Problem:

• The current coffee sold in SUBU is Starbucks and they have been challenged in the past on their approach to coffee growers, US staffing and corporation tax. Other similar organisations (Costa etc) have had similar challenges.
• SUBU chose a coffee supplier based on student popularity, quality, competitive price and sustainability (at the time Fairtrade).
• SUBU has not fully reviewed its coffee supply agreements against these criteria, it has only considered aspects of them subsequently.

Solution:

• SUBU to carry out an assessment for coffee supply options that considers the supplying companies performance on price, quality, popularity and in particular the ethics & sustainability.

Problem:

• Currently only the U3 bus runs on weekends meaning students travelling from different locations, such as Lansdowne Campus must rely on public bus transport which is often unreliable and runs at inconsistent timings.
• This also presents a cost implication to students as they must pay for a more expensive bus ticket on weekends to access campus, whilst running a U1 bus service on weekends would allow students to save more money.
• Students wanting to access services such as libraries, gyms and other facilities on either campus are limited in doing so due to accessible transport.

Solution:

• SUBU to lobby BU to explore introducing a U1 bus service on weekends for students to access.
• U1 bus service to run one or two busses per hour on weekends to accommodate students but factor in lower levels of usage between the hours of 9am and 5pm.
• Explore the introduction of a shorted U1 route from BGB to Talbot Campus
• BU to possibly explore expanding the U3 bus route to include Lansdowne Campus if the introduction of the U1 bus route on weekends is unachievable or work with local bus providers to accept student rates on weekends.

Problem:

• BU has not currently adopted a clear definition of Islamophobia, including how Islamophobia manifests on campus. BU has adopted an established working definition of antisemitism, the process of which included consultation with the student community affected. This situation means there is a disparity in the support and recognition for students who experience anti-Islamic discrimination and hate.
• The Friends of Palestine Society and the Islamic Society have received anti-Muslim hatred emails using Islamophobic and discriminatory language, reinforcing stereotypes about Muslim people.
• There is no clear guidance from BU on how Islamophobic attacks have been and should be approached and addressed.

Solution:

• SUBU to lobby BU to clearly define Islamophobia, including how it might manifest on campus, after consultation with the relevant student community.
• SUBU to lobby BU to consult Muslim students and Islamic Student Communities before making any policy changes or implementations to the prayer room.
• SUBU to lobby BU to clarify their disciplinary processes to indicate how Islamophobic incidents are dealt with.

Problem:

• Many students experience feelings of being overwhelmed, stemming from factors such as Additional Learning Needs (ALN), anxiety, other mental health conditions, or simply feeling overstimulated.
• The library has a designated quiet area that is often unmonitored, lacks privacy and does not provide the level of isolation needed for students who require a distraction-free space.
• Conducted research shows that certain individuals benefit greatly from private learning environments free from external sounds or distractions. This is particularly relevant to the 25% of students at BU that have declared ALN, which is higher than the national average.
• Students would benefit from individual, private spaces where they can retreat to avoid distractions or overstimulation which has a significant impact on a student’s ability to focus and thrive.

Solution:

• SUBU to support the implementation of individual, private spaces known as ‘Zen Pods’ on campus.
• SUBU to explore and consider financial contribution to the implementation of Zen Pods

Problem:

• Not all courses have a recognised reading week period in the academic year whilst some courses do giving certain students an advantage over others in their studies.

• Reading weeks provide an opportunity for students to read up on crucial information around their course.

• Many students have commitments outside of regular timetabled hours such as care duties or part-time work and the lack of reading weeks puts further strain on them. 

Solution:

• SUBU to lobby BU to allow al lcourses and departments to have a formally recognised reading week in the academic year.. 

• SUBU to lobby BU to introduce a reading week in Semester One and Semester Two, with one being in graduation week and another in Semester Two to allow students with exams or dissertations focused time to study.. 

• SUBU to lobby BU to communicate reading weeks to students clearly in advance of them happening and to state why courses may not be able to hold reading weeks (due to course regulations) and to provide assistance/direct students on current support available. 

Problem:

• Currently there are a number of students with concerns and anxieties about travelling at night, which includes coming to and from campus during darker hours of the day. 

• There is increased concern about coming too and from the Lansdowne campus, specifically BGB due to the proximity of the homeless shelter. Focus is put on safety in the building with little concern seemingly shown for students once they depart the building. 

• There is a lack of campaigns and information available to students regarding student safety and how to remain safe, particularly at night. 

Solution:

• SUBU to explore work and campaign options to promote strategies on student safety and to implement specific guidance to further protect Students. 

• SUBU to work with BU to increase their focus on Student Safety and the promotion of this across their staff/lectures/social media. 

• SUBU to lobby BU to implement strategies around student accommodation and BGB to make travel and the areas safer for students. 

• SUBU to work with BU to lobby purpose-built student accommodation providers to review and update resident security processes. 

Problem:

• Currently there are a number of transgender students at BU who experience feelings of dysphoria around the use of their deadnames. 

• The BU Student ID card only includes a student’s legal name, which in the case of transgender students, means that they have to carry a card advertising their deadname each time they come onto campus. 

• There is no option or pathway for these students to have the name on the card changed to reflect their preferred name instead of their deadname. 

Solution:

• SUBU to lobby BU to allow for the option for students to update the names on their ID cards to be reflective of their preferred names and not their deadnames. 

• SUBU to lobby BU to allow these changes to be made and for new cards to be requested without any cost being placed on the student. 

Problem:

• Currently there is a lack of Gluten Free food options at Fusion canteen, resulting in students requiring this for their diet being left discouraged to eat from this venue. 

• The only consistent gluten free option provided at the Fusion Building canteen is a Baked potato which is often lacking in flavour, nutrition and appeal. 

• There is also a lack of consistency and range of gluten free sandwiches and other food and snack items available provided by Chartwells via their sandwich fridge or hot counter, ensuring that students with a gluten free diet are left with little to no option on what to eat. This displays an inequality between students with a gluten free diet and other students who often have the entire range of food to choose from. 

Solution:

• SUBU to lobby BU and Chartwells to increase the range and consideration of gluten free food options, the same as they do with other dietary requirements. This should include vegan and vegetarian gluten free options. 

• SUBU to lobby BU and Chartwells to introduce or enhance food safety techniques to ensure gluten free food is not cross contaminated. 

• SUBU to lobby BU and to commit to themselves to increase the pre-packaged range of gluten free items available in fridges or shops on campus. 

Problem:

• Currently BU has decommissioned the Laptop Loaning scheme due to perceived low usage of this scheme alongside the growing cost to purchase newer laptops as the laptops that were in use were seven years old. 

• This means students without laptops, who may benefit from this scheme, no longer can, and may be disadvantaged academically. 

Solution:

• SUBU to work with BU to identify students most impacted by the removal of this scheme or without easy technological access and lobby BU to support them. 

• SUBU to lobby BU to reintroduce the scheme to make access to learning more accessible for those without laptops or electronic equipment. 

• SUBU to lobby BU to either distribute old laptops to students most affected by this schemes removal or recycle sustainably. 

• SUBU to pilot a scheme to assess demand on a small scale. To implement them in both libraries at Talbot and Lansdowne. 

• SUBU to promote the scheme to raise awareness. 

Problem:

• Currently the cost of ordering a sunflower lanyard online is not cost-friendly to students and works out at roughly £10, which is not suitable for students who may need one but also need to consider budgeting. 
• Currently lanyards are not sold anywhere on campus either by SUBU or BU which removes a degree of accessibility for students who may want this. 
• Currently many students are not aware of what a sunflower lanyard is, what it means or where they could obtain one if they felt that they need one indicating there is a lack of awareness around the item. 

Solution:

• SUBU to lobby BU to make lanyards available either for free or at a greatly reduced cost through the Additional Learning Support (ALS) services. 
• SUBU to explore providing sunflower lanyards either through the Union shop, SUBU website or another location including SUBU Advice, either for free or at the cost of purchase. 
• SUBU to conduct work around raising awareness and highlighting the importance and meaning of the sunflower lanyard scheme. 

Problem:

• BU’s approach to student conduct and breaches of such and the way BU tackles student disciplinary matters is outdated and not supportive of all parties involved, particularly where police may need to be involved. 
• BU do not have a clear approach or process to how they deal with reported incidents of stalking, harassment or other criminal matters, that supports all parties involved. 
• BU’s student conduct and disciplinary procedures does not have any definitions for the terms used, ensuring a lack of clarity to students who may need to use or rely on these policies. 

Solution:

• SUBU to lobby BU to update their Student Disciplinary procedure, Student Agreement and Student Code of Conduct to be clearer and more concise, particularly on definitions and the process the university takes when dealing with reported breaches. 
• SUBU to lobby BU to revise processes for supporting students and upholding a duty of care when a student reports another student for wrongful behaviour.
• SUBU to lobby BU to introduce a code of conduct style session that every incoming student must attend as part of their induction to the University. This would cover topics such as stalking, harassment, code of conduct, bullying, consent and how to report and receive support if you experience any of this. In line with OfS guidelines, this will also require a yearly refresher.
• To be included in Programme Seminars as a reminder for people. They often remind people of the advice and support available so could it be included in that.

Problem:

• Lansdowne campus is not currently viewed as a separate campus and instead more as a faculty building, leading to many students having vastly different experiences depending on whether they study at Talbot or Lansdowne. 

• There is minimal Student Union presence on the Lansdowne Campus with their social space being small and not able to accommodate many students at once and no presence of a shop or other facilities due to lack of provided space from BU. 

• Food on Lansdowne campus is not subsidised and external food providers offer cheaper alternatives, again leading students to be hesitant to make full use of the space. 

• Overall, many students based at Lansdowne feel isolated and receiving a poorer student experience than those based on Talbot Campus. 

• With no social spaces to relax between classes, students are ending up heading into town instead which is unideal due to the already limited finances many students experience. 

• Lansdowne presents as very clinical and uncomfortable due to a lack of social areas. Whilst there is seating, there aren’t many spaces to be social between classes and poses challenges for students not local to Lansdowne who have nothing to do socially between classes in this space. 

Solution:

• SUBU to lobby BU to adjust their view of Lansdowne to see it as a campus and focus on improving the student experience there to ensure it is comparable to the experience received on Talbot. 

  • This to also include the expansion of SUBU provision and space across the Lansdowne space. 

  •  This to include a reconsideration of food services, pricing and diversity of food and drink options to cater for our students’ diverse cultural and religious dietary requirements. 

• SUBU to lobby BU to rename café to be more inclusive and create a more comfortable and appealing space. 

• SUBU to explore opening The Old Fire Station during the day to create more social spaces for students to make use of between classes and to explore use of Executive Business Centre kitchen space. 

• SUBU to improve the marketing and communication of events and activities available at the Lansdowne Campus (e.g. posters and increased social media presence) and lobby for a notice board outside of BG-301, promoting SUBU events on Lansdowne. 

Problem:

• Currently BU students repeating a year of academic study are not eligible to receive bursaries from BU even if they received such previously. 

• Students who repeat a year of academic study likely have the same or similar bills and expenses to pay and the lack of accessible bursary presents further financial and general stress as they repeat a year. 

• Whilst there are additional loans and grants to apply for, not all students may outright meet the criteria for this, and it would be simpler to continue the bursary they were previously receiving. 

• Students rejected for this bursary during their repeat year are not provided any explanation as to why they will now not receive the bursary they may have previously received. For students who have had challenging personal circumstances, or a situation outside of their control that has led to them repeating a year, not receiving a bursary puts them at a disadvantage and this does not seem equitable. 

Solution:

• SUBU to lobby BU to review bursary terms and conditions regarding students’ accessibility to such when retaking a year of study. 

• SUBU to lobby BU to allow students repeating a year to be granted bursaries to support their extended studies. SUBU to propose to BU that potentially the students who benefit from this should be the students whose requirement to repeat the year has arisen through circumstances like those that BU would consider to be covered by exceptional circumstances. 

• SUBU to lobby BU to consider wider financial impacts on students repeating a year and amend policies to better support these students where applicable. 

Problem:

• There is currently a lack of accessible gender-neutral bathrooms which currently means students are resorting to using disabled toilets which deprives disabled students of their space. 

• Bathrooms in the Cobham Library currently alternate gendered toilets by floor which creates undue hassle for gender non-conforming students. 

• There is a significant lack of signposting and availability of gender-neutral toilets across campus, meaning many students are often unaware of where they can go. 

Solution:

• SUBU to lobby BU to increase signposting and visibility on maps as to where gender neutral toilets are. 

• SUBU to lobby BU to greatly increase the number of gender-neutral toilets across Talbot and Lansdowne campus, with a look to convert existing gendered toilets to gender neutral facilities. 

• SUBU to lobby BU to removed gendered flooring layout of library and introduce a more accessible plan and the inclusion of gender-neutral spaces in the library. 

Problem:

• Currently there are several student’s victim to the current system in place by the finance team of the university, where students make payment and confirmation may take days. 

• This can result in actions and decisions being made in the period between payment and confirmation that greatly impact students place at university. 

• Previously, this has resulted in several international students being withdrawn from their studies due to lack of visible payment, when in fact payment was made but did not show by the time the decision to withdraw them was made. 

• This has long term effects for these students both mentally and academically and would often likely result in the students having to return home due to their student visa no longer being valid. 

Solution:

• SUBU will lobby BU to make a provision or a tab to show respective fee status on my HUB. This would allow students to monitor and manage all of their financial obligations. 

• SUBU will lobby BU to review their current student payment system and identify any delays or difficulties that may negatively impact student. 

• SUBU will lobby BU to consult with students through the implementation and review process to identify ways of making the process more obtainable to the relevant students. 

Problem:

• Currently several postgraduate students don’t feel like their specific student experience is captured in the current make up of the SUBU Executive Team. 

• Whilst elements of the postgraduate student experience is represented within many of the existing officer roles and networks, there is a feeling amongst postgraduate students that there is no direct focus on representing postgraduates as a whole or their student experience 

• This is reflected by the lack of Postgraduate officer in the SUBU Executive Team. 

Solution:

• SUBU to introduce the role of a Part-Time Postgraduate Officer to the SUBU Executive Team. 

• SUBU to speak with Postgraduate students to inform the scope of responsibilities for this new role. 

• SUBU Board of Trustees to amend the By-Laws to include the Postgraduate Officer Role. 

Problem:

• Despite the efforts of Toluwa Atilade, VP Welfare and Community and SUBU, Allyship is not pushed within the university as much as it should.
• It is on everyone to learn how to be an active ally. It is not a choice to sit on the side-lines and be silent.
• We need to set out practical steps and actions for student facing work.
• Allies have an important role in society - to show solidarity to people from marginalised communities and to unlearn their own unconscious biases and encourage others to do so as well.
• Showing that the union and the university is an authentic ally will show students that they are accepted for who they are. As university is the first step into adult life for many students, experiencing this acceptance will ensure that they carry that with them through their adult lives.

Solution:

• SUBU should continue to champion allyship through different campaigns – this includes, but not limited to:
  • Providing financial support to trans students in need who are beginning their transition
  • Ensuring SUBU does not use gendered language when discussing menstruation
  • Improving the accessibility of events, including events run by our clubs and societies
• To encourage staff and students in SUBU and the University to become allies for marginalised communities via the SUBU website.
• Ensure that students are clear on SUBU’s stance regarding allyship.
• Ensure that Bournemouth University learn to be active allies.
• For the Students’ Union and the University to acknowledge their lack of diversity and to acknowledge the necessity for allies,
• For SUBU to:
  • host an annual Allyship Fair
  • create a Live-Experience Liberation Panel where students will get renumerated for their time
  • pledge and adopt the Allyship Commitments and Strategy
  • encourage students to register as allies on the SUBU website
  • promote the Allyship Hub and related projects through BU/SUBU welcome comms
  • infuse allyship within the Liberation Campaigns structure. This includes, but is not limited to, each Liberation Campaign having a minimum of one allied event each year.
  • organise and facilitate allyship training for student leaders
  • keep the Allyship Hub up to date
• For SUBU to lobby Bournemouth University to:
  • pledge and adopt the Allyship Commitments and Strategy
  • ensure that correct language is used in lectures around marginalised communities, particularly for terms relating to LGBTQ+ and disabled communities.
  • allow an option for BU staff and students to include pronouns on ID badges
  • support SUBU with their allyship events and campaigns where possible

Problem:

• Barclays has been Europe’s biggest investor in fossil fuels since the Paris Agreement, according to the Banking on Climate Change report, providing 36% more finance than the next worst European banker (HSBC).
• Barclays Bank is currently the largest funder of fossil fuels in Europe, having invested $85 billion in the industry in the last three years. Given that the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) warns that we have 11 years to limit catastrophic climate change, the University should be proactively examining its investments to make sure that it is not contributing to the problem.
• Funding Bangladesh’s coal expansion: Barclays has provided $USD 300 million for NTPC, the key initiator behind the Rampal Power Plant in Bangladesh, through bond underwriting. The power plant threatens the world’s largest mangrove forest, Sundarbans, a vital carbon sink and has seen extensive protests in the country and around the world.
• Until now, only 2.8% of Bangladesh’s energy has come from coal. Yet, the government plans to increase dependence on coal up to 37% over the next decade by establishing 29 new coal power plants.
• According to Tonny Nowshin, a researcher at environmental and human rights organisation Urgewald and a degrowth activist from Bangladesh, the pollution from the power plant would cause low birth weight for 24,000 babies and premature death for 6,000 people.
• Barclays is supporting the Rampal Coal Power Plant in Bangladesh which threatens the world’s largest mangrove forest, Sundarbans, a vital carbon sink.
• Without the financial support of Barclays the Rampal project could not go ahead. We can all see how climate change impacts are rapidly unfolding: it is not justifiable for any company to keep channelling money to such projects.
• The University has a Policy that covers what they should and should not invest in. Barclays breaks this in numerous ways.
• BU’s Ethical Investment Policy and Procedures Policy states : “Companies which are perceived to be engaged in any other controversial activities.”
• I would think that the destruction of whole villages populated by local indigenous and Afro-Colombian people is a controversial activity.

Solution:

• The Union should seek to move all banking to a more ethical banking supplier. Triodos is recommended as the most ethical and viable choice. Co-Op and Nationwide are other viable options, though Triodos should be explored first.
• The Union should cut future ties with Barclays such as but not limited to: sponsorship, corporate partnerships, advertising, careers fair.
• SUBU will lobby the university to cut other ties such as but not limited to banking, sponsorship, corporate partnerships, advertising, careers fairs, ATMs and branches on campus. This lobbying should be done by the President of SUBU.
• To divest any shares that they may have with Barclays.