Union Council (10th June 2026)

A Chair was nominated by show of hands as the elected chair was unable to attend. Hope Pattenden (maths school president) volunteered and was approved by show of hands.

Read and approved.

None raised.

Presented as attached. The following question was asked:

• Please can you provide details of the handover materials you are preparing for the new Sabbatical Officers, to ensure a smooth transition? Yes, I am currently working on the handover materials for the incoming Sabbatical Officer. The document is already in progress and has been developed with reference to previous Sabbatical Officer handover materials, while also including my own experience, reflections, key projects, and practical advice from this year. It covers the main responsibilities of the role, key contacts, regular meetings, society support, grants, Freshers, Senate, communications, and project handovers. I am continuing to refine it to make sure it provides clear and useful guidance for a smooth transition.

Not presented as VP Sports was unable to attend.

Presented as attached. The following questions were asked:

• Is there somewhere that the Exam videos will be stored beyond the Student Voice Instagram account so they can be referenced or re-used? There will be! Currently doing a review of all the informative content that has been shared, and which elements should be kept visible for future students. Aware that they receive a huge amount of information at the beginning of the year so looking at how this can be done without overwhelming them!
• Please can you provide details of the handover materials you are preparing for the new Sabbatical Officers, to ensure a smooth transition? - Handing over to myself, but have been working on a bigger piece of work detailing new sabbs' inductions and ensuring that incoming VP Inclusion receives a proper handover despite not having a current VP Inclusion to receive it from.

Presented as attached. The following questions were asked:

• Why do you think the bus route-specific questions were not added to the Rate Your Crib survey? The survey was already very lengthy and there was a limit to how more could be added before survey completion would decrease.
• Can you share what the comms around the recent protests will look like and when these will be shared? Keeping the communications quite low-key as wary of the potential to create backlash or attract unwanted attention online. Majority of students have now gone home for the summer - safety messaging is something that will be reviewed and revisited once term starts.
• Please can you provide details of the handover materials you are preparing for the new Sabbatical Officers, to ensure a smooth transition? A lot of the handover will be in-person over the 2 days where both incoming and outgoing presidents are in (but also for a few key meetings afterwards). Keen not to overwhelm all at once but will remain reachable as will be at Southampton for another year! Will also add to the handover document left by the previous President.

Changes to the 2027 Leadership Election dates were proposed but as the meeting was not quorate these could not be voted on. 

All Sabbs and Councillors were thanked for their contributions to the first year of Student Council under the new SUSU Rules, and any feedback would be welcome as the Representation Team start looking ahead to the second!