Your Guide to Student Council
Student Council is the main democratic forum of the Students' Union!
This is your chance to make a difference and learn more about what we are doing at Bristol SU! 📢
Student Council this term will happen on 14 November 2024 between 17:00 and 20:00 in the Anson Rooms of the Richmond Building.
What is Student Council?
Student Council is a democratic meeting that brings together our student leaders from across the University to vote on policies and create actions for change!
Only student leaders have a vote in Student Council, but anyone from the student body can attend.
Student Council happens once a term and it’s an opportunity for the officer team to give updates on their goals, give updates and respond to student questions. During the course of the council, motions submitted by the student body, will be debated and then voted on. If a motion is passed it becomes a part of SU policy and students and officers can carry out the recommended actions.
For a full breakdown of the motions being debated at Thursdays Student Council please check out this article; Student Council Motions Explained: What’s on the Agenda?. These motions affect a large proportion of the student body and cover themes such as; graduation dates, student welfare and representation 👩🎓
In previous Student Councils, students have passed policy to better support pregnant students, the climate strike campaign, and to adopt a harm reduction approach to drugs and alcohol.
Student council is the core democratic function of the SU and is your chance to make long-lasting and far-reaching change at Bristol University.
For more information, please read your Student Council Guide for all the details on this terms Student Council.
Key Information
All students can submit motions ahead of the meeting and attend the meeting, but only course reps, faculty reps, network chairs JCR presidents, society presidents, volunteering project co-ordinators, or club captains can vote on motions.
The event, based in the Anson Rooms is an un-ticketed event, but please bring your student ID’s, as we will need to check them to verify who is able to vote.
🍕There will also be free pizza provided with vegan and gluten free options! 🍕
When is it?
This term's Student Council is on Thursday, 14 November from 17:00, from the Anson Room in the Richmond Building.
If you can't make it in person to the meeting, you can join online: Student Council 2024 Online Meeting Link. Please bear in mind that if you're speaking for or against a motion you need to come in person.
Other Key Questions:
How is the debate structured?
Students at our Student Council get to speak for a motion if they’ve introduced the idea, to propose and convince the student body it works! Then someone can speak against the motion if they don’t like it. There’s a chance to ask any questions you might have about the idea to the proposer – rinse & repeat until we need to hold a vote!
Why it is important to debate?
Imagine if the SU suddenly decided it was against their practice to ever support the football on, or to never host events past the month of March. It would feel unfair, right? Debate is designed as a chance to hear from everyone – so we can carry on being a Union for all Students!
How do I vote?
As part of our efforts to make our democratic events more accessible and easier to take part in, we've introduced digital voting! We'll be using a Q&A and polling platform called Slido. If you're a voting member (Student Leader), you can see the guidance on voting using Slido on the Student Council Guide.
Accessibility Info
Bristol SU is committed to running safe and accessible events for all students. If you have any questions about access to our events please email the Bristol SU Democracy and Campaigns team at bristolsu-democracy@bristol.ac.uk
We welcome attendees who need to bring medicines, food, or drink to manage a medical condition, or medical equipment. Please email us at bristolsu-democracy@bristol.ac.uk or speak to a member of staff on arrival if you have any questions or concerns.
If you need to step out of this event for some quiet, AR2 (Anson Room 2) is available, but please notify a member of staff as you’re leaving so that they can let you back in.
