NNeewwsslleetttteerr The UCL Union Student Voice just got louder! UCL Union Campaigns 0708: your wish is our command UCL Union is proud to announce a new way of helping you to get your voice heard on the issues that mean most to you. In the past Student Affairs Committee has decided the annual calendar of Union campaigns in the spring before the year starts. This time we thought we’d ask you what you want to campaign on and then we’d give you the time, money and help to do it. If you have a burning issue that you care about or something you want to change, whether you are acting as an individual or a club or society simply fill in the campaign bid form and return it by 10am 2/10/07. The Student Affairs Committee will then put the campaign bids to the vote so that all 19,000 of you get the chance to pick which issue we shout about the most. The eight campaigns that get the most votes will be given: • their own campaign week, • access to up to £500 to spend on campaigning materials and; 2 • support in campaign project management, how to write Summer Volunteering NEW Education & Welfare Officer 2 petitions, get other people interested... Any questions just drop us a line to uclu-campaigns@ucl.ac.uk Your Union, Your Voice. Use It! …more on page 4 In this issue… Speak up, speak out 3 Election Special 4 In the news 5 How was it for you? 6 Training Review 6 Contact details 6 Take the stand… Summer Issue . 2006/7 Democracy Support Unit www.uclunion.org Summer’s here and the time is right … for volunteering! If you’re interested in doing something a little different this summer, why not get involved in a bit of volunteering? UCL Union’s Voluntary Services Unit has a wide range of activities, from one-off events like community festival and conservation days, through to longer term placements in London’s not-for-profit sector. Visit our webpages (www.uclunion.org/volunteer) to keep up to date with the latest vacancies and to download our summer volunteering bulletin. Also, if you’d like to volunteer closer to home, get in touch and we can volunpoint teeringyou @ucl. in the ac.uk right direction – email us at Voluntary Services Unit volunteering@ucl.ac.uk Make a difference… NEW Education & Welfare Officer Andy Fernando ew.officer@ucl.ac.uk 020 7679 7930 Democracy Support Unit . UCL Union We had lunch and reflection Thank you to those that attended the lunch, this provided an opportunity for us to think about the journey of a student representative and how UCL Union enhances the provision of support and resources. Lots of ideas were generated from discussions on the afternoon and the Democracy Support Unit will be working through the summer to put some of the ideas into practice ready for the next generation of student representatives. If you missed out on the lunch, there is still time for reflection and to tell us how we could support you better. Drop us a line on email and we will add your ideas into the pot. Simon To,Student Representation Co-ordinator representation@ucl.ac.uk Stand for Election… UCLU October Elections Speak up, speak out NUS press office has set up a facebook group "Speak up, speak out" http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2378094021 NUS get press calls every week from journalists asking for case studies on a wide range of issues impacting on potential students, students and graduates. We need a constant supply of people willing to talk to the press about their experiences on those issues. Are you willing to talk about your experience and share the reality of being a student with others. If so sign up. When requests come in, we can message the group and ask if you fit the bill or know of someone who does. Your stories are essential in helping us campaign for student rights. Please can you join, and ask friends, and friends' friends and friends' friends' friends to join. NUS Press Office Democracy Support Unit . UCL Union UCLU October Elections Your chance to take the stand… We will be launching into elections mode from the start of term when we elect the Non-Executive Officers: following positions: . Anti-Racism Officer . Students with Disabilities Officer . Mature Students’ Officer . International Students’ Officer . Part-time Students’ Officer . Women’s Officer Faculty Representatives . Arts & Humanities – 5 positions . Biomedical Sciences – 6 positions . Built Environment – 2 positions . Engineering Sciences – 4 positions . Laws – 2 positions . Life Sciences – 6 positions . Mathematical & Physical Sciences – 4 positions . Social & Historical Sciences – 7 positions Halls Representatives One position per halls of residence NUS Conference Delegates 11 delegates for NUS Conference Nominations Open 1st September Nomination