This December & January, your Elected Officers, have been working hard to make sure you’re loving life at Herts. Here's your latest updates…

From Your President

Over recent months, President Jubair has been working closely with students and the University to raise concerns, drive change, and improve the day-to-day student experience.

• • Accommodation & Value for Money: Rising on-campus accommodation costs (up to £9,000 per year) have led many students, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds, to seek cheaper off-campus options. In response to student feedback, a proposal has been submitted recommending free bus travel during term time for students living on campus. Concerns around accommodation damage charges, including transparency and appeals, are also being followed up to ensure fairness.
• •  Sense of Belonging: New collaborations are delivering regular cultural and co-curricular activities to strengthen students’ sense of belonging. Ongoing feedback has focused on improving social spaces, better use of time between classes, and restoring key communal areas.
• •  Campus Catering: Student concerns about high food prices on campus have been formally raised. Price comparisons with local outlets are being reviewed, alongside calls for better consultation on student needs.
• •  Multi-Faith Prayer Spaces: Improvements include new ablution facilities arriving shortly and secured access to larger spaces for Friday prayers. Updates will be shared widely with students.
• •  Student Voice & Advocacy: Student voice is being strengthened through better promotion of feedback channels, improved engagement in School Student Forums, and continued work on transport issues. Direct advocacy has supported students with fee payment flexibility, accommodation and appeals, timetable planning, and international student issues.
• •  Teaching & Academic Support: Student feedback is shaping improvements in teaching quality, with ongoing work to make academic advice and support more visible and accessible across all schools.

From Your Part-Time Officers

Ritvik, Business Students’ Officer

• •  Ritvik is enhancing employability support and raising student awareness of services from entry to graduation, including career coaching and placement guidance.
• •  Student and employer engagement opportunities are being explored to improve participation and outcomes.
• •  Key services identified for stronger promotion include CareerSet (CVs, cover letters, LinkedIn) and Forage Academy (virtual work experience and industry-recognised certifications).
• •  Collaboration between the Students’ Union and UH Careers is driving joint campaigns, employability activities and SU communications to increase student engagement.

Judith, Creative Arts Students’ Officer

• •  Worked with University marketing to improve transparency for on-campus students; ensured laundry, gym, and travel pricing is visible online.
• •  Finalised budgeting brochure template with savings tips and guidance, designed for clarity and annual updates.
• •  Collaborated with Academic Excellence team to develop Creative Arts support initiatives, including a study buddy scheme focused on accessibility and academic support.
• •  Extended Workshop 1 hours during exam period, coordinating with Senior Technical Manager for staffing and safety, providing students improved access.

Lorena, Disabled Students’ Officer

• • Lorena has shifted her focus from staff-only accessibility training to improving the overall learning experience for disabled students. She is embedding active learning methods to increase engagement and support diverse learning needs. In addition, she is reviewing all pre-arrival communications to ensure information provided to students is accessible, supportive, and helps set them up for success.

Mariangel, Health, Medicine & Life Sciences Students’ Officer

• • Successfully lobbied for the piano to be moved back near the food court; it is now accessible to students.
• • Wider action plan, including financial support initiatives for home students, is paused while Mariangel is on placement. SU staff continue to monitor and support objectives.

Hassan, Race Equity Students’ Officer

• • Hassan was on holiday for most of December and January and has recently returned. There have been no updates from him since the last report.

Aliza, Law & Education Students’ Officer

• • Aliza started her role as SLE Officer in mid-January. During her first week, she received a comprehensive handover from Shafquat and shadowed him to gain a clear understanding of ongoing work and to prepare for a smooth transition.
• • Following Shafquat’s departure from the SU, Aliza has been focusing on completing her training and developing a strong understanding of how Herts SU and the Elected Officer structure operate. Alongside this, she is exploring key areas she would like to prioritise during her tenure, which will inform her action plan due to be finalised by February end.

Aadarsha, LGBTQ+ Students’ Officer

• • Finalised action plans to create a safe, supportive, and culturally aware space for LGBTQ+ students in the Business School.
• • Piloting a “Queer in Business” networking drop-in series, with structured sessions for students to share experiences and discuss barriers, plus weekly sit-down sessions across both campuses in February.
• • Contributing LGBTQ+ insights to safety and harassment training, ensuring scenarios around queerphobia, particularly trans safety, are included.
• • Initiatives aim to reduce isolation, improve belonging, and strengthen cultural and physical safety for LGBTQ+ students.

Nibir, Physics, Engineering & Computer Science Students’ Officer

• • Supporting SPECS students and improving university experience by collaborating with staff and course officers.
• • Planning events such as an “End of the Year” celebration and encouraging society participation.
• • Analysing student withdrawal data to identify trends and explore solutions, including potential peer mentoring.
• • Working with UNO Bus management to enhance commuting experience: aligning bus timings with student schedules and promoting free shuttle benefits. Progress ongoing.

Shruti, Women Students’ Officer

• • Shruti was on holiday for most of December and January and has recently returned. There have been no updates from her since the last report.

Best wishes,