► FXU Constitution
Governance
Update:
FXU is now a registered charity. Charity number 1145405
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. All procedures in the Memorandum of Understanding remain valid until replaced by new bye-laws.
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.
