Proposals for New Policy

These will be considered at the next meeting of Students' Union Council (Thursday 10th May, 5.15pm in the Tapestry Room).

International Fees

This Students' Union notes:

• International Students from outside the EU are charged increasing tuition fees.
• These fees are currently unregulated and have no cap.
• Tuition fees for overseas students currently range from £12,000 to £30,000.
• Postgraduate overseas students may also have to pay additional hidden course costs.

This Students' Union believes:

• It is increasingly difficult for overseas students to enter the UK for Higher Education.
• International Students add great value to the University, Sheffield and the UK not just economically, but also culturally and academically in research and knowledge transfer, as well as enriching the student experience by providing an insight into different approaches and cultures.

This Students' Union resolves:

• To oppose all tuition fee increases for overseas students that are above the rate of inflation or above the actual cost of the respective course.
• To lobby the University to make their use of such tuition fees transparent and to give clear information to all international students before starting their degree about tuition fees for the duration of their course.
• To work with the NUS International Students' Campaign to lobby the government to put a cap on how much universities can charge in overseas student fees.

Anti-Sexism Policy

The Students’ Union notes:

• Sexism is defined as ‘prejudice or discrimination based on sex or gender, or conditions or attitudes that promote stereotypes of social roles based on sex or gender’.
• Sexism has a disproportionate effect on women and their lives, but can also impact men.
• Any notion of superiority based on sex or gender is unjustified.
• No student should be made to feel uncomfortable because of their sex and gender.

The Students’ Union believes:

• University life should be free from sexism.
• Students’ Union activities, facilities, services, and events operated through the Students' Union should be free from sexism.

The Students’ Union resolves:

• To work with the National Women’s Campaign, Sheffield Students’ Union Women’s Committee and other relevant groups to actively oppose sexism and create an environment free of gender stereotypes and binaries in the Students’ Union.
• The Students’ Union values the diversity of our students. Sexism, gender stereotypes and binaries are not acceptable.
• The Students’ Union should work to deconstruct existing barriers to women’s participation.
• To prevent the distribution of items that actively promote sexism and gender stereotyping.
• To campaign against the negative portrayal of women’s representation and gender stereotypes on campus, in the media and in wider society.

Gender Quotas for NUS Delegate Elections

The Students' Union Notes:

• The under representation of women is a serious issue at the University of Sheffield Students' Union.
• Statistically less women nominate themselves to be an NUS delegate compared to other cross campus elections (Council and Officer Elections).

The Students’ Union Believes:

• The number of women we send to National Conference each year is not representative of the number of women students at the University.
• If less women go to National Conference then statistically less women will run for National Executive Committee, meaning NUS remains unrepresentative of the 7 million students it is meant to represent.
• These inequalities will not resolve themselves in the near future without firm measures being put in place to ensure women are being elected as NUS delegates.
• Gender quotas are the most effective way to redress the imbalance of women's representation on conference floor.

The Students’ Union Resolves:

• For the Students' Union to actively work on the under representation of women and under represented groups in all elections.
• For Sheffield Students' Union to adopt a gender quota for NUS National Conference delegates.
• This quota will be to reserve 50% of elected delegate spaces for women and the remainder as open spaces.

Postgraduate Students Policy

This Students’ Union Notes

• Sheffield University has over 6900 Postgraduate students (2011) who make up nearly 25% of the student population.
• Engagement in many areas of sports, activities and representation by postgraduates is disproportionately low.

This Students’ Union Believes

• Many postgraduates feel the Students’ Union has nothing to offer them and is designed for undergraduates.
• For too long postgraduates haven’t had a strong enough voice within the University or students Union on many issues
• Whilst postgraduate issues are gaining prominence on the national agenda more needs to be done to reflect this within the University and Students’ Union
• Due to the nature of their courses PGT students have less opportunity to engage or be involved in the Students’ Union Community

This Students’ Union Resolves

• To work with the University to further develop Postgraduate engagement and representation across the University
• To work with all departments across the Students’ Union to make sure the services we offer are relevant and accessible to postgraduate students
• To work with postgraduates to produce a Postgraduate Handbook to provide key information to better help postgraduates assimilate into the Students’ Union Community