About SUSU

How SUSU is organised | Governance | Trustee Board | Staff Structure | Equality & Diversity

The Trustee Board

SUSU is bound by both the University rules governing its creation and our own Laws and Standing Orders. One of these explains how the Trustee board (formerly called Union Management Board) works.

The Board is formed of the following 16 people:

• President (Chair)
• All other Sabbatical officers
• 2 Student trustees with portfolio (Equality & Diversity Officer and Ethical & Environmental Officer)
• 4 Student trustees without Portfolio
• 4 non-members

The Board will fulfil the role of:

1. Creating and implementing the Union’s Strategy and related plans
2. The day to day administration of the Union
3. The monies and accounts of the Union, including budget estimates and setting
4. All employment matters
5. Making emergency decisions out of term time, subject to the ratification of Council
6. Filtering information from other Standing Committees and reporting policy issues to Council
7. Developing the Union’s facilities
8. Ensuring the strategic development of the commercial services is in line with the overall strategy
9. Ensuring the effective planning, organisation and co-ordination of Freshers' Week each year including an annual review
10. Considering and reporting to the membership all decisions to affiliate to bodies during the year
11. Considering all motions to a Referendum, General Meeting or Council meeting involving expenditure above a limit set out in the financial schedule, prior to the implementation of that decision.

The Board meets 6 times a year, for 2-3 hours. It will receive reports from each Senior Leader and its three sub-committees. It will also consider matters of policy and strategy.

The old Union Management Board is changing its practices, in line with our new status as a registered charity and to reflect the changing make-up of the Trustees. The SUSU Trustee Board will focus on high level and strategic decisions to ensure the Union is well run, with sound control and good management of its risks. In addition the Board will take clear responsible for delivering the goals detailed in the Union Plan.

The recruitment of three non-member trustees is a significant step towards these improvements.