At RHSU, we want to ensure we are as transparent as possible about how decisions are made and who makes them, so let’s dive into what was on the agenda at our latest meeting.
What is the Board of Trustees?
Our Board of Trustees comprises four elected Sabbatical Officers, three appointed Student Trustees and up to five external and independent Trustees. This group is legally responsible for the organisation and in addition to providing guidance and expertise, helps to set the strategic direction for RHSU.
At Board meetings, Sabbatical Officers and the Chief Executive provide updates on their work and present items which need to be discussed and potentially approved by Board. At RHSU, we want to ensure we are as transparent as possible about how decisions are made and who makes them, so let’s dive into what was on the agenda at our latest meeting.
Governance Review and Recommendations
James Coe, Counterculture LLP, shared the final report on how things are going at RHSU and what we can improve. They looked at everything from finances to leadership making sure that the Union works for all of us.
The main takeaway? We’re doing well but there’s always room to do better. The report noted 30 recommendations to make things run better, and the CEO and Senior Leadership Team will be leading the implementation.
Leadership Elections and RHSU Priority 8
Our Student Voice Manager gave a presentation on the recent Leadership Election voter turnout, results and the final RHSU Priority 8. Along with the elections, students voted on Priority 8, which is a list of 20 issues that we want to focus on for the next year. This framework will guide the work that we do at RHSU.
The 2025 Leadership Elections saw voter turnout of 24.3% with 3473 voters - our highest since 2020 and against a 2024 turnout of 2,700 voters and 19.5%.
Sabbatical Officer Updates
All four Officers updated the Board on their work since the last meeting, focusing on key campaigns and student engagement. The President has been leading the Help Not Harm and NeverOk campaigns addressing harassment and sexual misconduct, and organising the first-ever Student Impact Awards. The Vice President Education is supporting School Reps, running campaigns like Women’s History Month and Shout About It Week, and improving personal tutoring. The Vice President Wellbeing and Diversity has delivered Wellbeing Workshops and Women’s Only Gym Hours, both of which received positive student feedback. The Vice President Societies and Sports is strengthening student communities, promoting leadership, and working to improve academic structures. Together, the Officers are driving initiatives that prioritise student safety, representation, and engagement across the university.
Commercial Review: Priority Actions and Strategy
Our Chief Operations Officer presented a plan for improving RHSU’s commercial services after a review. It’s all about making things run more smoothly, especially since we’ve seen a decline in revenue. The Board approved the plan but made sure there are some checks in place: we need clear financial goals for each service, and all big investments must show how they will bring in more money.
Reserves Policy
The Head of Finance and Resources presented the draft Reserves Policy, which has been approved at the February Finance, Staffing and Risk Committee. This is a new policy on how we manage our money to make sure we always have enough to cover unexpected costs.
This includes setting aside reserves for emergencies, so RHSU can continue running even if we hit hard times. The Board approved the new policy, and we’re on track to keep everything in balance.
Strategic Plan Progress Update
The CEO presented an update on progress with the 26 strategic objectives focused on building communities, improving student representation, and providing inclusive activities and services. This project is moving forward and some of the objectives are already done, and more are in the works for next year. We’ll keep you updated on how it’s progressing.
CEO Update
The CEO provided an update on several areas, including some upcoming changes to employment rights, updates on our strategic risks and outcomes of our midyear health and safety report.