Passionate about climate change?

Added on 14/07/2008

NUS is looking for a handful of officers who have a interest in environmental policy and practice to participate in a exciting round table discussion with Baroness Morgan on Wednesday 23 July. This is an opportunity to give direction to the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills on how it can support students to take action to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change. NEC members Susan Nash and Elizabeth Somerville will lead the round table discussion but would like to invite student officers with a particular responsibility/mandate to attend and enrich the discussion.

We are looking for officers whose role it is to campaign or implement ethical and environmental changes in their union, however we will consider applications from those who demonstrate a strong knowledge and leadership in broader campaigns on climate change issues.

Given the short turnaround time needed please send no more than 200 words about the role of students in helping to lead the way on meeting the challenge of climate change to jean.mclean@nus.org.uk. Attendees would need to be available from 3:00pm-8:00pm, and DIUS will cover all expenses. Applications will close on Wednesday 16 July and we will inform the successful applicants on Friday 18 July.

Students' unions and campaigning as a charity

Added on 07/07/2008

Students’ unions are, at their heart, campaigning and representative bodies. You nurture activists and create opportunities for them to lobby, demonstrate and demand changes in the support and provision of the education sector. Campaigning and political activity is a paramount tool in a union’s activities and purpose for a better experience for its members.

However, since you're also a charity - the phrase 'ultra vires' is also one you're just as familiar with. As a charity there are legal guidelines on what you can campaign on - to help keep you on the right side of the law, and keep your campaigns at peak performance, we've put together some guidelines on the subject. These guidelines are for our member students' unions only, so you'll need to log in to access the briefings section.

Not yet registered? Click here

10 tips for new officers

Added on 13/06/2008

Congratulations and welcome to an exciting year as a students union officer. You are now part of one of the most vibrant movements in the UK. With NUS you will spend the year ahead supporting your students, fighting for their rights and winning to make their lives better. It will be challenging, exciting and never dull and NUS will be with you every step of the way.

We have come up with 10 things to help you with the year ahead. If you take time now to do them it will hold you in good stead for everything you do over the next 12 months.

Top 10 tips for students' union officers

Loughborough Students’ Union is a top ten green organisation

Added on 29/05/2008

The student movement has long been at the forefront of British environmentalism and this year’s Times Green list hammers home that point with Loughborough Students’ Union being named as the seventh greenest organisation in the country.

The union’s General Manager Andy Parsons summed up the Union’s delight with the award.

Said Andy: “We were delighted to do so well and confirm that the Student Movement really is leading the way on this vital issue, thanks in no small part to the excellent leadership of the NUSSL E&E committee and staff.”

Loughborough came ahead of a number of big organisations including Good Energy (which came forty-sixth!) and Pricewaterhouse Coopers (which came in fifteenth). They weren’t the only students’ union in the list - Leeds Metropolitan University came thirty-sixth.

The success looks set to continue with Loughborough’s new president highlighting the important role a students’ union can play in promoting environmentalism to students and student officers alike.

David Goss, Vice President Communications President-elect said: "I didn't know much about ethical and environmental issues before I got involved with the Union. I have learned a lot and I am still learning and over the coming year in my time as president we will be trying harder than ever to be as environmentally friend as possible."

The way forward for strong and active unions

Added on 28/05/2008

We’ve had some great successes over the past year but what does the future hold for the Strong and Active Unions campaign? We’ve put together a document outlining the future aims and you can view it here.