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Your President's August Update

Your President's August Update Your President's August Update

Hope you’re all doing well and ready for the term ahead! It’s been a super busy few weeks, so here’s a little update on what I’ve been up to, what I’m thinking to work on and what’s coming next. 

 

What I've Been Up To

Southern SU Conference

  • I headed to the Southern SU Conference with our SLT and SPECS, SLE, CTA and HBS Part-Time Officers. We had great fun meeting our counterparts from other SUs across the South of England. It was a packed three days of workshops, networking and sharing ideas on how we can better support students. I also presented our Student Rep model and in-person training which other SUs really appreciated. 

 

Officers' Club

  • I proposed a Presidents’ Club, which we have since expanded into an Officers’ Club, to allow Officers across SUs to connect, collaborate and support each other. We’ve opened a WhatsApp group so we can discuss student issues, national development and world politics on an ongoing basis. 

 

Meetings on Campus

  • I’ve been meeting with senior staff across Herts including the Honourable Vice-Chancellor, Deans, the Director of Estates, the Head of International, Governance Services and the Chaplain. It was a great opportunity to develop professional relationships early on in my term of office that will ultimately help improve student life. 

 

What I'm Working On

Food on Campus

  • Bigger portions + better taste = better value 
  • Menus that actually reflect our multicultural student body 
  • Cheaper options – £4.99 for a meal deal is not it 
  • At least one outlet open late (11PM-12AM) for evening & library students 

 

Accommodation

  • Transparency on how rent is set, what are we actually paying for? 
  • Why are laundry charges separate? 
  • Keeping an eye on how the new Renters’ Rights Bill will affect students 

 

Multi-Faith Spaces

  • The Key is too small for the number of students we now have 
  • de Havilland space needs ablution facilities & more room 
  • College Lane LRC now have permanent multifaith prayer room and lobbying towards getting permanent prayer room in de Havilland LRC

 

Finances & Deadlines

  • Allow flexibility in tuition fee payment with no StudyNet blocks for 1st & 2nd years so they’re less stressful (especially during summer when students are working full-time) 
  • Adjust final-year/PG student StudyNet block (sanction) to fit better with graduation ceremony blocks to avoid academic disruption

 

UNO Buses

  • Pushing for a free bus pass between Hatfield Train Station – ASDA – both campuses 
  • You get to travel free on any UNO bus between the campuses besides Shuttle

 

What's Next

Meeting MP & Councillors

  • Meetings have been arranged for September to meet Andrew Lewin (MP) and local councillors to develop more opportunities and support for students in Hatfield 

 

Advocating

  • Continuing to advocate for food, accommodation, faith spaces and unblocking StudyNet across Herts 

 

Part-Time Officers

  • Welcoming the Part-Time Officers to the team. I can't wait to see what they all get up to this year! 

 

Freshers Week

  • I'll be popping along to lots of events over Freshers Week including the biggest event of the year... Freshers Fair! Make sure you pop along and say hello. You can find out everything you need to know about Freshers via our Freshers Hub

 

I look forward to seeing you all at the start of term, whether you're new here or returning! 

 

All the best,

Jubair, President

 

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