nottingham trent students' union guide 2011/12
DESCRIPTION
An interactive booklet providing a brief overview of Nottingham Trent Students' Union sevices with links to the official website and further information.TRANSCRIPT
Nottingham TrentStudents Union(a beginners guide)
Nottingham TrentStudents Union(a beginners guide)
How to use this guideSo, Welcome Week has been and gone. We hope you had fun, made some new friends and managed not to burn yourself out too much.
With that week-long blur of activity behind you, you’ll probably want to take a look around your newly adopted city and get your bearings. The best way to make the most of your time at uni is to get involved with your students’ union.
This booklet will give you an overview of what Nottingham Trent Students’ Union has to offer you. It is not intended to be a complete in-depth guide; instead use this guide as an at-a-glance overview to see what kind of services NTSU provides for NTU students, and how you can get involved.
Each page of this guide covers a different topic or NTSU service and has a weblink which, when clicked, will take you to the relevant section of our website. Read through the guide and when you want to know more about something, just click the link and you will be transported to NTSU’s website, www.trentstudents.org
For updates throughout the year, don’t forget to follow your Exec officers’ Twitter feeds and visit www.facebook.com/trentstudents
We hope you enjoy your time at NTU and get involved in your students’ union; remember - we are here for you.
Nottingham Trent Students’ Union
Nottingham Trent Students’ Union (NTSU) is an independent organisation that aims to represent you (as well as the other 25,000 students currently attending Nottingham Trent University), and accommodate your needs during your time at Trent.
MythIt is an outdated myth that the Union is just a place you can go for a cheap night out; NTSU is a modern students’ union that provides far more opportunities and services than just a bar and nightclub. What we offer can be broken down into four categories, or ‘strands’:
Each of these strands is colour-coded and these colours are used in our promo materials, making it easy for you to identify how each service we offer relates to you.
Welcome to NTSU
Student VoiceAs your representative organi-sation, NTSU has campaigned tirelessly on issues that you’ve told us affect your life at Uni - such as top-up fees, student accommodation, academic feedback, and even things as basic to student life as getting home safely at night.
We also support your democratic right to have a say in how all of our services and activities are run. From joining a com-mittee, to attending a student assembly or Union General Meeting, to voting for who you want to represent you on the Union’s Board of Elected Directors - the sky’s the limit to how much you can get involved in shaping Trent’s future.
Advice & SupportNTSU also looks out for your welfare, and provides you with professional advice for any concerns that may crop up dur-ing your time as a student. We want you to have the best pos-sible experience at Trent, so we do our utmost to help you sort out anything that might get in the way of that.
EmployabilityIncreasing your employability is a top priority for you and us, which is why we pride our-selves on providing you with a wide range of activities to broaden your skill set and give you something more to take away after graduation than just a degree certificate.
Not all of our activities are centred on life within campus boundaries. We take our commitment to the local commu-nity very seriously, which is why we provide opportunities for students to have a positive impact within their local area, whether through volunteering projects, charity fundraising, or improving our ethical and environmental footprint.
Social & EntertainmentsSupplying you with quality services is also paramount - whether that’s a well-stocked and convenient campus shop, somewhere to look for part-time work, or even just day and night time events with a great atmosphere and wide-ranging live music.
www.trentstudents.org www.facebook.com/TrentSU @trentstudents
The Exec (or Board of Elected Directors as they’re more formally known) are full-time, paid officers tasked with running your students’ union during a year-long sabbatical from their courses at NTU.
These officers are voted into their positions by NTU students at the annual elections (held in term 2).
Your Exec officers for this year are based at the City site. If you need to speak to them in person, you can find them in the Students’ Union area within the Chaucer building near the tram stop.
You can also contact them through our website and via their email, as well as seeing what they are currently up to by checking their Twitter feeds.
But in order to contact them, you first need to know who they are, so this page should serve as a handy reference to help you identify each officer and the area of union activities they are responsible for.
