with ensuring that there is a coordinated approach to student engagement across the section s activities. The manager is responsible for line managing the following two functions 1. The Student Advice Centre - the Union s Advice Centre is a long established service providing guidance to students on a vast range of issues that may affect their time at the University of Salford. The Centre is staffed by two Advisors focused on the provision of academic related advice. The Advice Centre follows a multi-agency approach to solving student problems where possible and maintains excellent links with the University s Student Life team. The Advice Centre is the recognised channel for providing students with professional representation when they are involved in academic or disciplinary appeals against decisions made by the University. 2. Student Engagement - the post of Student Engagement Co-ordinator is there to Make it undisputable that the Students Union is representative of and led by the voice and the will of students. It should increase involvement in the Union s representation, democracy, engagement and campaigning activities. Student Activities The Union's Activities Development Unit is staffed by the Student Activities Manager, three Student Activities Coordinators and a placement position. Expert external coaching, safety support and advice are brought in as required to support those participating in student activities. The team are responsible for implementing the funding arrangements for student activities, developing new activity programme in accordance with members priorities, building partnerships with Salford Community Leisure, introducing performance management targets for sports clubs and ensuring that student activities make a positive contribution to our members lives. One of the Activities Coordinators is specifically engaged to work on the Give Sport A Go project, funded through the Sport England Active Universities Fund. The placement position is funded through an additional strategic grant from the University.
Commercial Services The Commercial Services department of the Students Union brings together the retail and licensed trade activities of the Union. Atmosphere - Kitchen and Bar opened in September 2014 after a major refurbishment with a capital investment from the University. It provides students with a comfortable space refreshment, entertainment and socialising. It has both an alcoholic and non-alcoholic space to cater for the varying needs of our students. Retail - The Union currently operates three traditional confectionary, news and tobacco shops at separate locations around the campus. The three shops combined turnover is around 700,000 with a GP of around 29%, and a net contribution of c. 70,000. Marketing The post of Marketing Manager ensures that the Union focuses on its communication with its members, and that the message put is produced in a manner consistent with the brand and values of the organisation. This is supported by a Digital Media Assistant. The post operates as a student placement and is intended to bring in advanced online and digital marketing and engagement skills to enable the Union to effectively communicate and engage with its members. The post has a large degree of responsibility for developing the Union's online presence through the Union website and adapting social networking sites to the Union's needs. The post is also expected to provide ideas and support to the Sabbatical Officers in building opportunities for online conversations and consultation with students. Finance The Finance Department contains the financial administrative core of the diverse Union activities, and acts as a critical support service for the other departments of the organisation. Financial Management is outsourced to an organisation called Counterculture Partners Limited and delivered through their Virtual Finance Manager (VFM) function. The Union purchases around 80 days of finance management a year from Counterculture, and in return a VFM comes to the organisation to provide a statutory, management and year end accounting function. The VFM has no line management responsibilities within the Union, but is instead contracted to provide support, analysis and guidance for the Union on its financial development. The key tasks are the production of regular management accounts, the production of year end accounts, managing the audit process, providing support for budgeting, and ensuring that the Union complies with all legal and statutory accounting requirements.
Section Three: Role Description a) Regulations of the Constitution The Union's Constitution formally describes the role of student trustees as follows: 45. Subject to Clause 46 below, up to 4 Student Trustees shall be appointed by the Student Council from such persons as have been nominated by an Appointments Committee of the Trustee Board, provided that the appointment of each Student Trustee is ratified by a 75% majority vote of the Student Council. For the avoidance of doubt, such appointment shall not take effect until it has been ratified by the Student Council. 46. Each Student Trustee must be a Student at the time of his or her appointment (and shall continue to be a Student for the duration of his or her term as a Student Trustee). 47. Student Trustees shall remain in office for a term of one year commencing in accordance with the Role of Trustees Guidance Document. The term of office may be shorter or longer on a transitional basis to coincide with the alteration of the year start or end. 48. A Student Trustee may serve a maximum of two terms which may be either consecutive or non-consecutive. b) Key responsibilities. The following points set out the responsibilities which a Trustee is expected to undertake. 1. Ensuring that the Union has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction and is focused on achieving these. 2. Being responsible for the performance of the Union and for its behaviour. 3. Ensuring that the Union complies with all legal and regulatory requirements. 4. Acting as guardians of the Union s assets, both tangible and intangible, taking due care over their security, deployment and proper application. 5. Ensuring that the Union s governance is of the highest possible standard. 6. To ensure that the Union complies with Charity Law and ensure that the Union prepares reports on what it has achieved and completes and returns its annual accounts 7. To ensure that the Union does not breach any requirements of rules set out in its governing documents and that it remains true to its charitable purposes and objects. 8. To act with integrity and avoid personal conflict or interest or misuse of charity funds or assets. c) Skills and experience The core skills expected of all trustees are: 1. Commitment to the Students Union. 2. Willingness and ability to devote the necessary time and effort. 3. Strategic vision. 4. Able to exercise and take decisions with independent care and judgement.
5. Ability to think creatively. 6. Willingness to speak their mind. 7. Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Trusteeship. 8. Ability to work effectively as a member of a team. 9. A commitment to displaying Nolan's seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. d) Period of office. The term of office is one year for Student Trustees. At the end of this period a Student Trustee can be re-appointed for an additional term of office of one year, providing that they remain a registered student of the University. Student Trustees must resign from the Trustee Board if they cease to be a student at the University of Salford. e) Expenses. Reasonable legitimate expenses will be reimbursed following the appropriate financial procedures. f) Training. Appointees will be invited to take part in the annual induction exercise for the Sabbatical and student members of the Trustee Board which takes place on the 15 and 16 June 2015. g) Time Commitment The minimum commitment required from the non-student trustees is preparation for and attendance at the six meetings of the Trustee Board held each year. The dates for 2015/16 are likely to be (subject to change) 9 th September 2015 21 th October 2015 16 th December 2015 11 th February 2015 14 th or 21 th April 2016 (subject to dates of NUS Annual Conference) 16 th June 2016 HOW TO APPLY To lodge an application to be considered as a trustee of the Students Union, please complete the online application at www.salforstudents.com/jobs. The personal statement should clearly set out how you believe your skills and experience match those outlined in section (c) above. Completed applications should be submitted by 4 th May 2015 Any questions about the position can be emailed to the Deputy Chief Executive via m.s.livesay@salford.ac.uk or to the Chief Executive via j.byrd@salford.ac.uk We look forward to hearing from you in due course and thank you for your interest in the University of Salford Students Union.