Council Agenda Termly Trinity 2008

Trinity Term 2008

OUSU Termly Council to be held before 7th week council

i.    Election of Chair of Council
ii    Election of Returning Officer
iii.    Termly Reports of the President and Vice-Presidents
iv.    Termly Reports of the Executive and Committee Chairs
v.    Constitutional Business (Second and Final Readings of Motions to Change the Constitution and Standing Orders)
 

i.    Election of Chair of Council

Nominations Received:        Martin Nelson (LMH)


 

iv.    Constitutional Business (Second and Final Readings of Motions to Change the Constitution and Standing Orders)

1.    SAS Review Group Report

SECOND READING
First Reading passed 5th Week Trinity 2008

Council Notes:
1.    That Council created the SAS Review Group in 1st Week of Hilary Term to review the Student Advice Service.
2.    That the group has been working for four months and presents its report today (attached).

Council Believes:
1.    The Review Group’s recommendations should be implemented in full.

Council Resolves:
1.    To change the Constitution as below:

Article C: The Executive

Change 3.1(a)(ii) “Ten Executive Officers” to read “The Part-Time Executive Officers” (and rename subsequent references accordingly)

Delete 3.1(a)(iii) “Three Graduate Officers”

Delete 3.1(e) ”A Graduate Officer shall be removed from office only by the means prescribed above for the removal of an Executive Officer or by a two-thirds majority vote in Postgraduate Assembly and approved by Council.”

Delete 3.1 (c) “The Graduate Officer shall serve part-time for a period of one year from the end of the academic term of their election. All graduate officers shall be of equal status.”

2. To change the Standing orders as below:

Section D: The Executive and Committees

Change “D. 1 The Sabbatical Officers”

to read:

“D. 1 Student Union Officers”

Insert:

“1.2 OUSU shall have sixteen Part-Time Executive Officers, three of whom shall be dedicated Graduate officers. The Executive shall consist of: an Undergraduate Academic Affairs Campaigns Officer, Women’s Campaign Officer, International Students Officer, Access and Admissions Officer, Community Outreach and Charities Officer, Rent and Accommodation Officer, Undergraduate Health and Welfare Officer, Environment and Ethics Officer, Equal Opportunities Officer, Common Room Support Officer, Graduate Academic Affairs Officer, Graduate Health and Welfare Officer, Graduate Women’s Officer, a Black and Minority Ethnic Students’ and Anti-Racism Officer, a Students with Disabilities Officer, a Mature Students Officer and an LGBTQ Officer.”

Section E: Student Advice Service

Delete E 2. 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.5

and replace with (renumbering accordingly):

“2.1 It shall be the responsibility of the Vice President (Welfare and Equal Opportunities) to co-ordinate the day-to-day work of the Student Advice Service and be the Data Protection Officer for the Student Union.

2.2 The Student Advisor shall annually submit a report to the SAS Management Board and the Vice President (Welfare and Equal Opportunities) appraising the role and making recommendations as to the future development of the post.”

Add “E 3. The Student Advice Service Management Board”

“ 3.1 The SAS Management Board will consist of: The OUSU President (ex-officio), an individual with suitable clinical experience, an individual with suitable management experience and the Chair of the Joint Committee of University Council with Student Members. The membership of the Board will be appointed by the OUSU Executive and ratified by Council.

3.2 The SAS Management Board will have ultimate responsibility for the conduct and responsibilities of the SAS Team and will have ultimate jurisdiction over the structures of the Student Advice Service.

3.3 The SAS Management Board will be responsible for ensuring the Student Advice Service is compliant with the Data Protection Act and other relevant legislation.

3.4 The SAS Review Group will monitor and evaluate the procedures and practices of the Student Advice Service.”

3. To change the Schedules as below:

Schedule Five: Job Descriptions

Change 2l) “Graduate Welfare Officer”

And replace with “Graduate Health and Welfare Officer” (renaming accordingly)

Add:

1c) 8. “To be a member of the OUSU Equal Opportunities Executive and convene regular meetings of the group”

2i) 4. “To be a member of the OUSU Equal Opportunities Executive and attend meetings.”

2m) 8. “To be a member of the OUSU Equal Opportunities Executive and attend meetings.”

Add:

“2n) Black and Minority Ethnic Students’ and Anti-Racism Officer
1.    Represent the interests of Black and Minority Ethnic Students to the OUSU Executive and University.
2.    Lobby for the interests of Black and Minority Ethnic Students in all areas of the student experience including (but not limited to) access, academic affairs and welfare.
3.    Support the OUSU Racial, Ethnic and Religious Equality Campaign in their work.
4.    Liaise with BME and Anti-Racist student societies and groups within the University.
5.    Support Common Room Ethnic Minorities Representatives (or equivalent) in their work and arrange regular meetings between them.
6.    To be a member of the OUSU Equal Opportunities Executive and attend meetings.

2o) Students with Disabilities Officer
1.    Represent the interests of Students with Disabilities to the OUSU Executive and University.
2.    Lobby for the interests of Students with Disabilities in all areas of the student experience including (but not limited to) access, academic affairs and welfare.
3.    Liaise with the University Disability Office on a regular basis.
4.    Support the OUSU Students with Disabilities Campaign in their work.
5.    Support Common Room Students’ With Disabilities Officers (or equivalent) in their work and arrange regular meetings between them.
6.    To be a member of the OUSU Equal Opportunities Executive and attend meetings.

2p) LGBT Officer
1.    Represent the interests of LGBT Students to the OUSU Executive and the University.
2.    Lobby for the interests of LGBT Students in all areas of the student experience including (but not limited to) access, academic affairs and welfare.
3.    Work with the University Diversity and Equal Opportunities Unit.
4.    Work with LGBT groups and networks within the University.
5.    Support Common Room LGBT Officers and arrange meetings to exchange best practice and support them in their work.
6.    To be a member of the OUSU Equal Opportunities Executive and attend meetings.


2q) Mature Students Officer
1.    Represent the interests of Mature Students to the OUSU Executive and University.
2.    Lobby for the interests of Mature Students in all areas of the student experience including (but not limited to) access, academic affairs and welfare.
4.    Support the OUSU Mature Students Campaign in their work.
5.    Support Common Room Officers with responsibility for mature students in their work and arrange regular meetings between them and raise awareness of mature students issues in JCRs.
6.    To be a member of the OUSU Equal Opportunities Executive and attend meetings. ”

Proposed: Martin McCluskey (OUSU President)
Seconded: Louise Randall (OUSU VP Welfare & Equal Opportunities)

  Click here to download a copy of the SAS Review Group Report
 

1.    Electoral Reform Motion

SECOND READING
First Reading passed 6th Week Extraordinary Council Meeting Trinity 2008

Council Notes:
1.    The establishment of the Elections Review Group in 1st Week Hilary Term 2008
2.    That the Elections Review Group had a remit to review and reform the OUSU Constitution and Standing Orders with regards to Elections.

Council Further Notes:
1.    The current set of Elections legislation allows for very little active campaigning to take place, restricts heavily the activities of candidates and is often off-putting to potential candidates.

Council Believes:
1.    OUSU Elections should attempt to engage the widest number of people possible and maximise voter turnout as far as possible.

Council Resolves:
2.    To accept Version A (Michaelmas Elections) of the new Constitutional and Standing Order for elections.

Proposed: Martin McCluskey (OUSU President)
Seconded: James Dray (Mansfield, Ex-RO)

Click here to down load a copy of the Constitution (Elections)

Click here to down load a copy of the Standing Orders (Elections)