Better Union
Should the Union change its Bye-Laws to reflect changes in the NUS democratic structure and its reform?
The Idea was presented by Lucy Hart (the Union Affairs & Comms Officer). The Idea passed and has become LUU Policy for three years.
The results were 15 for and 0 against.
“Structurally this policy is important for LUU’s governance documents, its bye-laws, to represent changes in NUS democratic reform as LUU is a member of NUS. NUS’ main change is the removal of the annual UK conference, instead having representatives from each member union attending various events and workshops throughout the year to progress the work of NUS. This allows LUU to remain active within NUS, such as the No Guarantors Campaign where Student Exec Officers from across the country met 70 MPs in Parliament to ensure student voice is recognised in the new Renters Rights Bill.” – Lucy Hart
Should the union actively support alternatives to the current higher education funding system?
The Idea was presented by Lucy Hart (the Union Affairs & Comms Officer). The Idea passed and has become LUU Policy for three years.
The results were 12 for and 3 against.
“With the recent increase in student tuition fees to £9,535 it is important that a policy is put in place for 3 years to ensure that LUU continues to advocate for changes in the higher education funding model. Currently, it is not fair or sustainable for students to pay these high costs considering the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. At LUU we have seen a high uptake at Essentials, our basic needs hub and NUS reported that 65% of students are having to work alongside their studies which impacts their student experience. This policy establishes a mandate for LUU to work with other Student Unions, NUS and the government to transform new ways of funding higher education without detriment to students.” – Lucy Hart
Better University
Should the university expand graduation funding support for those who need it?
The Idea was presented by Oriana Campbell-Palmer, and Amara Relf (the Equality and Liberation Officer). The Idea passed and has become LUU Policy for three years.
The results were 14 for and 1 against.
“I am really thrilled, proud, and relieved that my idea has passed- I hope that it will really decrease some barriers and therefore make graduations more enjoyable and less stressful for students. I also really hope that future implementation ensures that increasing the accessibility of graduations for all groups of students remains at the heart of the policy, and that subsequently it helps more students feel seen and supported to the very end of their academic journey at the university.” – Oriana Campbell-Palmer.
Should the University continue to encourage academic schools to introduce content note guides for lecturers and module leaders?
The Idea was presented by Iliyana Fahim and Shivani Gug (the Education Officer). The Idea passed and has become LUU Policy for three years.
The results were 13 for and 2 against.
“Content note guides make learning more inclusive and accessible for all students by creating a safe context in which to engage with certain material and topics. We have re-endorsed this policy so students can take charge of their own learning, and help to remove barriers from engagement with learning. We will be working with the University to ensure content note guides offer students the ability to prepare mentally, emotionally and even logistically so they can fully engage with the material without compromising their mental health.” – Iliyana Fahim and Shivani Gug
Presenting an idea to a panel of students and a live audience is an incredible opportunity, but being on the panel is equally empowering. It’s a chance to lead discussions, share insights, and vote on which ideas would benefit the student body the most.
Here’s what some of our panelists had to say:
“Worthwhile experience and interesting discussions about important topics.”
“It made me aware my voice could actually impact my and future student’s experiences at Leeds and help make worthwhile change.”
“A meaningful experience to be able to give a valuable vote to ideas that could have an impact on my school, its students and myself.”
“It was really interesting and nice that I saw how much staff members in LUU care about students’ life and everything. When you attend these forums, you realise your voice is really important for the university and you are heard and seen.”
“An engaging opportunity to witness and participate in the democratic process of LUU.”
“Following the success of the November Better Forums earlier this year, I’m thrilled by the level of involvement from our students in pushing for changes to enhance their university experience. The range of ideas presented was fantastic—ranging from graduation funding support to content note guides—and it was great to see our panellists so engaged. The discussions that developed from each idea were fascinating and highlighted the diverse perspectives of our students. The forum also provided a great introduction to LUU’s political side, inspiring many to submit their own ideas, attend future forums, and even run for LeadLUU.
If you have an idea for change or want to start a campaign, please get in touch with us at the Political Engagement Team [LUU.PET@leeds.ac.uk] as we are so keen to see what our students want to achieve.” – Fabiha, Policy & Campaigns Coordinator in PET.
