Statute XIII: Student Members: Other Provisions

STUDENTS' UNION

1. Council shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable:

(1) to secure the existence at all times of a students' union (as defined in the Education Act 1994) which is open to all student members of the University;

(2) to secure that such students' union operates in a fair and democratic manner and is accountable for its finances; and

(3) to secure that the requirements of Section 22 of the Education Act 1994 are observed by or in relation to such students' union.

2. (1) Council shall publish a code of practice setting out the manner in which the requirements of the Education Act 1994 with regard to students' unions are to be carried into effect.

(2) The code of practice shall be brought to the attention of all student members annually together with (i) any restrictions imposed on the students' union by the law relating to charities and (ii) the freedom of speech provisions of Section 43 of the Education (No 2) Act 1986.

3. Information with regard to the right to opt out of membership of the students' union, and arrangements made to supply students' union services to student members who have exercised this right, shall be drawn to the attention of all student members annually and to the attention of persons considering whether to become students at the University.

JOINT COMMITTEES WITH STUDENT MEMBERS

4. No recommendation from a joint committee with student members, or other body for consultation with student members, established under any statute or regulation or otherwise, shall be rejected without the student members of the committee or body having been given an opportunity of discussion with the body with which it is a joint committee or consultative body.

5. In this part ‘student member’ means any individual so defined under the provisions of Statute II or, in addition, any other individual who is a student at the University and has a contract with the University which requires them to abide by this statute. 
    
6. The University is committed to creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment that provides its students with the opportunity to engage with University life. As part of their commitment to student wellbeing, a department or faculty can initiate a process when there are concerns that a student’s mental or physical health is significantly affecting their ability to participate in their academic studies or life generally at the collegiate University.  
    
7. There shall be established a Support and Fitness to Study Panel (the ‘Panel’) to consider appeals of decisions of departments and faculties under the Support and Fitness to Study Procedure.  
    
8. The Panel shall publish a document entitled Support and Fitness to Study Procedure which shall specify the procedure under which departments, faculties and the Panel constituted under section 10 below shall consider and make determinations and recommendations regarding support and fitness to study (the ‘Support and Fitness to Study Procedure’). 
    
9. The aim of the Support and Fitness to Study Procedure is to support and enable student members encountering difficulties and, where appropriate, to help them continue or return to their studies after a period of suspension under the Support and Fitness to Study Procedure. A student is considered ‘fit to study’ if they are able to continue or return to a course of study, and to engage with University life, both academically and otherwise, without unreasonable detriment to their mental and physical health, safety and welfare, or that of other students and staff once any reasonable adjustments have been made under the Equality Act 2010.  
    
10. The Panel shall comprise a chair, 2 or more deputy chairs and 11 or more other members, who shall each serve for 3 years and may be reappointed. 
     
11. Each Panel member (including the chair and deputy chairs) shall be appointed by Education Committee from among the members of Congregation. 
     
12. Education Committee shall appoint a Secretary to the Panel (the ‘Secretary’) who shall be responsible for organisation of the Panel’s work. The Secretary must not be a Panel member. 
     
13. The Support and Fitness to Study Procedure shall specify the powers, determinations and recommendations that are available to the Panel, departments and faculties. Such powers shall include the power to determine or recommend that a student member is or is not fit to study in accordance with section 9 above and so, in appropriate cases, that the student should be suspended or withdrawn from their course. 
     
14. In all cases the Panel shall have power to determine any question concerning the interpretation and application of the University's statutes and regulations in respect of the Support and Fitness to Study Procedure. 
     
15. The chair or a deputy chair shall determine whether a case that has been referred to the Panel falls within the Panel’s jurisdiction.  
     
16. Any material amendments to the Support and Fitness to Study Procedure shall be approved by Education Committee. 
     
17. The chair shall ensure that the Panel provides an annual report on its activities, making recommendations as appropriate, to the Student Life Subcommittee.