Forms will be available from www.uclunion.org from this date Postrgraduate Association Executive . PGA Vice President (Education) . PGA Vice President (Events) . PGA Vice President (Media) . PGA Vice President (Welfare) RUMS Executive . RUMS Pre-Clinical Vice President . RUMS Clinical Vice President (Archway) . RUMS Clinical Vice President (Bloomsbury) . RUMS Clinical Vice President (Hampstead) . RUMS Publicity Officer (Bloomsbury) . RUMS Publicity Officer (Hampstead) . RUMS Sports & Societies Officer SSEES Site Committee . SSEES Vice President . SSEES Secretary . SSEES Treasurer . SSEES Welfare Officer . SSEES Publicity Officer . SSEES Mature & Postgraduates Students’ Officer . SSEES Entertainments Officer . SSEES Sports & Societies Officer Union Committees . Elections Committee . Govenance Committee . Finance Committee . Services Committee …and make a difference In the news… Dearing calls for tuition fee cap to be lifted Lord Dearing, whose report recommended the introduction of tuition fees 10 years ago, has said UK universities should be allowed to charge more to stay competitive and not rely on the state for funding. 55 http://education.guardian.co.uk/students/tuitionfees/story/0,,2112662,00.html Government's new education departments take shape The newly formed departments for children, schools and families and for innovation, universities and science have yet to name all the people in their ministerial teams, but this week it has become clearer how things are shaping up. http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,,2117573,00.html More students to receive grants for university Thousands more students in England are to be entitled to maintenance grants, the Government said today, under a £400 million drive to boost the number of young people entering higher education. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/student/article2032133.ece NUS welcomes increases in student support Responding to Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills John Denham’s announcement on planned changes to student support. http://www.nusonline.co.uk/news/274475.aspx Graduates to get five-year break from repaying university loans Graduates will be able to take a five-year “repayment holiday” on their student loans under an expansion of financial support aimed at recruiting more undergraduates. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article2034108.ece Graduates facing grim future as bank pulls interest-free debts Overdrafts: HSBC scraps deal for university leavers For most debt-laden university graduates, the most important feature of a current account is an interest-free overdraft. But, in what is being seen as a worrying move, HSBC this week became the first high street bank to scrap free overdrafts for university leavers. http://education.guardian.co.uk/students/finance/story/0,,2109315,00.html GIVE IT A GO This coming September welcomes a brand new initiative for UCL Union… … in the form of ‘Give it a Go’. ‘Give it a Go’ provides inspiration for your free time in a programme of one off innovative events. Designed for UCL Union members who want to try a new activity but not commit to a club or society. Activities include trips around London, playing paintball, meditating, dancing and knitting. There are a variety of opportunities for students and clubs and societies to get involved with GIAG, either by submitting ideas for events and activities or by running and hosting events. If you have any ideas or want to get involved please contact laura.horsley@ucl.ac.uk. Alternatively there is a discussion group you can attend where I would really welcome feedback and contributions to the initiative. Laura Horsley, Activities Development Worker Democracy Support Unit . UCL Union 66Democracy Support Unit . UCL Union Contact us .Visit Democracy Support Unit – UCL Union First Floor (inside the Rights & Advice Centre) Bloomsbury Theatre Building 15 Gordon Street .Call 020 76797707 .Email representation@ucl.ac.uk Make sure YOU put in YOUR bid for the issues YOU want to see changed. Download the bid form at:: http://www.uclunion.org/get-involved/campaigns-0708 Need advice: uclu-campaigns@ucl.ac.uk .What did you think of the training offered? .Do you want more training? .What type of skills would you like training in? .What more can we provide for you? Drop us a line, representation@ucl.ac.uk .How has your year been? .What have been your high and low points? .What has been your successes? .What worked? What didn’t? We want to know! Let us know, representation@ucl.ac.uk Check out the vacancies advertised through Work Station at: http://www.uclunion.org/find-a-job/ Feel free to email any employment related queries to: employment@ucl.ac.uk