University of Bradford Union (UBU)

Athletic Union Constitution

  1. Name
  2. The Governing Body of all UBU sports clubs shall be known as the Athletic Union (AU).

1.2.Membership shall be one and the same as UBU, upon payment of the sports membership fee.

1.3.The constitutional body of AU shall be UBU Council (Section 22 of the UBU Constitution).

  1. Officers of AU
  2. These officers shall comprise the Athletic Union Executive:
  1. President
  2. Vice President
  3. Secretary
  4. Intermural Competitions Officer (2)
  5. Events Officer
  6. UBU Council Representatives (2)
  7. Communications Officer
  8. Charity and Fundraising Officer
  1. Functions and duties of AU
  2. To support all UBU sports clubs with a commitment to providing safe sport at both representative and recreational levels.

3.2.The publication and distribution of the AU Code of conduct, Handbook and Health and safety policies.

3.3.A member of the AU Executives will be tasked to take minutes at the monthly AU Council and send the minutes of the meeting to any relevant individual and body.

3.4.The coordination of and supervision of membership to all AU clubs.

3.5.Supervising a suitable hand-over provision and training for all AU Executives.

3.6.The support and promotion of internal competitions, increasing the awareness of all AU and sports club led events.

3.7.To meet weekly at an AU Committee meeting to discuss sport related business, furthermore to report any relevant information to AU Council and Sports Operation meeting.

3.8.To conduct all AU Committee meetings on campus unless agreed upon by the AU President.

3.9.To elect two members to UBU Council.

3.10.To work in partnership with Unique.

  1. Powers and duties of the AU Executive
  2. The Executive shall be responsible for the administration of the affairs of the Athletic Union. This shall involve the coordination of the duties and functions of the Athletic Union detailed in Article three.
  1. The duties and role of the AU President
  2. Has representative and financial responsibility for all AU sports clubs

5.2.Shall represent the views of all AU sportsclubs on the various bodies and committees ofUBU and the University of Bradford.

5.3.Shall represent the interests of the AU on any relevant national sporting bodies and be the principle representative to the British Universities and College Sports Association (BUCS)

5.4.Has responsibility for the running of the AU area within UBU

5.5.Shall attend all meetings of the AU Council and AU Executive, unless apologies are sent.

5.6.To organise the annual UBU Varsity match against Huddersfield University

5.7.To inform all AU officers of their roles and duties in relations to the AU and to support thereafter.

5.8.If an AU officer position is not filled to do the role which has not been filled

5.9.To support the arrangement of Campus Sport.

5.10.Shall attend all UBU and Unique sports related meetings.

5.11.The AU President has the responsibility, where deemed necessary, to delegate any tasks to members of the AU Executive.

  1. The duties and role of the Vice President
  2. Should be familiar with the general organisation and running of the AU area within UBU.

6.2.Shall perform the duties of the AU President in their absence.

6.3.Shall Chair all meetings of the AU Executive and AU Council.

6.4.Shall organise the AU Colours awards: the advertisement of the colours forms, the colours committee meeting, informing applicants of the decision and organisation of the awards evening.

6.5.To attend all meetings of the UBU Council, when possible, with or in the absence of the two AU Representatives.

6.6.Shall liaise with the AUarea within UBU.

6.7.If an AU officer position is not filled to assume the role which has not been filled.

6.8.They shall provide a report to the monthly meeting of the UBU Council meeting.

  1. The duties and role of the AU Secretary
  2. Should be familiar with the general organisation and running of the AU area within UBU.

7.2.Shall organise all meetings of the AU Council and AU Executive in publishing the agenda and minutes.

7.3.The Secretary shall be responsible for the organisation and creation of meetings of the AU Executive and AU Council.

7.4.To send out agenda and AU Council minutes.

7.5.The Secretary shall perform the duties of the AU Vice President, in the absence of the AU Vice president operating within the role capacity.

7.6.Shall act as returning officer for all AU elections.

7.7.To liaise with the AU Events Officer.

  1. The duties and role of the AU Intermural Officer
  2. To coordinate the running of a UBU welcome week sports competition.

8.2.To coordinate the running of the weekend UBU Intermural sports competition

8.3.To present and get approval of all Intermural plans formally by the AU Committee.

8.4.To provide support to all AU Executive in any capacity possible.

  1. The duties and role of the AU Events Officer
  2. To organise all events for the whole of the AU.

9.2.Provide support to AU Intermural Officers.

