Community Officers Referendum Announced

Since our Democracy Review in 2019, we’ve been closely monitoring student engagement with Student Collectives and Executives, and after almost four years, we think it’s time for a shake-up.

To give underrepresented groups the best platform possible to have their voices heard on campus and beyond, we’re holding a referendum on the Union's constitution to bring in some proposed changes to Byelaws E and I.

Collectives have struggled to attract student members, and elect leaders (Convenors) since their implementation. We're proposing to replace 'Collectives' and 'Collective Convenors' with 'Communities' and 'Community Officers' to make the groups more recognisable and accessible.

The question we will be asking is as follows:

Alongside the SU Elections, we’ll be asking you to vote from 7-9 March on whether you feel that the proposed changes should be implemented by the Students' Union.

The Referendum Headlines

Student Communities are autonomous bodies that are responsible for working with the Union to secure the general interests and collective rights of the students that define into the relevant group. There will be two categories of communities, one for inclusion-based communities and one for academic-based communities.

They will also coordinate activities, events, and campaigns relevant to their agenda, which may include supporting and working across different student groups.

The Inclusion Communities

• Women Students
• LGBT+ Students
• Disabled Students
• Black & Global Majority Students
• International Students
• Students of Faith
• Mature & Carer Students

The Academic Communities

• Postgraduate Research Students
• Postgraduate Taught Students
• Commuting Students

To read a summary of the changes, the current constitution, and the proposed changes to the constitution, head to our Community Officers webpage.