There are four Students' Union councils that are spaces for students to work on projects, represent students' needs and feed into the Students' Union's decison-making. They are the best way to involve students with the Students' Unions projects and campaigns. Each Council has a different structure and is chaired by an Executive Officer. To enquire about any of the councils, email su-council@le.ac.uk.
Academic Council
The Academic Council is a new structure that consists of the Education Officer, School Reps, 4 Part-Time Officers, and the College Reps. It is a space where academic affairs are discussed and projects surrounding student feedback, belonging and engagement are discussed. To bring an item to an Academic Council meeting, you can email Joshitha at su-president@le.ac.uk.
Liberation Council
The Liberation Council is chaired by the Liberation Officer and aims to provide a space to highlight the voices of students from a variety of backgrounds, which are fed into the Students' Union's work. The council aims to remove barriers and works towards acheiving collective liberation. To bring an item to a Liberation Council meeting, you can email Aishwarya at su-liberation@le.ac.uk.
The Sustainability Network sits underneath the Liberation Council and it acts as a forum for students interested in working on the Students' Union's sustainability campaigns. To bring an item to a Sustainability Network meeting, you can email Reed at su-communities@le.ac.uk.
Sports Council
Societies Council is chaired by the Sports and Societies Officer and works to ensure the voices and opinions of all areas of student groups at Leicester are equally considered in the implementation of decisions and changes. To bring an item to a Sports Council meeting, you can email Ajay at su-sportsandsocieties@le.ac.uk.
Societies Council
Sports Council is chaired by the Sports and Societies Officer and aims to give students across all facets of club sport a greater voice here. The idea of this council is to formalise student discussions, build a sports-focused discussion group within the SU and Sport and Active Life, discuss ideas and give students a greater voice among senior staff. The future success of sports here at Leicester lies completely within the student’s voices. It is extremely important students are included in the process of navigating the forthcoming season as we build on creating an exceptional sporting offer. To bring an item to a Societies Council meeting, you can email Ajay at su-sportsandsocieties@le.ac.uk.
What can councils help with?
1. Policymaking
SU Councils are forums for feedback where your ideas can turn from a vision into reality. Council members have a wealth of experience and knowledge and can support students with creating policies for Leicester 100 if the idea cannot be implemented immediately.
If you submit your idea onto the Ideas System, you will be invited to attend the next Council meeting to present your idea and receive feedback. If your idea can be implemented easily, the Council will oversee this, but if there are challenges, the Council may encourage you to take a policy to Leicester 100. If your idea gets over 100 likes, the Council must make an action plan or take a policy to the next Leicester 100 meeting. The Students’ Union is then mandated to implement ideas that are approved by Leicester 100.
2. Campaigns
Councils work on a series of annual campaigns, for example Black History Month, as well as additional ad hoc campaigns to lobby the University for positive change. If there are any campaigns that you think the Councils should do each year, you can submit this as an idea, or if you have any particular things that you would like to see the Councils include in their campaigns, you can send an email to su-council@le.ac.uk.
3. Events
Councils oversee the delivery of SU campaigns and also run key events in the SU Calendar, e.g. Varsity. If you would like to collaborate with a Council as part of a campaign, you can get in touch with the chair of the Council to discuss this further. Councils require at least 2 weeks’ notice in order to support with events.
4. Decision-making
As a student-led organisation, Councils are at the forefront of decision-making in the SU. They are responsible for approving grant funding, new student group applications, and consulting on the Students’ Union’s work, including the SU Awards and committee training. Councils are expected to treat all groups equally, but will require students and student groups to provide sufficient notice regarding any actions they may wish to take or queries they may have. Councils are not equipped to immediately provide resources at short notice.
Follow the councils on Instagram for updates, announcements and news at @leiccouncils.