Better Forums
Make a real difference in LUU and beyond
Better Forums are where LUU policies are made. Run by students, they are the opportunity for you to have your voice heard, improve student experience, and see real change happen. Any student can submit an Idea through one of the three forums – Better Union, Better University, and Better Leeds – and the ideas presented, discussed and voted upon by other students.
Ready to make a change?
Better Union
This forum is for ideas that are aimed at changing the way we work in the Union. We’re constantly trying to ensure that what we do for students reflects what they want from us.
During the pandemic, many ideas were focused on remaining safe. During the rise in the cost of education for students, ideas increasingly related to looking at what the Union could do to support students – for example, by offering free exam breakfasts and supporting the PGR students.
Big wins:
- Free exam breakfasts, which rolled into Essentials
- Drug testing kits
Better University
This forum is for ideas aimed at changing the way we work in the University.
Big wins:
- 24hr Libraries outside of exam periods
- Improving the Skills@Library services – for example, they have now developed a peer-writing space where students are employed to support other students with their writing skills
Better Leeds
This forum reflects what people want the city of Leeds to improve on to make it a better city for our student populations. These policies have gone on to inform our work with other students’ unions, universities, and local representatives or decision makers.
How do Better Forums work?
Step 1: You
Submit your idea on the online form. You will be invited to attend the next Better Forum – these take place in November, March and May. You will need to present your idea and explain why you’d like the panel to vote ‘Yes’.
Step 2: Reps
Each Better Forum is attended by relevant reps – Activities Exec at Better Union, Faculty Officers/School Reps at Better University, and Sustainability Reps at Better Leeds, plus the Liberation Coordinators attend all three. They’ll relay other students’ views and give feedback on ideas.
Step 3: Student Panel
A randomly selected panel of 16 students (that mirror the demographics of the whole student body) will listen, ask questions, and decide whether to approve or reject your idea – like a jury. 75% of them need to say ‘Yes’ to turn your idea into policy. If they can’t agree, then ideas can move to a campus-wide referendum to let all students decide.
Why do Better Forums matter?
Better Forums are how members of LUU create Policy. Alongside our wider Strategic Plan and the objectives of your elected Student Executive, Policy is what guides us as an organisation.
The Better Forums were created in 2009 after feedback from and consultation with the whole student body – who told us that they wanted to have a say in decisions, but not all decisions, only important ones. They also told us that the language and process needed to be accessible, and open to everyone – not just political experts and keen debaters. We’ve continued to adapt and change Better Forums based on student feedback.
What ideas have been presented?
Useful links:
