Your Union – Executive Committee

Hey I’m Tobias, a recent graduate in Business and Management and it’s a huge honour to be able to represent the 25,000 students internationally, locally and across our University structures, serving as the President at the Students’ Union this year. I had the time of my life while studying at Sunderland and this year the Exec team and I plan on achieving the same exceptional experience we’ve had for all students at Sunderland.

I act as the primary representative of the Students’ Union for students, the University and external bodies. I sit on the key decision making bodies of the University and Union with the aim of keeping students’ interests and student voice on the agenda. I’m also responsible for looking at new ways to interact and engage with all students at the university, to discover areas that can enhance and add value to student life. So if you have any ideas, please get in touch, I’m eager to hear what you have to say.

As the President, I am responsible for communicating with external organisations and overseeing the management of the Union. A substantial part of my work involves representing the interests of students and promoting the Students’ Union to other organisations and this may include me speaking with the press or pursuing ideas with outside companies.

The President is also the nominated representative on the University decision-making bodies: the Board of Governors, Academic Board, Quality Enhancement Board and Learning Enhancement Board. Within the Union, the President chairs the Executive Committee meetings and is Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees. I will be heavily involved in planning the development of the organisation and will work closely on a day to day basis with the General Manager (who is the senior staff member in the organisation).

The President’s role also includes duties of ethical and environmental issues, liaising with external/internal bodies on such matters ie: ensuring that the Union is run both ethically and environmentally, introducing environmental procedures and ensuring they do not breach Charity Law. The role is very pro-active and should give initiative and support to the ongoing Union strategy. This will include representing the Union on new committees which the University creates.

You’ll see me out and about so don’t hesitate to stop me for a chat, phone or email me, or even better, pop into my office at the Students’ Union in the Edinburgh Building (City Campus) and talk to me about any ideas, or worries you may have. 

Address: Edinburgh Building, City Campus

Email: su.president@sunderland.ac.uk

Hi everyone! I’m Carley, the Vice President of your Students’ Union. I have just graduated in Business and Marketing Management, and have loved every minute of my time here at Sunderland University, so much so that I will be staying here for another year to make sure that YOU enjoy your experience here as much as I did! 

As your Vice President, I look after the financial side of the Students’ Union, overseeing budget meetings and making sure budgetary controls are maintained and value for money is maximised.

My role also involves communication within the Students’ Union.  This means dealing with information travelling between offices of the Union but also making sure you, as a student, are kept up-to-date with essential information about your Students’ Union.

I also keep an eye on the website.  I make sure all the information on here is kept up to date, and that you can all rely on the details here being accurate.  Make sure you check the website regularly so you don’t miss out on any upcoming events, fab special offers, and exciting news!

Additionally, I oversee DN Magazine with Editor, Lee.  DN is another way of making sure you, the students, know everything that’s going on! It’s full of loads of great articles about music, sport, entertainment, you name it!  In fact, if there’s something you would like to see in the magazine, just let us know and we’ll look into it. The latest issue of DN can be picked up around both university campuses, look out for them in libraries, North Shore, Bonded Warehouse and the Students’ Union buildings!

Finally, I promote the Union to prospective students, through Union talks and University open days.  This means attending all the open days, but also travelling to partner colleges to make sure ALL the students - not just the ones who live in Sunderland and attend the University here - are informed of the benefits of Union membership.

Don’t hesitate to contact me with anything you’d like to talk about; pop into Wearbank House to have a chat, email me, or give me a ring!

Hope to see you all soon :)

Address: Wearbank House, St Peters Campus

Email: su.vice-president@sunderland.ac.uk

Hi! As Education and Welfare Officer I’m here to help you with anything you may need. I feel that your student experience is made with help from the people around you and I want to be one of those people who help to make it the best it can be.

If you have anything you feel is important and needs to be pointed out to higher members of staff I have the ability to do that whilst attending University meetings with staff who will listen to your views through me and the rest of the Exec. This is a good reason to take note of when organisations like the Students’ Council take place. It is a prime opportunity to get your views across to us so that we can do our best to represent you during the University’s decision-making process. Let us be your voice!

