717 A UNION PRESENCE OFF CAMPUS

This Union Notes:

1. That the University of Warwick central campus is on the outskirts of a city and almost entirely self-contained.

2. That second-year students are not allowed to live on campus unless given special leave by the University, usually on medical grounds.[1]

3. That final-year students are also not guaranteed on-campus accommodation unless they are International Students or are given special leave by the University.[2]

4. That several thousand Warwick University students live off campus.

5. The time it takes to travel from Leamington to campus and the high cost of bus tickets, as noted in Policy 703, ‘Bus Fares’.

6. That the recession has taken its toll on local businesses, with many premises currently vacant.

7. The Union’s “Beyond the Bubble” Facebook group[3] and other initiatives which seek to involve off campus students in the Union more regularly.

This Union Believes:

1. That the Union has, in the past, sometimes been perceived to be geared towards campus-based students largely on account of their proximity to it.

2. That having a presence in Leamington Spa and/or Coventry would be attractive to off campus students and would keep them informed about and involved in the activities of the Union.

3. That there are many advantages of having a presence in Leamington and/or Coventry, such as expanding our community strategy and outreach, serving as a base for volunteers and campaigns, being a hub for students who do not wish to travel to campus on any given day, and providing student services.

4. That a presence in Leamington and/or Coventry would also serve to attract students to events at the Union on campus.

  1. That in the long run, should such a presence prove feasible, it could also be profitable.
  1. That while this is unlikely to become reality in the near future, there is no harm in looking into it.

This Union Resolves:

1. To mandate the Union Development Officer to investigate the feasibility of establishing a Union presence in Leamington Spa and/or Coventry.

POLICY HISTORY
Action / Body / Date
Carried / Union Council / 2009/10, T2W3
Policy Review / Union Council / 2011/12, T2W3

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717 A Union Presence off Campus

[1]

and

[2]Ibid., and

[3]