Union Council

 What is Union Council?

Union Council is the heartbeat of the Union - an opportunity for representatives of students from across the University community to come together and decide where we go next.

The Union of UEA Students is a multi-million pound organisation, run by students for students. The more students who get involved in the running of the Union, the more powerful and effective the Union is. Together we are strong.

Who is a member of Council?

Union Councillors are there to represent those who study at UEA. Not every student can make it to the meetings, so a network of elected representatives makes up Union Council to ensure that all students’ voices are heard:

- Each of the Union’s sports clubs, societies and peer support groups has one representative
- Five representatives from each School represent their course mates
- The Faculty Convenors - one for each of the four Faculties
- The 17 members of the Student Officer Committee
- INTO (where English language is taught to International Students) has one student representative

Can other students come to meetings?

Any member of the Union is welcome to attend Union Council and can speak with permission of the Chair but cannot vote.

What did Council do in 08/09?

Part of Council’s job is to make the Union run better and promote students more effectively. Council voted for:
- Changing rules on Union elections to make it easier for everyone to vote.
- Launching a constitutional review to plan how the Union can change to better meet students’ needs.
- Raising the minimum number of members of clubs from 20 to 30 to ensure adequate funding for existing clubs.

One of the jobs of the Union is to be the expert voice of students. Council made that voice heard by passing policy that launched campaigns for the Union to work with the University towards:
- Better feedback on course work and exams.
- Improved and sustainable transport policy for UEA.
- A Go Green campaign for UEA.

We are committed to becoming an exemplar low-carbon Union. Council passed measures to aid best practice on environmental issues:
- A new environmental policy for the Union
- An end to the sale of imported bottled water in Union outlets

The Union is a member of the National Union of Students. Council passed policy to agree with or challenge decisions taken at the national level:
- Backed NUS reform plans
- Promoted our Free Education For All campaign
- Called for extending our innovative Ethical Labelling Scheme to other Unions’ commercial services

Council also looked at issues that affect society as a whole and impact on students as citizens:
- Drew attention to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza
- Opposed the plans to build a Tesco store in the Unthank Road

So how do I sign up to become a Councillor?

Contact us at the Union: