News

Further to the release in February on UCA’s plans to restructure the Academic Management Structure for September 2012, last week UCA internally announced further proposals for the reshaping of Professional Support Services.

These services include Faculty Offices, Finance, Academic Services (SDS, Library & IT), Widening Participation and Learning & Development and Learning & Teaching. Although UCASU Executive understand that there is a need for change here at the University for the Creative Arts to make all services provided for students ‘fit for purpose’, the Executive feel that not enough has been done to consult and discuss these changes with students.…

UCA announced on Monday that it will be restructuring the management of its academic provision over the coming months.

UCA Students’ Union met with the Deputy Vice Chancellor to discuss the plans last week, and have been fully informed of the coming changes. We were also informed that our ideas are welcome as part of the consultative process taking part this spring, which is something that we welcome.

Do you have opinions on how you would like to see new school structures develop your academic environment? Do you have ideas for where you would like to see new investment?

As…

UCA Students’ Union is working to ensure the voice of UCA students is heard and we have invited Vice Chancellor Simon Ofield-Kerr to hold an all-student meeting on Friday 25th November 2011.

The defiance shown yesterday could be the spark that lights a new platform for student action across the country. Students at UCA must take up the baton (no put intended) and resist the policies that will wreck so much havoc on UCA, on arts institutions nationally, and on the creative sector.

Another edition of Alex’s blog… Sorry it’s a bit late!!

The Weekly Blog from the Epsom Campus Officer/Chair of the Trustee Board.

Hi guys,

There is a group on Facebook called UCASU Epsom Freshers Team ‘11. I need 2nd and 3rd year students wanting to get involved with Freshers this year to join this group.

To Include: Helping students move into halls on the first Sunday, being around in the evenings (can get you free entry to the clubs), getting students around the pub golf course, getting students chatting at the networking events, and helping me run the Halls Competition?

http://www.facebook.com/groups/145176575570327/

I have a BIG freshers planned and I really really need all the help I can get!!

Thanks!

Alex xxx

I’ve come into office feeling more prepared than many sabbatical officers across the country could hope for; much in thanks to the support of my predecessor, Lee Gavin, but also with the help of a brilliant staff team at the Union.

But it wasn’t only this support that has left me in a reasonable position to represent student interests. The last year has been difficult and fraught with uncertainty both nationally and locally.

Hello one and all!

I am looking for freshers helpers…20 to be precise!

Do you have what it takes to be a freshers helper? Would you proudly wear your freshers helper T-shirt like no freshers helper has ever worn it before?!?! Would you go above and beyond to make freshers 2011 the best freshers this campus has ever seen?

If you fit this description, sign up now!

Your Union Needs YOU! *insert picture of man pointing in your general direction*

Hello!

Welcome back and all the usual – I hope everyone had a bit of a break amongst the looming deadlines. I just wanted to send out a bit of an update from the Students’ Union. It’s a very short term this year but there’s still a few things left to go before we lose you to the summer


Student Council Elections are happening next week. Nominations close tomorrow so if you want to stand for any of the positions for 2011/12, make sure you get this in. These are volunteer positions, elected by students from your campus. The…

Students Guide to UCU strike action on 24th March 2011
The University and College Union (UCU) is a trade union whose members are made up of university and college academic staff in Further and Higher Education institutions across the country. UCU is the largest trade union in the country for FE and HE academics. UCU held a ballot and its members voted in support of strike action. As a result of this ballot UCU will hold strike action across the country with a UK wide strike to be held on Thursday 24th March 2011.

UCU members are striking over issues…

UCA Students’ Union has learnt of the discussions between UCA and MidKent College over potential plans to cohabit the Maidstone campus.
This has possible implications for students at all five campuses, and we are committed to representing and supporting every UCA student.
The Union learnt of these proposals less than 24 hours before the public announcement, despite having a good working relationship with UCA. We are disappointed that we have no additional information at this time.
The Executive Committee have explicitly demanded direct answers from the University about the specific consequences any decisions will have on your circumstances. We will…

Happy new year etc!

I thought it would be a good time to update everyone on what’s been going on this last year and to re-introduce myself to those who aren’t quite sure what the hell it is that I do in this place and why you might have elected me your Farnham Union Leader!

Amongst all the activities, campaigns and free condoms, essentially your education and welfare is my primary responsibility. If you have individual or collective concerns, aspirations and opinions for change in your education or are looking for advice and support regarding any aspect of your…

On Thursday 9th December, the controversial plans on tuition fees will be put to a vote in the House of Commons, with Liberal Democrat MPs under pressure over their pre-election pledges not to vote for a fee rise.

We have seen the biggest wave of student activism in years, with 400 UCA students having joined the 52,000 strong National Demonstration last month. Protests have continued to take place all this week and UCA Students’ Union will be going to Parliament tomorrow and we want as many of you to join us for what is a crucial day for the future…

From the Officer Trustees of UCA Students’ Union

On Wednesday 10th November, we took over 350 students to London, with over 400 UCA students in total joining the thousands of others for the Fund our Future National Demonstration. The National Union of Students predicted a 24,000 strong protest. This in fact turned out to be 52,000 – the biggest student protest for a generation. This was students, lecturers, parents and pensioners standing up for our future.

