- Statutory Bodies & Committees

University Secretary

UNIVERSITY OF BATH

Code of Practice for the Students’ Union (BUSU)

 

This Code of Practice is issued by the Council of the University of Bath in fulfilment of the requirements of the Education Act 1994. Under the Act, the University must ensure that its Students’ Union operates in a fair and democratic manner and is financially accountable, and publish a Code of Practice on the manner in which these requirements are to be carried into effect. This Code of Practice should be read in conjunction with Ordinance 24 on the Students’ Union.
 

BUSUhas a written constitution which is subject to approval by the membership of BUSUand the University Council.  It is reviewed by the Board of Trustees of BUSU and the University Council at intervals of no more than five years. The constitution is available to all members of the University on request from the Students’ Union Reception or the University Secretary, and is also available on-line at www.BathStudent.com.

                                                       

Unless he or she elects otherwise, each person who is formally registered for a credit bearing programme of study provided by the University of Bathautomatically becomes a member of BUSU.   Such persons havethe right not to belong to BUSUand may decide to opt out by notifying the BUSU President and the University Secretaryin writing of this decision.  To ensure that students who opt out of membership are not unfairly disadvantaged in terms of access to the provision of services or otherwise, the University is required to make any necessary alternative arrangements for such students.

 

The Sabbatical Trustees of BUSU are elected by secret ballot of the members of BUSU.

Guidelines on the conduct of elections are contained in Bye-Law 3 and Regulation 3 of BUSU.  Sabbatical Trusteesare eligible for re-election provided that they are still a member of BUSU at the time of their election and provided that they do not hold office for any longer than twenty four months.
           
                                                                    

Affiliation to external organisations includes any form of membership of or formal association with an organisation, the purposes of which are not confined to purposes connected with BUSU.

If BUSUdecides to affiliate to an external organisation, it will inform the University and will inform students by publishing an annual notice of such decisions, stating the name of the organisation and details of any subscription or similar fee paid, or of any donation made or proposed to be made, to the organisation. The annual report on new affiliations will also include a report of the external organisations to which BUSUis currently affiliated, and details of subscriptions or similar fees paid, or donations made, to such organisations since the last report. 

The annual notice of new and current affiliations to external organisations will be made available to the University Council and to all students by being published online at www.BathStudent.com. Attention will also be drawn to the publication of this annual notice by means of a reference in the President’s Report which prefaces the BUSUyear end accounts.

The question of continued affiliation to any particular organisation shall be decided by (a) the current list of affiliations beingsubmitted for approval by members annually or more frequently, and (b) secret ballot, in which all members of BUSU are entitled to vote, if called for by 5% or more of the members of BUSU.  Such a ballot in respect of any particular organisation may be requisitioned at intervals of at least one year.

 

The financial affairs of BUSUare conducted in accordance with arrangements laid down in the Articles of Governance, Bye-Law 2 and Regulation 2 of BUSU and the University's Financial Regulations.

The budget of BUSUis formulated as part of the University’s standard annual planning exercise for non-academic departments and approved by the University Council.

The procedure for allocating resources to Students’ Union groups, clubs or societies is set out in Bye-Law 2 and Regulations 2 and 7 of BUSU.

The Finance Committee of the University is responsible to the University Council for receiving the financial reports and the annual auditedaccounts of BUSU. The audited annual accounts are approved by the BUSU Board of Trustees and published on www.BathStudent.com.  Details of donations to external organisations during the period covered by the accounts will be included in the year end accounts.

The University has appointed a Senior Treasurer who is a member of the BUSUFinance Committee, in accordance with the Articles of Governance, Bye-Law 2 and Regulation 2 of BUSU. The Senior Treasurer shall report to theFinance Committees of BUSU and the University on any matters of financial concern.

 

Any student or group of students dissatisfied in their dealings with BUSU or claiming to be unfairly disadvantaged by reason of their having exercised the right to opt out of membership of BUSU may invoke the complaints procedure contained in Bye-Law 9.  An independent person shall be appointed by the University Councilto investigate and report on such complaints promptly and fairly.  Where a complaint is upheld, the University Council shall ensure there is an effective remedy.

 

 

 

 

Approved with effect from 1st July 2009 by the University Council (21st May 2009).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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