Union Priority
A varied and vibrant social experience.
Over 270 change suggestions were submitted across our 24-25 Speak Week campaigns relating to Union events and venues. Students want to see a greater variety in Union events, both in theming, target audiences, and time of day. Since the launch of our Surrey Belonging programme, we have seen the importance of free and affordable events catering to a wider variety of students, including commuting students and those who are seeking non-drinking events.
We will ensure that students from all walks of life and backgrounds can engage in events and entertainments outside of their studies in a low-cost and accessible way by providing a wide range of events and activities.
Measure: Pulse score for ‘Impact on social experience’ to improve.
University Priority
Campus infrastructure and provisions that meet students’ needs.
Students have consistently fed back to us that the on-campus provision of catering facilities require improvements. The primary areas of student concern are the affordability and availability of varied food options, and the lack of provision in the evening. With the cost-of-living in Guildford limiting students’ available disposable income, campus should be a space where students can socialise and live comfortably within their limited means, necessitating affordable catering costs.
We ask the University to conduct a thorough review of campus living costs, focused primarily on the costs incurred for students dining at campus outlets. We also call for increased availability of rewards and discounts via Surrey Perks to further improve the value of catering options on campus.
Measure: University to conduct a review into the cost of living on campus and publish the outcomes to students, including recommendations for improvements.
Partnership Priority
A Students’ Union building fit for the future.
The Students’ Union building must see significant refurbishment. The Students’ Union is limited by our physical space in meeting the expectations of students for their social lives and experiences. The building is inaccessible to many students and falls far below the standards of a leading Students’ Union. More broadly, the University should aim to have a campus that students can be proud of, and the Union building also falls far below the standards for the campus experience at Surrey.
We will lobby the University to prioritise the SU building in its plans for capital expenditure. The Students’ Union should feature prominently in the University’s plans for improving the campus.
Measure: To produce a plan for investing in the future of the Students’ Union’s building, written in consultation with students.