New plans unveiled for NUS governance

Following a year of consultation with its membership, NUS today announced at its strategic conversation event a set of proposals to reform the way the organisation is governed.

Members are calling for an "Extraordinary Conference" to debate a core constitution, which sets out a new democratic structure and new priorities for the organisation.

Proposals include a clearer definition of roles and responsibilities, with separate committees and conferences being dedicated to five key ‘zones’.

And a more interactive Annual Congress will be held, with educational and fringe activities complementing the traditional democratic processes of NUS Conference.

NUS President Gemma Tumelty said:

“Good governance is about getting things done. We want NUS to help make students’ unions as successful as they can be, so that we can make a real, positive difference to the lives of students.

“But excellent Governance is also about democracy, and we need to find new ways of engaging diverse and underrepresented voices. These proposals will help us to achieve this aim.”

Notes to editors:

• The five new policy ‘zones’ being proposed are: Higher Education; Further Education; Welfare; Society and Citizenship; and Union Development. There will also be a committee and conferences to promote NUS’s work on Liberation, Equality and Diversity.

• For further information, please contact the NUS Press Office on 020 7380 6604.