Download - Cambridge University Students' Union

students in their union: clubs and societies handbook 2002/3Here are three examples of how executive officers support their clubs and societies:Surrey Students’ Union has a Societies Standing Committee and a Sports Standing Committee. It is a monthly forumfor all societies to discuss common/specific questions, problems, successes, budgets etc. The Societies Chairperson,in conjunction with the VP Societies & Culture, chairs the meeting. The main issues at each meeting are ratificationof new societies and voting on budget requests.Staffordshire Students’ Union has a Student Activities forum, which is chaired by the Vice President. This has comefrom a recent merger between the Athletic Union and Societies Review committees. The merger was created to helpdevelop more ideas and encourage interaction between clubs and societies.The Vice President Student Activities at Birmingham University Guild of Students (BUGS) organises a Freshers’Societies Fair, a Refreshers’ fair, and a Societies Awards Ceremony for all clubs and societies. Instead of a committee,they liaise with club and society chairs on an ad hoc basis.the benefits of involvementInvolvement in student activities not only benefits the student but is important to the students’ union, the college oruniversity, and, frequently, the wider community.for students opportunity to try new things they are interested in opportunity to acquire key skills that can be used when applying for jobs opportunities to meet new people and make friends they will develop transferable skills which will enhance their employability they are more likely to understand the unionfor the students’ union vibrant student activities should be a key part of any union involvement of large amounts of students can be used to bargain for a larger block grant increased involvement in activities is likely to lead to increased involvement in other areas of the union (for exampleelections) more people means more skills, more ideas and more enthusiasm you will be able to provide a more student centred service48