Meet YourExec
Jonny Ellison VP Student [email protected] 848 2915@NTSUvpDEMOCRACY
Abbie CullenVP Education & [email protected] 848 2911 / @NTSUvpEDUCATION
Toby MitchellBrackenhurst Liaison
Phoebe NicolaouVP Student Services
[email protected] 848 2918
@NTSUvpSERVICES
Dommy SzymanskaClifton Liaison [email protected]
Ellen FunstonCity Liaison Officer
Lekan AdebanjoVP Societies
[email protected] 848 2917
@NTSUvpSOCIETIES
Andy SchultenPresident
[email protected] 848 2913
@NTSU_PresidentJames FlemingVP [email protected] 848 2914@NTSUvpSPORTS
Caitlin Hayward VP Welfare & [email protected] 848 2916@NTSUvpWELFARE
Although the Exec are tasked with wider responsibil-ity over all of the departments at NTSU, without the expertise and hard work of the Student Directorate, many of these services simply could not exist.
Chosen in individual by-elections, these full-time stu-dents volunteer many hours to NTSU every week to ensure the smooth running of some of our most im-portant student activities and committees.
If you want to take part in any of the many opportu-nities available to you at NTSU, you can get in touch with the relevant officer to find out more details.
If there is a vacant position in an area of interest to you, why not nominate yourself for it? Just send an email to your VP Student Democracy, Jonny Ellison, at [email protected], or pop in to the Students’ Union on any campus to discuss this opportunity.
The Student DirectorateWomen's OfficerLola Sodeinde
Initi8 OfficerVincent Au [email protected]
RAG OfficerLiz McCluskey [email protected]
Platform OfficerChristian Baker [email protected]
Trent TV OfficerTom Ross [email protected]
Fly FM OfficerMatthew Geer [email protected]
Black Students OfficerGrace Mwathi
Care Leavers OfficerAaron Frith [email protected]
LGBT OfficerJames Cutts
International Students OfficerPamela Nneoma Duru
Ethics & Environment OfficerBenji Hollyhead
Officer Without Portfolio (Brackenhurst)Hannah Kent
Officer Without Portfolio (City)Mohammed Seedat
Officer Without Portfolio (Clifton)Lydia Sawyer
Vacant RolesThe following positions on the 2011/12 Student Directorate are currently vacant:
Disabled Students Officer
WelCam Officer
Mature Students Officer
EdCam Officer
Community Officer
Young Students Officer
Part-time Students Officer
Postgraduate Students Officer
2x Officers w/o Portfolio (City)
1x Officer w/o Portfolio (Clifton)
You can nominate yourself for any of these positions!
Just send an email to your VP Student Democracy, Jonny Ellison, at [email protected]
BrackenhurstBrackenhurst is Nottingham Trent University’s third, but by no means the least important, campus. Located near the market town of Southwell, Brackenhurst (or “Brack” as it is generally known) has extensive grounds and a great student commu-nity, making it the perfect location for both studies and extra-curricular activities!
The Students’ Union provides facilities such as the Brack Bar, The Orangery and the SU Express shop all on site. We also provide students with support and activities that are independent of the University; whether it’s Student Advice or fundraising activities, there’s loads of stuff to get involved with. No other campus offers the peace and tranquility that Brackenhurst combines with a close-knit and fun loving student community.
For more info about our Brackenhurst campus, please visit: www.trentstudents.org/content/690983/home/brackenhurst_campus
Your CampusYour CampusCityNottingham Trent University has 3 campuses: City, Clifton and Brackenhurst.
City is the main campus and is located, unsurprisingly, in the city centre. Approximately 65% of our members study at the city campus.
The city site centres around Goldsmith Street, and the Students’ Union can be found in the shop area of the Chaucer building (just by the tram stop near the library). Here you can pick up snacks, stationery and magazines from our not for profit shop, chat to your Exec, or visit the Student Advice Centre.
Byron House, our previous Students’ Union building, is currently undergoing an exciting refurbishment project. An artist’s impression of the new building can be seen at www.trentstudents.org/news/index.php?page=article&news_id=267913
In the meantime, we are basing our social and entertainments activity in Spanky Van Dykes (opposite Newton Arkwright) as well as hosting club nights in venues around the city. See the Entertainments page of this guide for more details.
All of our services can be accessed at www.trentstudents.org, including signing up for societies and buying event tickets, so don’t get in line; get online!
For more info on our city site, please visit: www.trentstudents.org/content/690903/home/city_campus
CliftonClifton campus is self-contained and has recently undergone major refurbishment with on-site accommodation having en-suite facilities and broadband internet. The student village has its own bar/music venue - The Point - as well as a refectory, cafeteria, shop, cashpoints, and a Blackwell’s bookshop.
As Clifton is the home of the University’s sports courses, there are naturally plenty of recreational facilities available to all students including an all-weather floodlit sports pitch.
