Union Priority
Campaigning for London weighting for University of Surrey students.
Financial challenges remain a primary cause for concern for our students. Living and studying in Guildford continues to be one of the most expensive student experiences in the country outside London. Extending the London weighting measure to increase student maintenance loans for students in Surrey would make a significant long-term improvement to our students’ ability to live comfortably and engage fully in university life, with reduced financial difficulties.
We will continue to build on the relationship between the Students’ Union and our local MP Zoe Franklin, with a specific focus on advocating for Surrey students to receive London Weighting to support them with the high cost of living in the Guildford area.
Measure: Establish a commitment from Zoe Franklin to the extension of London Weighting to students studying at Surrey, and a viable plan to change national policy.
University Priority
Student housing that meets students’ needs and University ambitions.
Affordable student housing in Guildford is insufficient for the needs of students and out of step with the University’s ambitions to deliver significant growth. A rising student population will exacerbate the accommodation shortage currently impacting students, reducing the quality of the overall student experience at Surrey and placing increased demand on our Housing Advice function.
We call on the University to deliver a clear Housing Strategy to set out an action plan on how the University will account for growing student numbers by increasing the provision of University-managed accommodation. This Strategy should also set out how the University will engage with the Students’ Union and local officials to ensure that the student voice is listened to around the future planning for student accommodation in Guildford and surrounding areas.
Measure: For the University to produce a future housing strategy which can be supported by the Students’ Union and communicated to students.
Partnership Priority
Formally recognise and credit the contributions of student leaders.
Student participation in extracurricular activities has tangible benefits for individual student outcomes, for the wider student community, and for the University and Students’ Union. Student volunteers are to credit for the success of our Course Rep scheme, Clubs and Societies, our Peer Support services, and Student Equality Networks, and yet do not always receive the formal recognition they deserve. With the increasing cost of living, students report they often feel forced to choose between undertaking part-time work or taking on a position of leadership within the Union.
We want to work with the University to explore a framework to recognise the contributions of our student leaders, to make these positions more attractive to students and to positively benefit their employability. Improved recognition could take the form of introducing a credit-bearing module, certification, or award for student leaders, increasing Students’ Union resource to enable greater reward and recognition, or integrating this priority into the University’s Employability strategy.
Measure: Increase in Pulse score for ‘Perceptions of gaining or improving skills’.