9.3.To organise and support UBU Varsity in all capacity.

9.4.To present all AU event plans to AU Committee for approval.

9.5.The events officer shall lease with the AU President and AU Vice President to organise AU Executive team bonding.

9.6.To liaise with the a AU President and AU Vice President with organising the AU Colours ball

9.7.The AU Events Officer shall attend all AU Council meetings.

  1. The duties and role of the Communications Officer
  2. To liaise with the UBU Media and Marketing Co-ordinator in regards to the setting up of the UBU sport website.

10.2.To ensure the sports section of the UBU website is kept up to date.

10.3.To liaise with the all AU Officers.

10.4.To liaise with sports clubs to create and develop their own UBU online page. .

10.5.To raise awareness of all University of Bradford sports games and competitions via all media areas.

10.6.Liaise with the sports clubs and UBU Media and Marketing Co-Ordinator for all results to be published.

10.7.To provide support to all sports clubs in promoting their events.

10.8.Promote University of Bradford sport merchandise around campus and away games.

10.9.The Communications Officer shall report to the AU Executive and AU social media platforms on the success of AU events.

  1. The duties and role of the AU Council Representatives
  2. To represent the AU at all UBU Council meetings.

11.2.Shall attend all AU Council meetings.

11.3.Shall represent the views and concerns of the members of the AU.

11.4.The AU Representative shall be responsible for communicating relevant information from UBU Council to AU Executive Committee and AU Executives via AU Council.

  1. Athletic Union Council
  2. Athletic Union Council shall:
  1. Provide a forum for communication between recognised UBU sports clubs and the AU Executive
  2. Form such sub committees as may be necessary for the conduct of its affairs and shall cooperate with any other UBU, University of Bradford and non-University committees as it sees fit
  3. It may dismiss any ordinary member of a subcommittee by simple majority of the vote at AU Council
  4. To ensure the smooth running of the AU.
  5. Decision on the UBU sports development fund and any important issues discussed in the weekly AU Executive Committee meetings will be presented to the AU Council.
  6. The AU Council shall be organised by the AU Secretary, and Chaired by the AU Vice President
  1. AU Council shall be responsible for:
  1. The approval of the decisions of the AU Executive.
  2. Representing the interests of their sports club in a manner consistent with the general good of the AU and UBU.
  3. The AU Council shall vote on any decision that has the AU Executives in a deadlock
  4. Election of the AU Executive, with the exception of the AU President.
  1. AU Council Membership
  2. AU Council shall consist of a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 5 representatives of each recognised UBU sports club and the officers of the AU Executive.

14.2.Others may attend at the request of an officer or member with speaking rights decided on a majority vote.

  1. Meetings
  2. There shall be monthly meetings in both the first and second semester (only in academic term-time) to be organised by the AU President and AU Vice President.

15.2.Extraordinary meetings may be held at the request of the AU Executive or a written request to the AU Vice President and Chair by 25% of recognised clubs.

15.3.The AU Vice President and AU Secretary shall circulate notice of all meetings to members 7 days before the meeting.In the case of extraordinary meetings a minimum of 2 days’ notice is required.

15.4.Standing orders for the meetings shall be the same as UBU Council where applicable.

15.5.All AU Council shall be held within the first and the last UBU Council, but for the exception of AU Executive training Council.

  1. Voting
  2. Each sports club and member of the respective sports club Executive shall have one vote in all polls.
  1. Quorum
  2. Half of all members of the Council plus one shall be present for business to be conducted.
  1. Attendance
  2. A fine or removal of privileges will be made if a member does not attend AU councils and does not send apologies to AU Council. Consequences will be as follows:
  1. One missed AU council = Written warning to the club.
  2. Two missed AU councils = next training session will be cancelled and a fine of £20 to the club budget.
  3. Three missed AU councils = sports club’s status will be frozen including training, competitions/games, budget etc and a fine to budget of £150.
  4. If the sports club’s status is frozen an investigation will be performed by AU Committee to discuss further repercussions and actions.
  5. Apologises cannot be given after 12 noon on the day of the AU council meeting.
  6. Training will not be an acceptable apology.
  1. Training/Matches
  2. A fine or removal of privileges will be made if a players at scheduled training times or matches are found to be lacking Unique gym membership and UBU Sports Development Fund Fee, or found player(s) to be ineligible to play (i.e. not students of the University of Bradford or affiliated clubs). Consequences will be as follows:
  1. 20% of players found to be lacking proper gym membership and Sports Development Fund Fee = Written warning to the club.
  2. A second incidence of 20% of players found to be lacking Unique gym membership and Sports Development Fund Fee = next training session will be cancelled and a fine of £20 to the club budget.
  3. A third incidence of 20% of players found to be lacking Unique gym membership and Sports Development Fund Fee OR player(s) found to be ineligible to play (i.e. not students of the University of Bradford or affiliated clubs). = club’s status will be frozen including training, competitions/games, budget etc. and a fine to budget of £150.
  4. If the club’s status is frozen an investigation will be performed by AU Committee executive to discuss further repercussions and actions.
  5. Repercussions and actions will be carried on to the next academic year.
  1. AU Executive Elections
  2. All members of the Executive with the exception of the President shall be elected by the last weekof the second semester to the positions detailed in Article 2.

