Your Union

What is Student Council?

Student Council is the governing body of the Union. It holds the Elected Officers to account and gives you a direct voice in the way the Union is run. Any student can attend and put forward ideas to create Union policy. It’s your democratic right as a Union member.

What Happens?

Student Council meets every fortnight to create, monitor and scrutinise Union policy. Any student can propose an idea or submit a motion to Student Council. If you think the Union should be taking a stance on an issue, then come to a Student Council meeting or read our guide on submitting a motion.

Who Goes?

Student Council is comprised of the Union's executive committee, the Elected Officers, and a larger number of student councillors. All students are invited to take up seats as councillors through bodies like the Societies and Athletic Union Councils or by cross campus ballot.

What is the AGM?

The Annual General Meeting is the sovereign body of Cardiff University Students’ Union. It is the forum where students debate and determine the direction of the organisation. As the Students’ Union is directed by you, our student members, we use the AGM to adopt a collective stance on an issue and decide what action we will take.

Any student can attend, and any student can submit a motion for discussion. The Students’ Union also adopts policies at an AGM by ratifying decisions taken at Student Council meetings throughout the year.

The AGM is the place where students are presented with – and are responsible for passing – the Students’ Union’s Annual Report. It is also the means by which you hold your Executive Committee to account; motions of no confidence in elected student representatives can be passed at an AGM.

In unusual circumstances, an Extraordinary General Meeting may also be called at another point in the year.

Do you think you have what it takes to get elected and lead your union? Could you work to represent the views of 29,000 students and work to ensure that the evolving needs of students are met?

Your union is run by a team of elected officers, elected into position by you the students and now is the time for us to find next years team.

The union is looking for students to stand for 8 full time and 8 part time elected officer positions as well as student council chair and NUS delegates. Do you have what it takes to lead your union?

If you think you are up for the challenge and interested in running your students union next year then nominate yourself between 9am 22nd February and 12pm 28th February.

Academic Reps (also known as Course Reps) are students who are elected to represent the views and be a contact for fellow students on their course at regular staff-student panels. Issues discussed at these meetings could include the quality of lectures, the libraries, availability of text books, laboratory or computing facilities, assessment procedures and deadlines, or anything else relevant to academic studies or your School.

The Students’ Union offers training and guidance on how to be an effective academic rep, which is co-ordinated by the Academic and University Affairs officer. Training sessions are offered throughout the year and handbooks are available to offer information to all reps.

Being an academic rep is (like any involvement in the Students’ Union’s democratic system) a great way to get to know people, improve your CV, develop your interpersonal skills, find out more about the University and have your say.

This book contains all motions that have been voted on and accepted through Student Council, Annual General Meetings, etc. They state a stance or position of the Students’ Union in relation to both internal activity and external influences. These policies steer and guide the decision making and operational processes of the Students' Union