UNIVERSITY OF NORTHAMPTON STUDENTS UNION

MINUTES

MEETING NAME / Student Council
DATE / Tuesday 2nd December 2014
VENUE / Holdenby Lecture Theatre 1
CHAIR / Pamela Basikiti
MEMBERSHIP
IN ATTENDANCE
REGULAR BUSINESS (40 minutes) / (lead)
1.  / Apologies for non-attendance
No apologies received
2.  / Minutes of the last meeting
Minutes from the last meeting was not discussed.
3.  / Actions arising
Minutes from the last meeting was not discussed
4.  / Discussion Points
Waterside Campus Discussion Point
Jane Bunce (JB) -Thanked everybody for coming along, and explained that the campus move was planned for September 2018. The campus will be on a brownfield site. Will be the biggest social regeneration project in the county and one of the biggest nationally in Higher Education.
The move has been prompted by issues with the current site, quality of site is not good enough, despite NSS scores being good. The University cannot stand still. New site will feature social learning spaces, dining, student village. It will ensure that the University has a future.
The campus move is going to happen, it isn’t an option.
Richard Say (RS)- What are the proposed sports facilities on the new site?
JB- Bigger gym, Dance studio, new sports hall, sports consultant is currently working on the space
RS- How big are the facilities?
JB- Similar size, however there is space on the site to expand.
Unknown- Is it true that the new site sits on a flood plain?
JB- No, worked closely with the environment agency. 1 in 100 year chance of the site flooding. The site will be raised by 1 metre.
Louis El Khoury (LEK)- Is it true there will be less teaching space?
JB- Yes, that’s true
LEK- Will there be spacew dedicated for research?
JB- Yes, will be in an open plan office space in plot 3 with science lab
Unknown- Is it true the SU is having a smaller building?
JB- No commercial element, will be in Engine Shed operating office functions
Bradley Allsop- Could you expand on the reduction in teaching space?
JB- Exploring options for teaching models. There will be a similar amount of teaching time to now, with a more intense use of space.
Unknown- Will there be a separate space for dance club and the course?
JB- Performance space will be within the School of the Arts
Unknown- Is it true that there will be no parking on the site?
JB- It is true in part. There will be less than we currently have. 700 spaces on site, looking at a park and ride scheme
Unknown- Will that be free?
JB- Unsure
Unknown- What is happening to this site?
JB- Will be sold for housing. We don’t actually own all of this site anymore
Unknown- Will there be sports labs?
JB- Yes, similar to those we have now
Unknown- Will there be trampolining on site?
JB- Unfortunately not, no.
Unknown- What’s happening to Avenue?
JB- Newton will remain for professional services staff. Will be a student facing reception in plot 2.
Unknown- What will happen with Maidwell?
JB- Planning to keep Bassett Lowke and Park Campus East Halls. Hopefully sell Maidwell for housing.
Stephanie Nixon- Will the move improve learning?
JB- Currently looking at new models of learning. Interactive learning, contact hours will be the same for level 4, more independent learning at level 5 and 6.
Unknown- Most of us will have graduated, why is this relevant?
JB- You wouldn’t want the university you graduate from to fail. Won’t benefit you directly, only through degree reputation.
SEAMRs (Attendance Monitoring)
JB- UKVI regulations require that the University complies with attendance checks on students and the University will do this through swiping student cards to monitor attendance at lectures. The University are bound to these rules and don’t think it’s fair to just implement amongst international students, so they are going to implement and monitor the attendance of all students.
Students are all paying fees, if you don’t show up it’s your responsibility, but the institution has a duty of care to all students to monitor their welfare, it is nobody’s interest if students are failing.
There have been issues raised with the cause for concern policy, but this has been in place for a long time now.
Owen Taylor- I am on a School of Health course. I have to fill out attendance forms and have been told this is for Border Control.
JB- It will be about your bursary if you are on a health related course.
Alex Jolly- There has been no communication with students about this, why?
JB- Not happening until February, there have been issues with the hardware.
Emma Thomas (ET)- The e-mail sent to students said a replacememnt card will cost students £10
JB- That has always been the case
ET- How much is being spent on the project?
JB- The University has to do this, it is being imposed by the border agency. Doesn’t know the cost of the project.
Ross Lyons- Will we be reprimanded if we don’t want to attend?
JB- Speak to your tutor to discuss your study style. There will be no attendance policy. If you don’t attend we are not going to throw you out.
Unknown- If there is no attendance policy, why was I threatened to be thrown off my course?
JB- Bring me the letter
Unknown- Won’t there be a lot of queues with only one machine per lecture theatre?
JB- I don’t know the answer to that
Postgraduate and Mature Student Association Discussion point
NW- We are exploring the possibility of broadening our appeal by creating a Postgraduate and Mature Student association
LEK- How does this differ from a society?
NW- Rather than it being a society, it will offer all that the SU offers, just with more appropriate branding.
AJ- Are socs not the best way to engage this group?
5. / Officer Mandates
Free Sport Mandate
BC- Mandated last year, needs changing
Unknown- What is a mandate?
Roger Weston- Clarified what a mandate is
VOTE TO ACCEPT CHANGES PASSED
6. / Audited Accounts
VOTE TO ACCEPT AUDITED ACCOUNTS FOR 2013-14 PASSED
7. / Part Time Officer Elections
David Lewis- Entertainments Officer- ELECTED
Daniela Queresma- BAME Officer- ELECTED
Ross Lyons- Moulton College Officer- ELECTED
8. / Student Council Vice-Chair Election
Frank…
Josh…ELECTED
9 / OFFICER REPORTS
9.1 / President
Report Online
Scrutiny- What are you activities with Partner Colleges, and your aims for the year?
VA- Give a voice to Partner College students. Create a partnership and get them to see themselves as UoN students. I will do this through going to meet them.
Vote: Report Passed
9.2 / Vice President (Student Experience)
Report Online
Unknown- What do you mean by “Free Wednesdays”
BC- No lectures on a Wednesday
LEK- Is that possible given the limited space on Waterside?
BC- Rather have Friday afternoon off rather than a Wednesday. Discussing with Jane at the moment. She is looking at now, President is handling Waterside
Scrutiny- Are the green sections on your report fully completed?
BC- Green if it is done for the month
Vote: Report Passed
9.3 / Vice President (Engagement and Participation)
Report Online
Unknown- Not enough buses
NW- Will take the issue to Paul Taylor
Scrutiny- Do you think Hall Reps activity is too sport-related?
NW- Waiting for Socs contacts from Alex Jolly
Vote: Report Passed
9.4 / Societies Officer
Report Online
Vote: Report Passed
9.5 / RAG Officer
Report Online
Vote: Report Passed
9.6 / Ethics and Environment Officer
Report Online
Scrutiny- Target is 7 Student Council, missed one so KPI sheet is wrong.
David Lewis- Do you think there should be a library on the new campus?
AY- Not for me to decide
Vote: Report Passed
9.7 / Sports Officer
Report Online
Vote: Report Passed
9.8 / Mature Students’ Officer
Officer Absent
10 / COMMITTEE REPORTS / (lead)
Societies Committee- PASSED
Sports Committee- PASSED
Education Committee- PASSED
P2- PASSED
Trustee Report- PASSED
P2 Grants
·  Zimwomen- PASSED
·  Rebecca White- PASSED
·  Computing- PASSED
·  Fairtrate- PASSED
· 
13 / ANY OTHER BUSINESS / (lead)
Alex Jolly- Racecourse violence has increased, can there be a safety campaign from the officers please?
BC- Needs a mandate for Nick

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