Make a Change

Want to change something about your Students' Union? Want to launch a campaign on an issue? Think we should change the way that we make our decision?

Every student at the University of Sheffield is a member of Sheffield Students' Union.

We are run democratically, with all of our big decisions being put to a vote of all students and other key decisions being made by the people you elect.

Being a member of Sheffield Students' Union means more than just having your say in elections. You can also put forward you ideas for change.

There are 3 easy ways for you to make change happen in your Students' Union:

1. Submit your idea to a 'Forum'

If you have a new idea and want to see what other students think about it a 'Forum' is the best place to start.

These are open sessions, so any student can come along, and they are facilitated by a member of staff at the Students' Union to make sure everyone gets a chance to have their say.

At a 'Forum' you can get support from other students or staff to take forward your idea and make it happen.

Many little changes can be made straight after an issue is raised at a forum. Bigger issues may be taken forward to Students' Union Council and some ideas will go forward to a vote of all students.

2. Put your idea to Students' Union Council

If you've already spoken to a 'Forum' or to your Students' Union Councillor then your idea could go forward to Students' Union Council.

Any elected Students' Union Councillor can have something added to the agenda. You can email your councillor through the links here.

Students' Union Council can set policy for the Students' Union, mandate the full-time Officers to do a specific piece of work or express an opinion to the university, the local council or national organisations.

3. Start a Petition

If you think you've got a great idea to make a big change to the Students' Union or to create or change a policy then you can start a petition.

Petitions can be signed by any member of the Students' Union. When 50 people have signed a petition it is added to the agenda for the next Students' Union Council. If 1,000 people sign it, then it is put to a vote of all students at a referendum.

If you haven't spoken to one of the full-time Officers or your Students' Union Councillor about your idea it's a good idea to do this before you start a petition.

When you submit your petition it will go through to a member of the Representation & Democracy Team at the Students' Union for approval. This is to ensure that the idea submitted would not lead the Students' Union to breaking the law or any regulations it is bound by. If it is approved to go forward (and the vast majority will be) you will be contacted to offer support in planning your campaign to get signatures and make change happen!