20.2.They must be elected from among the student membership of the AU. Elections shall be administered in accordance with procedures laid down in the UBU constitution and standing orders.

  1. AU Council Representatives Elections
  2. Two Union Council representatives shall be elected annually by the 1st UBU Council meeting.

21.2.Elections shall be administered in accordance with procedures laid down in the UBU constitution and standing orders for Council.

  1. AU Council and Sub Committees Elections
  2. All elections are by simple majority

22.2.Any elected member may be dismissed by a two-thirds majority.

  1. AU President Election
  2. Shall be elected through theUBU Sabbatical electionprocess as the UBU Sports Officer.
  1. Removal from Office
  2. Any Officer of the AU, with the exception of the AU President, may be removed from office by a two-thirds majority of members present at a meeting of the AU Council voting in favour of a motion of no confidence, which shall be circulated to members of the AU Council 5 days prior to the meeting.

24.2.The AU President may be removed from office through steps defined in the UBU Constitution.

  1. Creation of a New Club
  2. A new sports club may affiliate to the AU provided that they have:
  1. Submitted a list of at least 20 UBU members who have paid the affiliation fee
  2. Elected a committee of at least 3 members, of who are students.
  3. Completed a sports club constitution
  4. Completed a UBU budget application form
  5. Presented their sports club to AU Executive for confirmation. Each AU executive member should be informed of the proposal 3 days prior to the meeting for a decision to be reached.
  6. New sports clubs will pass a rigorous trial period and criteria specified by the AU President and the Sports Coordinators.
  1. Removal from the AU
  2. A club may be removed from the AU if it does not follow all Articles detailed in this Constitution.

26.2.A written recommendation will be required by the AU council with evidence to debate the removal of a sports club.

26.3.This will be subject to vote of ratification by Sports Disciplinary Committee.

26.4.The sports club must cease all activity immediately if the decision does not go in their favour.

26.5.Sports clubs will have the right of appeal to an appeals committee chaired by the CEO.

  1. Sports Disciplinary Committee
  2. Will only sit if there is a recommendation from the AU council to remove an AU Sports Club.

27.2.The committee shall include:

  1. AU Exec.
  2. AU Vice-president.
  3. Sports Coordinators.
  4. Member of staff chosen by the club in question.
  5. Club in question’s President, Secretary and Treasurer.
  1. Sports Membership
  2. It is compulsory for all sports club executives and sports club members tohold a sports membership, which includes the Gym membership and Sports Development Fund.
  1. Sports Development Fee
  2. The Sports development fee will consist of both the Emergency Grant and the Sports development Fund(SDF)

29.2.To apply for the Emergency Grant, Clubs must follow the steps outlined in the Sports Development Fee Policy.

29.3.To be eligible and to be considered for the SDF. Sports club executives and sports club members attending training must all have sports memberships.

  1. Finance
  2. The finances of all sports clubs shall be subject to UBU Financial Regulations

30.2.Sports clubs shall also be given a UBU private account in addition to their UBU budget account.

30.3.A budget request must be submitted by each sports club by week 7/12 of semester

30.4.These will be assessed by the AU President before being passed with recommendations to UBU finance.

30.5.AU sports clubs are entitled to apply for the SDF as directed by the SDF policy, which can be found on the Sport website.

  1. AU Colours and Awards
  2. All AU members are eligible for awards as detailed in the AU Colours and Awards Constitution.
  1. Amendments
  2. This constitution may be amended by a two thirds majority of either a Quorate:
  1. AU Executive meeting or
  2. AU Council meeting or
  3. UBU Council meeting