For enquiries relating to the Students’ Union, please visit our reception next to the shop; they will be able to direct you to any of our available services and so should be your first port of call. This is also where you will find our Student Advice Centre with advisors on hand to deal with any issues you may have.
For more information about our Clifton campus, please visit: www.trentstudents.org/content/690923/home/clifton_campus
Campaigns
As your representative organisation, NTSU has campaigned tirelessly on issues that you’ve told us affect your life at Uni.
Over the last three years we have organised and supported student campaigns on issues such as:
top-up fees
student accommodation
academic feedback
parking permits
... and even things as basic to student life as getting home safely at night.
For more info, getting involved and proposing new campaigns, please contact Abbie Cullen, VP Education & Representation [email protected] 848 2911 or Caitlin Hayward, VP Welfare & Involvement [email protected] / 0115 848 2916 or go to: www.trentstudents.org/campaigns
Student Advice CentreStudent Advice Centre
Contact details:Email: [email protected]: 0115 848 4556
Where to find us:City Campus:Nottingham Trent Students Union, Chaucer Building, Goldsmith St., Nottingham NG1 5LT.Drop-in: 11am-4pm Mon-Fri. Appointments: 4:30-6pm Thursday (All year round).
Clifton Campus:Union Central, Clifton Campus, Clifton Lane, Nottingham.Drop-in: 11am-4pm Mon-Fri (Term-time only).
Brackenhurst Campus:Union Central, The Orangery, Brackenhurst Campus, Southwell, Nottinghamshire.Drop-in: Thursday afternoons 1pm to 4pm (Term-time only).
Being at university is, on the whole, a fantastically positive experience. However, life has a habit of throwing unexpected obstacles in your path from time to time. And, when it does, sometimes you will need advice and support.
To that end, we have a Student Advice Centre (SAC) which provides free and confidential advice, information and representation to all NTU students.
The SAC can be found on all three campuses with advisers available on a drop-in basis 11am-4pm, Mon-Fri.
We also operate an appointments service with extended hours (until 6pm) at our city site every Thursday.
SAC staff members are employed by the Students’ Union. They can offer impartial advice without the risk of a conflict of interest if you contact us about problems you might face with any aspect of your time at Nottingham Trent University.
Common Enquiries
Our most common enquiries relate to:
› Money
› Debt
› Housing advice
› Academic advice & appeals
As a result of our independent status we are ideally placed to advise and represent students in relation to academic advice e.g. academic misconduct, academic appeals procedures, complaints against the University and disciplinary proceedings.
Although we are independent, SAC staff have good links with other University departments and services and outside organisations to ensure you get the best all round help and advice. If we can’t help you, we can usually refer you to someone who can.
For more information please go to www.trentstudents.org/advice
JobShopWe know that funding your years at university is not the easiest thing to do; savings, loans and the bank of Mum & Dad only go so far.
Many students take on part-time jobs to support themselves during their study and we realise how important this can be.
To help our members find local part-time work, we run the JobShop; an online bulletin board full of jobs exclusively aimed at students like yourself.
As well as part-time work, our JobShop also advertises graduate employment opportunities both locally and nationally.
So, if you are looking for work, either part-time or full-time, log on to www.trentstudents.org/jobshop to see what opportunities are available right now.
EmployabilityWhat is Stride?
Stride is a free training and development workshop programme offered by Nottingham Trent Students’ Union. Whether you’re a first year student looking for some tips on how to manage your money, or a final year student wanting to make your CV stand out to future employers, Stride has something to offer you.
Stride’s sessions are arranged in themed programmes. The programmes for the 2011/12 academic year are:
› Employability› Personal Skills› Online Modules
You can attend as few or as many sessions as you wish. And what’s more, Stride is approved by the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, so attending sessions and completing modules will earn you Stride Certificates that are recognised by many local employers.
Stride also delivers one-off training sessions throughout the year. So if you have ever wanted to learn, say, how to speak basic Russian, or how to fix your bike, then Stride can also help you.
For more information & to sign up for workshops, please visit www.trentstudents.org/stride
VolunteeringRaGRAG stands for Rais-ing And Giving. It’s the Students’ Union’s fund-raising group that gives you the chance to get involved in crazy and enjoyable activities to raise vital funds for charities worldwide.