We are immensely proud of this achievement and we are especially proud of our students. To see UCA represented and the arts celebrated and…

Sent from the Officer Trustees of UCA Students’ Union

On Wednesday 10th November, over 400 UCA students from across the five sites will be joining the national demonstration for higher education, marching in protest with tens of thousands of others from all over the UK. Meeting in central London, this looks to be the largest demonstration for student rights in a generation.

The Students’ Union has arranged free transport from every campus, meeting up with fellow art and design students from University of the Arts London, Edinborough College of Art, Plymouth College of Art, Royal College of Art, Central School…

Just to let you all know, last night the University sent emails to all students that owe the university money.

Check your UCA emails as it is very important that they make a payment or contact Finance if you are in receipt of one of their emails.
Students that receive an email will be charged a late payment fine of £30 as per UCA fee regulations. If you do not take action within 14 days you will be sent another letter, if you still do not pay then if the amount due is over £1000 you will be suspended at…

24th-29th October saw the second ever NUS Zone Conferences take place at the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool.

All of your Officers Trustees went along to one of the Zone Conference:

Alex: Union Development
Pat: Union Development
Lee: Higher Education
Benjo: Welfare

And after a very exciting election at 9.30 this morning, Alex was voted by the delegates from many Unions across the country to be a member of the Union Development Zone Committee.

If you are interested in what he was running for, you can download his manifesto below!

This is just one step to putting UCA Students’ Union firmly…

Hey - a few more additions to the our clubs & socs this week

MONDAY
Street Dancing - Farnham Sports Centre, 4:30 - 6pm
Table Tennis - Farnham Sports Centre, 4:30 - 6pm

TUESDAY
Volleyball - Farnham Sports Centre, 4 - 5pm
Netball - Farnham Sports Centre, 5 - 6pm
Yoga, G03, 5 - 6:30pm
Film Club - G14, 5:30pm
Tae Kwon Do - SU venue, 6 - 7pm
Salsa Dancing - SU dancefloor, 6 - 7pm
Rugby - Farnham Rugby Club, 7pm (Training with Farnham Rugby team)

WEDNESDAY
Canvas Paper - G175, 2pm
Ucreate Radio - G175, 3pm
Anime…

Clubs and Societies launch this week! All you have to do is turn up and have fun…

Mondays (starting 11th October):
Street Dancing -  Farnham Sports Centre, 4.30pm - 6pm FREE
Table Tennis - Farnham Sports Centre, 4:30pm - 6pm FREE
Salsa - 6pm - 7pm, SU venue - charge to be decided

Tuesdays (starting 5th October)
Netball - Farnham Sports Centre, 5pm - 6pm FREE
Yoga - G03, 5:30pm - 7pm, £4 per session
Film Club - G14, 5:30pm FREE
Tae Kwon Do - SU venue, 6pm - 7pm FREE taster session
Debating Society - coming soon
Book Club…

Calling all Freshers’ - In case you haven’t heard - It is your ball tonight!

The Entertainments team have put on 4 live acts for you spanning the genres of time and taste for the climax of your freshers’ welcome month 2010 at UCA SU.

Obviously this is for everyone so come down if you’re a third year as this is (hopefully) your last one… and second years, well, you might have too much work to come along next year. Postgrad should also join the fun and keep me company during the DnB.

Tickets are on sale at both Farnham…

We are just finalising plans for Clubs & Societies for 2010/11 with launch dates almost ready to go. There were a few societies that I anticipated interest for but as yet, have no lead student/captain/president to take this forward…

Basketball
Table Tennis
Squash
Theatrical/Drama
Poker
Pool
Biking

If you are interested in heading up one of these clubs then email me btaylor.su@ucreative.ac.uk ASAP and we’ll get this sorted for you. Don’t worry too much about past experience - enthusiasm is the important part. If you think you might be interested but want to chat about it further, drop…

Hello everyone,

Students are arriving daily now so I wanted to briefly touch base with you guys as far as essential info for freshers’ 2010. If you haven’t already - have a look at the freshers 2010 timetable. There are pre-freshers events this week with the big launch happening on Monday 13th. The venue refurb is still taking place with additional stuff on the way but hopefully all will be signed off in about a week.

A freshers guide will be available on Monday - I will be handing these out in the quad along with wristbands for all freshers…

Freshers plans will be announced within the next 48 hours for all campuses. Announcements have been a little later than planned due to factors such as the re-branding of the union, finalising budgets and ensuring we have the best events. The union has recently employed a new entertainments team so expect lots of changes this year! Stand by for an awesome line up for freshers month…

Parking at Epsom campus will be restricted from Monday 19 April 2010 due to the Contract to build the new Teaching Block that started on 6 April 2010. The Works will last until March 2011.

To assist staff, students and visitors with on-site parking and for a short period starting 19 April 2010, Car Park attendants will be positioned at the entrance gates from 8am to help.  When the car park is full they will be able to advise where alternative parking can be found.

There are several car parks around Epsom within easy walking distance, as well as public…