Committees

A chance to have your say!

The Union Society holds many committee meetings that any and all  Newcastle students are welcome to attend if they feel that they would like to bring up an issue in that meeting, or would just like further information on what is going on in the Union as a Society. If you click on any of the committee heading you can access the most recent minutes for that committee. Also if you want more information on any of the committees email education.union@ncl.ac.uk or the chair of the committee which should be under the heading.  The committees that meet regularly are:

Union Council

Union Council is the largest body to represent students in the University. It's important in two ways; it oversees the management and control of the general business of the Union Society and also is the place where the offical opinion of Newcastle students is formed. So what do you think of top up fees or the standard of teaching at the University? Then get involved and become a school representitive. Find out if there are any vacancies on this page and if not come in and get signed up! It looks great on the C.V. too.

So who  regularly sits on Council? The Chairperson and all other Union Officers, the Honorary Treasurer, 48 Student Representatives elected from faculty forums, sub councils of the Union Society, 5 members from the Athletic Union standing committee, and 7 members elected from the Societies' Forum.

As you can see a lot of people sit on Union Council, from every area of the University. You may also have noticed that all the representatives are students. This Union is run by students for students! If you ahve any questions or would like to get involved email education.union@ncl.ac.uk or chair.union@ncl.ac.uk.

Sub Councils

The Following are Sub Councils of the Union society:

(a*)* Newcastle University Athletic Union , facilitates, promote and controls all sporting activities within the Union Society and provides a recognised means of communication with other bodies on all matters concerned with sporting activities;

(b) Student Community Action Newcastle , co-ordinate and promote the activity of students in the community of Newcastle upon Tyne and its environs;

(c) the Student Newspaper , ensures the production and distribution of a student newspaper;

(d) the Postgraduate Union , represents the interests of all registered postgraduate students of the University, control and manages its premises and organises social events for postgraduate students;

(e) the Newcastle Medical and Dental Sub Council , represents the interests of medical and dental students as individuals and as a body within the Union Society, within the University and externally; controls and manages its premises and organises relevant educational events;

(f) the International Students' Sub Council , represents the interests of international student members and encourages overseas students to take part in the work of the Union Society;

(g) the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Trans Sub Council , represents the interests of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans' students within the Union Society and opposes homophobic, biphobic and transphobic discrimination.

(h) the Student Parent Sub Council , represents the interests of student parents within the Union Society, external organisations and the University.

(i) the Anti-Racism Sub Council , opposes racial discrimination and intimidation within and outside the Union Society and carries out campaigns and strategies to achieve this.

(j) the Students with Disabilities Sub Council , represents the interest of students with disabilities within the Union Society, external organisations and the University.

(k) the Newcastle Student Radio Station , ensures the broadcasting and promotion of student radio.

Executive Committee

Executive Committee members are involved in many of the day to day decisions in the Union.

The members of Executive Committee are the President (Chair), the Activities Officer, the Education Officer, the Student Support Officer, the Athletic Union Officer, the Editor of the Courier, the Campaigns Officer, the Ethics & Environment Officer, the International Students' Officer, the Postgraduate and Mature Students Officer, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Trans' Officers, the Students with Disabilities Officer, the Racial Equality Officer, and the Executive Officer.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee prepares financial estimates for the Union Society's activities for each financial year in the Easter Term proceeding that financial year and at such other times as it may see fit for approval by Union Council.

The members of Finance Committee are the President (Chair), the Education Officer, the Activities Officer, the Athletic Union Officer, the Student Support Officer, the Editor of the Courier, four student members appointed by Union Council and the Honorary Treasurer.

Welfare & Campaigns Committee

Welfare and Campaigns Committee is responsible in the first instance for the representational, campaigning and welfare work of the Union Society on issues which affect the welfare of students.If you ahve any questions or would like to get involved with welfare and campaigns contact the student support officer at support.union@ncl.ac.uk.

The members of Welfare and Campaigns Committee are VP Student Support Officer (chair), the Campaigns Officer, the Democracy & Training Officer, the International Students' Officer, the Postgraduate & Mature Students Officer, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Trans Officers, the Racial Equality Officer, the Students with Disabilities Officer, the Ethics & Environment Officer, ten student members appointed by Union Council (not more than six of whom shall be Union Councillors), one representative appointed by the Student Parent Sub Council, one representative by the Student Reception Service, one representative appointed by Nightline, one representative appointed by Student Community Action Newcastle, the Charities Officer and one Trans' representative.

Steering Committee

Steering Committee draws up the Order Paper for each meeting of Union Council and each session of the General Meeting in accordance with the Standing Orders and ensures that motions are in order.

The conduct of meetings of Union Council and the General Meeting are supervised by Steering Committee. Steering also acts as an appeals body if the elections committees decision is unsatisfactory to an election candidate.

The members of Steering Committee are the President, the Chair of Union Council, the Communications Officer, the Editor of the Courier and four Union Councillors appointed by Union Council.

Elections Committee

Elections, ballots and referenda are organised by elections Committee in accordance with the relevant Regulations and subject always to the direction of the Returning Officer.

The members of Elections Committee are the President(Chair), the Education Officer, the Editor of the Courier,  and 6 student members elected at council.

Diversity Committee

Represent the diverse needs and wishes of students at Newcastle University. This shall provide a forum for discussion of minority issues. It is also the place that elects student members to go to NUS national conferences which deal with 'liberation' issues, these are things like the black students conference and the LGBT conference.  If you feel you want to say anything then please come along. Although there is no regular meeting time at present please contact the chair of the committee if you have anything you want to bring up on education.union@ncl.ac.uk or 0191 239 3963.

Below is an inital list of those people who regularly attend but ANYONE is welcome. If you just want to come along and find out a little about how the commitee works or have an issue you feel the Union should be adressing contact the chair of the committee above. The regular members of Diversity Committee are; the Education Officer (Chair), Student Support Officer, Campaigns Officer, Students With Disabilities Officer, Campaigns Officer, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans officer, Racial Equality Officer, 2 students with disabilities representatives, 2 LGBT representatives and 2 racial equality representatives. 

Disciplinary Committee

The Committee adjudicates upon and, where necessary, determines punishment in respect of all offences against the Constitution and Bye Laws of the Union Society reported to it.

The members of Disciplinary Committee are the Convenor of Disciplinary Committee and three student members selected in rotation by the Convenor from a panel of ten student members elected by Union Council.If you want more information about this committe and the work it does contact the Convenor of Disciplinary at disciplinary.union@ncl.ac.uk

Housing Committee

This committee acts as a forum for eleceted members to discuss problems and issues within both halls of residence and private rented accommodation. Once problems have been established the committee decides upon the best course of action to move things forward to see results for students.

Forums

The open forum meetings met to initially discuss the governance structure of the union society which is still under review. If you have anything you wiah to add then please contact the president on president.union@ncl.ac.uk 

Download the minutes from meetings on: 13.03.07 23.04.07 30.04.07