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Your Union
FXU (Falmouth & Exeter Students' Union) – run by students, for students
Like all student union’s, FXU is student-led and is constantly working hard to make sure it is providing services that students want. The main way that FXU achieve this is by being run by students (Student Presidents and Executive Officers) and by having good communication with students. The Student Presidents and Executive Officers are elected by the student body and together they are the FXU Trustee Board and so are entrusted by students in making sure that FXU is student-led and run properly!
Membership
All current students of University College Falmouth incorporating Dartington College of Arts and University of Exeter Cornwall Campus are automatically members of FXU unless a student opts out at the beginning of term*.
*see FXU's current governing document for full details on opting out.
Governance
This year has seen a new constitution** for FXU be passed by the student body, the FXU Trustee board and the universities. This came about due to changes in charity law in England and Wales that came into force on 1 June 2010. The changes requires most student unions' to register with the Charity Commission and become a charity with its own charity number.
On recommendation from the NUS and along with most other students' unions, FXU undertook a Governance Review involving over a year's worth of research in the form of student consultations, recommendations, best practice and legal requirements. The Review culminated in a FXU referendum on the key elements to be included in the constitution where all students got the chance to vote on their preferences to the presidential structure, the makeup of the trustee board, decision-making and how FXU is made accountable. A new constititution was drafted to take over from the current FXU Memorandum of Understanding and was approved in the Spring term 2011 by the FXU Student Council on behalf of the student body, the FXU Trustee Board and both the University College Falmouth incorporating Dartington College of Arts and the University of Exeter.
The new constitution will take effect as of 1 August 2011 and any necessary changes are underway. FXU will then register with the Charity Commission as soon as possible after this date.
**a constitution is a legal document that states the purpose of FXU, who benefits, how it is governed and how it is made accountable.
Governing Documents:
FXU Memorandum of Understanding and Terms of References (current governing document until 31 July 2011).
FXU Constitution (governing document to take effect from 1 August 2011).
Bye-laws to support the constitution (in replacement of Terms of References) are currently being prepared for FXU Student Council approval.
Your FXU Presidents
Each year, 3 students are democratically elected by the student body to be student Presidents for FXU (which usually takes place in the Spring term). As being a student President is a serious and extremely busy job, these are full-time and paid jobs where the elected student either takes a year out from their studies or takes up the position straight after they have finished their degree.
It is the Presidents' job to communicate with students and represent student views on management level boards and meetings so that students have a say at the top.
To see who your FXU Presidents are for 2010-11 and what they are working on, click here.
Your FXU Executive Officers ('the Execs')
The Executive Officer posts are undertaken by current students alongside their studies. Even though they are voluntary positions, the officers still have a great deal of responsibility in representing students around the area of their role and by being an FXU trustee. New from 2010, these positions are voted for at the start of the academic year in the Autumn term. Each Exec has their own specialised area: Campaigns, Community Action, Entertainment, Environment & Ethics, Equal Opportunities, Promotions, RAG (Raising & Giving) and Sports & Societies.
Click on this link for the student Executive Officers page (click here) for 2010-11 and what they are up to!
FXU Referenda
FXU Referenda is the highest decision-making process in the Students' Union. A FXU referendum is an all member (students) vote to decide on a specific issue. A closed question in usually asked with a 'yes' or 'no' answer. To find out about current and previous referenda and for further information on FXU referenda, please click here.
FXU General Meetings
General meetings are the second highest decision-making bodies in FXU. This means that only a referendum can override a decision made at an FXU general meeting. Briefly, there are two types of general meetings:
AGMs FXU holds an annual general meeting (AGM), usually in the Spring term, to allow members (students) the chance to find out about the year's financial accounts, major issues of the year and keep up to date with what is happening.
UGMs In accordance with FXU's new constitution from 1 August 2011, FXU will be holding at least one union general meeting (UGM) each term, one of which will be the usual AGM. All members are welcome. It is a chance for current student issues to be raised; for more students to be aware and involved in what is happening throughout the student body; and for these issues to be addressed in a proactive and collective way. Let the student voice be heard!
