The Students’ Union was established in 1963, alongside the opening of the UEA. It was created to allow students to be heard by the university as an organised collective. Over the years, the SU has taken on numerous new responsibilities and roles, however many students are unaware of all that the SU encompasses. The UEA’s Union is one of the UK’s largest Students’ Union organisations in relation to its university’s size. Which is why its structure and procedures can seem so broad, and  oftentimes confusing. It employs approximately 60 members of full-time staff, as well as over 300 members of student staff. 

Since 2011, the UEASU has been registered as a charity which is overseen by the Trustee Board. They ensure that the SU is acting according to its Constitution, in a legal and financially secure manner. The Trustees include external representatives, as well as appointed students. There are four sub-committees established through the Trustee Board. These oversee the overall management of the SU, from commercial and financial strategy to human resources.  

Aside from the Constitution, the Union is regulated through the Bye-Laws. The Constitution maps out the governance and structure of the SU. Meanwhile, the Bye-Laws detail the procedures and commitments of the SU. Over time, misuses of power were resolved through Bye-Laws to ensure accountability, which has resulted in confusing or contradictory processes. This governance structure also includes procedures through which students can remove committee members from office.  

In addition to being students’ representative body, it provides support regarding academics and wellbeing. This is facilitated through platforms like advice(su), which aim to provide students with resources and guidance. Additionally, the SU is responsible for the extracurricular activities offered on campus, such as Clubs and Societies. Currently, there are over 50 Clubs and 160 Societies under the SU. 

Each year, there are five Full-Time Officers (FTOs) and fifteen Part-Time Officers (PTOs). Each officer oversees a specific aspect of the Union’s activities. They can leverage their platform to advocate for students in relation to the university, the city of Norwich and the UK government. The FTOs are elected students on a sabbatical year and are paid for their work. They are the political face of the Union and hold the position for a maximum of two years. Meanwhile the PTOs volunteer in more behind-the-scenes positions. Some PTOs have shared some further insight into their roles and ambitions, to read more about this scan the QR code. 

Permanent staff members support the officers in the overall functioning of the Union as an organisation. They facilitate the transition of officers into their roles. This includes ensuring the continuation of ongoing projects that could otherwise remain unfinished. Often projects can be impeded by the procedures in place, which is why the staff play a crucial background role. They act as a knowledge source on anything from the practical side of implementing ideas to understanding all the procedures of the SU and the UEA. This extends to supporting students in general, not just the SU’s officers.  

The main decision-making body of the SU is Union Council (UC). They set policies and affirm the actions of the officers. UC currently involves the FTOs and PTOs, Society Representatives, Club Representatives, Peer Support Group Representatives, Faculty Convenors, School Convenors, and the Postgraduate Committee. At full capacity, there are 281 members of the Union Council, however momentarily there are only 173 active voting members. In recent years, there has been a trend of disengagement within UC. Nevertheless, these meetings are advertised online for anyone to attend. 

On the surface, the SU and the UEA hold a united front. Nevertheless, the Union is a separate entity from the University, despite what many might believe. They maintain a collaborative relationship, but the UEA holds a position of power over the SU. There are several bodies through which they cooperate. For example, the Learning and Teaching Committee or the Student Experience Committee. The SU is the legal representation of students and so, the university is required to communicate with the Union. Alongside this, the UEA provides the SU with grants to financially support its functioning, approximately £1.4m annually. The Hive, the Union’s headquarters, has always been rented from the UEA. Therefore, of the accommodation grant, £438k is redirected back to the University each year. 

To ensure more financial independence, the Union has established its own income revenues. The main streams stem from its venues. The SU owns four commercial services: the two bars (Bar(su) and the LGBTQ+ Bar), and two entertainment venues (the LCR and The Waterfront). All profit gained from these facilities is reinvested into the Union. This ranges from paying salaries, event organisation and student-related projects. Previously, the University shop, Unio and several other establishments around campus were run by the SU. However, in 2020 these were taken over by UEA management as part of a bailout loan. 

Such venues are the SU’s primary income source. However, alcohol consumption amongst students has decreased over the years. Consequently, more universities are developing spaces that do not circumvent alcohol. However, momentarily, the SU relies on these venues and at times has had to prioritise them to support itself. An example of this was the introduction of Day Fever events, a daytime party for the over 30s. Despite being a non-student-oriented event, it was hosted as means to introduce profit. 

The SU’s new five-year strategy was announced this year. Primary goals would be to modernise the organisation and streamline its resources. Additionally, ensuring the SU’s financial stability is crucial. This includes through creating supplementary incomes, such as through more (alcohol-free) spaces outside the Hive. They also hope to persuade the UEA to direct some of its wellbeing budget toward funding the SU’s student welfare projects. To encourage student engagement, they want to provide better support and training through the Union. In recent years, the roles of Students’ Union’s have often been questioned. That’s why the SU is trying to become more adaptable towards students and implement better processes to improve transparency and representation in their systems. 

Image Credit: UEA(SU)