The Students’ Union had some massive successes in 2024, so we wanted to reflect and celebrate with all of you!
So much happened, from some key calendar events like our Elections 2024 and AGM, sports clubs and society opportunities, to our Sabbatical Officers campaigns and engaging course reps.
It’s so important that we remind ourselves what we are here for, and that’s to advocate and enhance the voices of our students on campus. We run with students, for students - it’s you who makes the SU what it is!
So, let's dive in…
Student Council
Democracy and representation are an integral part of the work we do at the Students’ Union. In 2024, we saw our student council reach some huge milestones. This academic year alone, we have already had two student council meetings, both with many students in attendance (39 for the first meeting, 38 for the second meeting).
All student motions submitted to the Student Council this academic year so far have passed. This includes motions on: menstrual products for all bathrooms, enhanced career opportunities for science and engineering students, providing safety alarms to female students for security, and updating library resources for postproduction course/specific video and audio editing modules.
If you’d like to find out more about Student Council and how you can get involved, make sure you click here.
Course Reps
With over 248 new Course Reps, the SU has seen an increased turnout in the number of students engaging with the scheme. Course reps are the link between the student community and the university on all things course-related. Many of them have been getting stuck into the role, listening to your thoughts and ideas and feeding these back to your Department Reps.
Applications are back open for the new term, so if you’re still interested in being a part of creating academic change, click here to apply now.
The Officer Team
As well as our 3 Sabbatical Officers who were elected in our Solent Elections last year, we also elected 6 department reps (Art and Music, Business and Law, Film and Media, Science and Engineering, Social Science and Nursing), and 6 volunteer officers (Postgraduate, International, Disabilities, LGBT+, Warsash, ABMO) across both our Solent Election and By-Election 2024.
Our Officer Team has been up to a lots in the last few months with some big projects and campaigns launching Our Postgraduate Student Officer Sophiia has been a part of the SU’s ‘This Girl Can’ campaign, while our Disabled Student Officer Codi created and launched a petition to get more accessible seating in Herbert Collins. Your Union President has also been very busy, launching his campaign, called ‘Use Your Voice’.
To keep up to date with what our Officers are doing, make sure you are following us on Instagram at @solentsu.
SU Exchange
Our onsite community pantry, the SU Exchange has been visited by 188 individual members since September 2024.
A hub for the cost-of-living crisis, our community pantry has continued to help struggling students by providing them with basic living essentials to supplement their weekly shopping. This has included a wide range of products, including pasta, rice and noodles, as well as porridge oats, and cereal.
On top of this, thanks to the continued work of our Union President and VP Communities and Wellbeing and their campaigns, the SU Exchange also stocks free sanitary products, as part of the ‘Go With The Flow’ campaign and condoms on behalf of the ‘Let’s Talk About Sex’ campaign.
The SU Exchange is located next to the East Park Deli, in the Spark. It is open Monday to Thursday and membership this term costs £6, so make sure to pop in if you need support.
Societies and Sports Club
Our Societies and Sports clubs scored another amazing year, with 415 sports club memberships and 745 society memberships. Throughout 2024, 1,123 students joined a club or society.
This is not the only success had… There have been 31 new and/or adopted societies. A few of these include the Warsash Women’s Group, Solent Accounting and Business Society and Roller Society.
If you’re thinking of getting involved in a society or sports club, head to our website to find out more information. We also have our Refreshers Fair happening on the 18th February – the perfect time to talk to our society and sports club members and sign up!
Academic Advice Service
Our Academic Advice Service team, independent from the university and completely confidential, are trained and qualified to offer impartial support for students who need help on a wide range of academic issues. We helped a total of 140 students last year* on a range of issues, including academic misconduct and complaints. We opened 90 cases and closed 160.
The Academic Advice Service is open Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4 pm – to book an appointment with one of our academic caseworkers, please click here to complete our enquiry form.
*Date is from academic year 2023/2024 (August ’23 – July ’24).