Full details of general meetings are included in FXU's governing documents, links to these are above on this webpage.
FXU Student Council
FXU Student Council represents all students in decision-making, political policy-making and discussions as it is the broadest representative body made up entirely of students at University College Falmouth and
FXU Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is made up of the Presidents and Executive Officers and they meeting regularly throughout the year to organise and co-ordinate events, activities and information relating to each Exec Officers' own specalised area. It is also an opportunity to keep up to date with the work of the Presidents, help organise freshers' and large events and campaigns such as the FXU elections, referenda and education cuts protests for example.
FXU Trustees
FXU's new constitution coming into effect on 1 August 2011 states that the FXU Trustee Board is to be made up of the 3 FXU Presidents, up to 4 FXU Executive Officers, up to 2 Student Trustees and up to 2 Exeternal Trustees. Where the FXU Trustee Board has only ever included Presidents and Executive Officers, this new makeup allows for any student (i.e. member of FXU) to be elected as a Student Trustee as well as the electing of External Trustees who are working professionals/retired/past FXU presidents who can bring particular skills and experience that are identified by FXU as needed and can support the FXU Trustee Board in its duties.
Your FXU Presidents can represent and support you on academic matters on an individual basis as well as represent students at management level meetings in the university, other relevant institutions and in the wider community.
FXU continues to work hard in building good links with the universities' course rep system (University College Falmouth) and Student-Staff-Liaison-Committees or SSLCs (
FXU Elections
The elections for the FXU Presidents for the academic year 2011-12 took place in the Spring term. FXU had its biggest ever turnout last year with over 1500 students voting in the elections, which was 36.1% of the student body and the second highest voter turnout in the country. This year, FXU still had a big turnout of 1166 students, which was 23.2% of the student body.
Elections for FXU Presidents and Executive Officers are now divided between the Spring term and Autumn term respectively.
For more details and the latest information on FXU Elections, please click here.
FXU Campaigns
There may be particular issues that students want to take action on that affects the student experience and so, as your Students' Union, FXU can help to make that action happen. Please get in touch with any of the FXU Presidents or Exec Officers to see what can be done, for example, through collectively petitioning, rallying, lobbying and the Presidents representing students at the highest levels at the universities makes sure the student voice is heard loud and clear!
Relationships
FXU and the Universities
FXU is an independent, democratic, member-led organisation that can challenge the university, the government or other institutions on behalf of students that is in line with its purpose - educational enhancement of students and student welfare. Students can come to the Students' Union for confidential and impartial advice. The FXU Presidents represent students on various boards and committees across the universities.
FXU receives block grants from both UCF and UECC as higher education institutions have a legal responsibility to ensure there is opportunity for student representation. To this end, the universities need to ensure FXU is run democratically and is accountable, which requires FXU to report to the universities on a regular basis.
FXU and TCS
As there are two higher education institutions on the same site, Tremough Campus Services (TCS) was formed to undertake the operations and management of the campus and shared student services by UCF and UECC students.
FXU has student representation on the decision-making board of TCS. Through working with TCS, FXU Presidents makes sure that any developments on campus have student input.
A few facts...
Click here for more information on TCS and students.
FXU and Exeter Guild
Currently, University of Exeter Cornwall Campus (UECC) students are members of Exeter Guild as well as FXU unless students chose to opt-out as set out in current governing documents. As this means UECC students have dual membership of two students' unions, this was being looked into during 2010-11 to find the structure that best suited students. FXU, Exeter Guild and University of Exeter Cornwall Campus have consulted UECC students and been in discussions to find the best way forward. Further details will be posted here as soon as possible, but if you are interested in this issue, please contact presidentuecc@fxu.org.uk
For more information on the Exeter Guild, you can visit their website www.exeterguild.org
