► Policies

Union of Bradford Policy

At almost every Union Council meeting, and at many General Meetings, motions are proposed as a way of directing the attention of the Union as a whole.  This collection of motions intendeds to provide an accurate collection of policy up to the previous academic year. Policy that has been passed in this academic session will be updated but can be seen attached to the papers for each of the meetings that take place (this can be seen at www.ubuonline.co.uk/generalmeeting).  It is produced by volunteers, life members and the Union itself. Never before has the union compiled all policy in one place and we know that there maybe corrections needed in this document. Please contact ubu-ust@bradford.ac.uk if you notice any corrections to be made.

This is the result of several hours work reading minutes, finding motions, ensuring that amendments that have been passed at meetings have actually been made to the text (as so often they have not) and categorizing them.

The five year rule means that motions only last for five years (unless otherwise stated) or a year after the Constitutional Change has been made, after then policy must be renewed by the Union Council or General Meeting if they are to remain. In this collection we have policy that dates back to 2000 up until 2008, policy that has passed the five year rule but was created before 2007 remains active until it is brought back to council. Due to delays in the policy cycle the council is now reviving policy from the cycle 2000-2003 and will either expire or ratify all this policy in the next year meaning that the five year rule will be up to date.

Here we file motions in to dates but we also index motions in to categories. Motions tend to fall into four distinct categories the titles for these categories have been taken and adapted from the NUS (National Union of Students) constitution.  The categories are nothing but neat ways of splitting up the complete collection of policy.  No section is more important than the others; as an effective Union, it is important to cover all four areas.

The first of these areas concerns motions affecting the way the Union is run, and is entitled Strong and Active Union.  This includes constitutional issues, notes on our affiliations and can shed light on why key changes to out operation where made.

The second, Education, is concerned with targeting both the University and the Government to make the student experience better, or to prevent adverse changes.

The third, Welfare and Liberation, is concerned with students' lives away from lectures.  It includes motions on liberation campaigns such as LGBT and Disabled Students as well as including motions on Fascism and Racism.

The final, but by no means the least, is Society and Citizenship.  This category is vital to the Union representing students where political parties often will not.  Motions on conflict, the environment, ethical consumerism and many other issues have been passed through our council.  They represent the will of students to make the world a better place.

This complete guide is offered as guide to all Union policy.  Hopefully it is accurate and useful.  However, in the words of a former sabbatical “there are too many golden cows around”.  If this guide inspires you to write your own motion, to challenge an existing one, or to actively follow through a policy you feel has been neglected, then it has served its purpose.

Index of Motions  

 Rest of motions will be added soon.