We know you’ll be skint a week after your loan payment, so why should you be raising money for charity? Because raising hundreds is pretty cheap to do, it’s a huge amount of fun, and adds an extra sparkle to your CV!
You could be strutting 7-legged into Nottingham’s pubs, taking your bucket to the streets dressed in your wackiest clobber, or travelling to the other side of the world without spending a penny... and much more! Our RAG calendar is going to be jam-packed with exciting fundraising activities ranging from the more sensible to the downright absurd.
Drop in: We’re based in the SU Exec Office (back of the shop, City Campus) and Benenson Building (Clifton Campus) on a rotational basis, so drop in between 10am-5pm, Monday through Friday.Call us: (0115) 848 4553Email us: [email protected] more info, please go to www.trentstudents.org/rag
Last year, Trent students raised an amazing £156,000 for local, national, and
international charities!
Initi8With 350,000 students graduating in the UK each year, you’ll want to stand out from the crowd. How? By doing something fun, making new friends, and helping out in your local community!
With Initi8 Student Volunteering, there’s loads for you to get in-volved in; whether you’re looking to volunteer in a local organisa-tion, just for one day, or even set up your own project.
Initi8 is the community volunteering department at Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham Trent Students’ Union and New College Nottingham. There are a variety of ways to get involved with volunteering at NTU:
One Day Challenges: If you want your volunteering to be fun and varied, without taking up too much of your time, then look no further!
Team Projects: New for this year, we have a selection of team projects designed to develop your skills and experience.
Student Led Projects: Ever wanted to set up your own project, but don’t know where to start? Initi8 can help!
Volunteer Shop: offers over 100 opportunities across Nottingham for students who want to volunteer on a regular basis within a local organisation.
For more info, please go to www.trentstudents.org/volunteering
Societies
Contact usLekan Adebanjo is the VP Societies and your chief elected representative for societies. If you want to start a society, want to join any on offer, or would like some help and advice on running one, he is your first point of call. Email [email protected]
For more information and a full list of societies, please go to www.trentstudents.org/societies
There are over 60 societies currently affiliated to Nottingham Trent Students’ Union, with new affiliations coming in all the time. From Fashion to Finance, Conservation to Rock, there is a society for you.
Join a societySocieties are a great way to meet new people with similar interests, and are also an excellent excuse to try something brand new. Have a look here at what societies are currently on offer, and if any pique your interest, you can join online.
Start a new societyCan’t find what you’re looking for? - it’s also easy to set up your own society! If you’re interested, have a look here to see how it’s done, or email us.
Running a society?Here at NTSU, we offer a wide range of resources and support for all currently affiliated societies. If you’re interested in how societies are governed, it’s all spelt out here.
Sports ClubsJoining a Sports Club at Trent is a great way to enhance your university experience while exercising your competitive spirit, keeping fit, and making a load of new friends.
And with over 30 different team and individual-based sports to join, plus the opportunity to hold committee positions in each, there’s no reason not to get involved.
Trent’s sports clubs cater for everything from mainstream sports such as Football, Rugby and Hockey, to Belly Dancing, Ultimate Frisbee and Surfing. The majority of sports compete on a Wednesday afternoon, which the Univer-sity keeps free from lectures, but some clubs also have teams representing the University in local leagues on Saturdays.
You can participate at any level; for pure enjoyment - within the ‘Superleague’ and ‘No Excuses’ recreational sporting programs - up to the elite athletes competing for BUCS and sometimes at a national level.
As well as the actual sporting side of joining a club, the social activity is also very important. Many students find themselves making their best friends on their team, and there are the legendary Wednesday Sports & Societies
nights in Ocean Nightclub to celebrate the day’s matches.
Sports Clubs also do their bit for charity every year by competing in the annual Charity Varsity Series against the University of Nottingham.
The year is capped off with a Sports Tour, where teams can really combine their sporting and social aspects, and draws to a close with the Sporting Excellence Ball.
For any questions, or for more info about anything sports-related, get in touch with your VP Sports, James Fleming, on [email protected] or go to www.trentstudents.org/sportsclubs
Trent MediaFancy meeting your favourite recording artist or film star? How about expressing your opinions, and getting free stuff for doing so?
Maybe you’d enjoy the rush of breaking the latest news story to an audience of 25,000, or keeping your fellow students informed about issues important to them? What about the chance to show off your creative and technical abilities, and gain invaluable experience?
