University of Plymouth Students' Union

The UPSU Executive Officers or 'Sabbatical Officers' are elected in March and decide the day-to-day running of the union. The Sabbatical Team consists of six full-time officers who have recently graduated as students from the University. Each has their own remit and they also provide academic and national representation for Plymouth students. |President = Alex Doyle |Vice Presidents = Ben Morries; Bitty Walter Inyang; Charlotte Panchaud; Maja Smith; Tilda Fraser;

The Union Executive Committee, formerly student Parliament, is made up of 15 elected Forum Chairs and the 6 elected Executive Officers, and is also attended by the Chief Executive and staff support members. The Chair of the Accountability Board also attends these meetings, to observe and ensure that they are taking place in a fair and democratic manner. The UEC is in place to make important decisions that effect the student body and ensure that the wide diversity of the student body is fairly represented in these decisions.[2]

The student union was refurbished in summer 2014.[4] The main union building is mostly underground; its top bar is known as burst bar serving smoothies, juices and teas[5] adjacent to this is the 'Zig-Zag' bar . at the top of the SU is the lounge selling Costa coffee and sandwiches;[6] below this is 'Illusion' which has a dance floor and pool tables, and is sometimes used for private events. Down from 'Illusion' is the main bar, known as 'Sub:Lime' which is where most of the union's events take place: it has a dance floor with DJ booth and projectors. In 2010 the union's bar won first place in the National Union of Students' Best Bar None competition, which assesses how bars manage student safety.[1]

Attached to the main building on the first floor is an advice centre, open weekdays between 10am and 3pm. It offers to UPSU members a range of free and confidential advice, including financial and academic advice.[7]

The union has two shops on campus, U:Shop, opposite the library, sells goods such as milk and snacks, while on the over side, by the library entrance, is Chunk the pasty outlet[8]

The student union also has an accommodation service, located inside it opposite the hive.[9]

The union supports societies[10] and sports clubs,[11] which are by an elected committee from the clubs' membership. Any student can set up a society.[12]

Sports teams are supported by the union and the university and represent the university.

The Volunteering and fundraising departments are situated in "The Hive", at the south of the building. Volunteering opportunities range from mentoring with Cybermentors, helping with upkeep of the Monkey Sanctuary in Looe, Cornwall to helping run projects in a local Plymouth school.

Rag week in February each year aims to raise both awareness of and money for charity. Events have included include a pizza eating contest, endurance, bake sales, mile of pennies, city and campus raids, pyjama day, treasure hunts, pool contests and karaoke.[13]

The union holds weekly and monthly events, and special events throughout the year.[14] At the end of the welcome weeks each year the 'Freshers Ball' is open to all students; and the annual 'Summer Ball', which also includes food stalls, a fairground, a midnight cinema, headphone disco and a 'survivors' breakfast, has a number of stages and guest acts.

The UPSU Summer Ball is held annually at the end of the academic year (May). As well as having a number of stages and guest acts, the event usually has food stalls, a fair ground; casino (non-monetary); inflatables and various other entertainment.

Over 10,000 students do not study at the main Plymouth campus but at partner colleges. All Higher Education students on University of Plymouth courses at these colleges are automatically members of the UPSU and representatives are available at the larger colleges which, as of 2011, are City College Plymouth, Petroc, Somerset College of Arts and Technology, South Devon College, and Truro and Penwith College.[15]

• University of Plymouth Student Union