If you need advice I will do the best I can to help but if in some cases I can’t, I work with the advice centre where I can refer you and they should be able to help with anything I can’t. It’s important to know that there is somewhere you can come to with any problem you have and we will do our best to get it sorted as soon as possible.

If you want to take part in any volunteering or get involved with charities then one of the biggest parts of my role is to organise RAG week during which our main aims are to have loads of fun and raise thousands of pounds for different charities. If you have a charity that is close to your heart and would like it to be considered as one of our RAG charities then let me know. I am also planning on setting up lots of varied volunteer opportunities so if you would like to get involved or like me to help advertise what you have got going on then again, please let me know, it’s something I’m extremely interested in!

Please get in touch with any problems, queries or ideas you want to chat about and I look forward to speaking to you.

Hope you have a fantastic year!

Address: Edinburgh Building, City Campus

Email: su.welfare-officer@sunderland.ac.uk

Hi, I’m Dean Fraser, a recent graduate of Sport & Exercise Sciences.

I play the role of Sports & Activities Officer here at the Students’ Union and my job is to oversee all of the sporting teams/clubs and societies we have here at the University.

Over the following year I will be working with both the Students Union & Institute of Sport, aiding in the development of all clubs/societies.  I will be assisting in all Sporting & non sporting society matters, such as the regular operations of the BUC’s Season, as well as the non BUC’s Sports and also assisting in any of YOUR events for your club/society.

The Institute of Sport caters for all sports and non sporting societies; from sports such as football, rugby, cricket and netball to religious and cultural societies such as the Hong Kong & Malaysian Society as well as the Islamic and Sikh societies. If we don’t have a club that interests you, then come in and speak to us about setting it up!

Over my 3 years at the University I have learnt that being part of a sporting or non sporting society is vital to aid in your academic studies. The sports teams/clubs and societies allows every student to engage in something that interests them. Being part of a society allows students that time away from studies to relax, and socialise in a positive environment.
If you have any queries about our sports teams/clubs and societies, whether it’s joining one, training times, or even setting a club/society up, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Address: Sports Office, Edinburgh Building

Email: su.sports-officer@sunderland.ac.uk

University Sports

Hello my name is Kathryn Symons and I am the Entertainments and Media officer. I absolutely loved my time at university and I am so excited about being involved in helping you enjoy your university experience.

It is my job to organise and run events that cater for all students so look out for loads of different things coming your way over the year, starting with Freshers’.

I will also be working alongside the Education and Welfare Officer in organising RAG events to raise money for a number of charities.

If there are any events you would like to see or even organise yourself, please get in touch and have a great year.

Address: Wearbank House, St Peters

Email: su.ents-media-officer@sunderland.ac.uk

My job is care C. A. R. E.

Co-ordinate multicultural events.

Act if issues of discrimination arise.

Represent the views of students at student union and university meetings.

Encourage equality, diversity and integration.

Address: Wearbank House, St Peters Campus

Email: su.international-officer@sunderland.ac.uk

Hi everyone!

I’m Karen; I am currently a first year student here at the University of Sunderland, studying English and Creative Writing.

I am very excited to have taken up the role of Student Support Officer as I am very passionate about the quality of Student life.

In my role I am hoping to form a good communication link between the Student’s Union and the students and hopefully gain some useful ideas and insights of what you, as students would like to change, make better or add to the student experience.

I already have plans for new social groups, which if everything goes according to plan should be set up in September. I also want to work closely with the different faculties here at Sunderland to expand my knowledge on what problems may be present and what the University and us at the Student’s Union can do to help resolve these problems and then give feedback to you.

My main aim is to increase student awareness of what the Student’s Union does and can do for you.

I will do all I can in my role to help make your time at the University of Sunderland the best time you could possibly have.

Please feel free to get in contact with me, I would be happy to speak with you and hear your views.

Address: Edinburgh Building, City Campus

Email: su.support-officer@sunderland.ac.uk