If that all sounds good, then NTSU’s very own Trent Media is for you. Our award-winning student media trio have got every opportunity imaginable for you to get involved, have a blast, and really amp up your CV.
Fly FM: New Music for NTUFly FM is Nottingham Trent’s award-winning student radio station. Broadcast every weekday of every term, Fly FM covers everything from Welcome Week to Varsity, and student demos to the Summer Ball.
Check out the website at www.flyfm.co.uk and email your Fly FM Station Manager, Matthew Geer, on [email protected] to find out more and get involved.
Platform: Nottingham Trent Students’ Union MagazinePublished every month during term, Platform is NTSU’s official magazine for Trent students, containing all the info, entertainment, news and reviews you need to make the most of your time at Uni.
Whether you want to write, photograph, illustrate or design its pages, Platform relies on your contributions to make it all happen.
Email the Editor, on [email protected] and visit the website at www.platform-online.net to read exclusive online content, view the digital mag, and find out how to join the Platform team.
Trent TV: NTSU’s student TV stationBorn in 2006, Trent TV is NTSU’s acclaimed student television station, providing TV shows created by NTU students, for NTU students. Whether you’d love to present, film, produce or edit, Trent TV is looking for you! Don’t worry if you’re a total newbie - we can train you from scratch and teach you everything that you need to know.
To get involved, email your Trent TV Station Manager, Tom Ross, on [email protected] and make sure to visit the website at www.trent-tv.com to watch the shows online.
ClimaxNottingham Trent’s most loved night. With over a thousand Trent students united in one place, it’s a weekend event like no other.
Double Vision (Clifton)Clifton’s very own club night. With a brand new ex-tra room you can now dance the night away to even more musical variety. Of course, it wouldn’t be Dou-ble Vision without the same unbelievable bar offers!
AssaultAlternative clubnight in conjunction with the NTU Rocksoc. With a number of dedicated DJs playing the best in rock, punk and metal, it has gained a reputation as one of the best and most welcoming alternative nights in the city.
Ocean WednesdaysThe official clubs & societies social. An institution for students at Trent and a midweek chance to socialise and meet new people in a safe, fun and welcoming venue.
Dirty MondaysWith an atmosphere like no other, The Forum is home to the ultimate Monday night student party and the best themed nights.
Chillout Tuesday & Thursday (Brack)Chillout gives you the chance to relax with mates, share a pitcher and get involved in a range of games. There’s also an Xbox and Wii hooked up to our big screen and free pool!
Uni-TrashFor people who should know better. The best weekday bar offers and the hottest sounds. Trent Thursdays will never be the same again.
The Big Quiz / What,s the Point?The ultimate student quiz night. Chill out with a group of mates, a few pints and some free snacks. Big prizes including £100 cash to be won.
Kiss KissA six room club night extravaganza, it’s a venue like no other and Tuesday nights are dedicated to Trent students.
Sunday Night Laugh-In @ Just The TonicThe biggest student comedy night in Nottingham. Expect some of the best upcoming comedians on the comedy circuit.
The House PartyBrackenhurst’s biggest weekly Party on campus. Our resident student DJ will be mixing up some tunes to get you dancing all night long. Start your weekend in style!
For more info or to buy tickets, go to www.trentstudents.org/entsFor regular updates join www.facebook.com/trentstudents and follow @NTSUents on twitter.
EntertainmentsThe entertainments and events sector is a dynamic and vibrant part of the students’ union, with a varied and diverse programme. Help-ing you to enjoy your university experience to the full, we here at NTSU Ents will be with you every step of the way from Freshers Week to your Graduation Ball. For a full list of our entertainments programme, and to buy tickets, please go to www.trentstudents.org/ents. Also, look out for the free printed gig guides we produce each month. In the meantime, here’s a taster of what we have to offer:
10 things you should do @ NTSUVolunteer with RaG or Initi8.
1 2Join a society or sports club - pursue your interests and make new friends! 3
Go on a union night out (because it has to be done - at least once).
4Attend a Stride session - to enhance your skills and CV. 5
Attend a ball - either the Brack Ball or Summer or Graduation Balls.
6 7 8
109
Vote in an election or referendum - make your voice heard!
Visit the Student Advice Centre - you’ll need it!
Use Trent Media; listen to Fly FM, read Platform or watch Trent TV.
Become a student representative; either as a course rep or by joining the Student Directorate.
Support Trent at a Varsity charity series match.