Forums

Forums are open meetings run by your full-time officers, they exist so students have the chance to discuss any ideas they might have and hold their officers to account.

They are relaxed and informal spaces – you don’t need any prior knowledge of the SU and our processes to attend, everyone is welcome to all Forums!

Forums are themed by officer priorities and supported by SU staff members.

What is the purpose of Forums?

 

Forums allow students to address issues relevant to them in a relaxed setting, they provide an important communication link between students and full-time officers. You can:

  • Encourage the Full Time Officer to take action on an issue
  • Suggest an Idea you may want to submit to Senedd
  • Suggest wording and improvements for Ideas or Campaigns
  • Help provide facts and personal experiences relevant to the topic

Full-Time Officers are expected to:

  • Update everyone with their plans and current projects
  • Identify topics that could have positive effects on student life
  • Identify opportunities to work with students on joint problems
  • Answer any questions

We are committed to ensuring equal access to all our students. If you have any queries relating to accessibility, or require any of the meeting documents in a specific format please let us know, email Alice alr80@aber.ac.uk.

 

What is discussed?

 

Each Forum follows a flexible agenda:

  • Introductions – A friendly welcome and chance to get to know your Full Time Officer
  • Officer Report – Hear all about the work of your relevant Full Time Officer and hold them to account
  • Discussion – Students can ask questions about anything relevant to that Full-Time officer
  • Any other business – A fancy way of saying an opportunity to raise anything else ! Perhaps extra topics, updates or announcements

Each Forum is themed by the Full-Time Officer to provide a starting point for discussions however, the Forum is absolutely not limited to this topic

 

How do I submit a topic for discussion? 

 

You can email your topic to our Campaigns and Democracy Coordinator on suvoice@aber.ac.uk or submit an idea through our online form here.

 

Accountability

 

Forums are an important tool of accountability and students are encouraged to ask Full-time officers questions about their priorities. Much like an MP or Senedd Member your Officers are elected to represent you and therefore have a responsibility to ensure the SU are working on issues important to you. Forums are one of the spaces to facilitate this discussion, students can directly influence decisions and help shape projects.

Accountability is a joint responsibility, it is most effective if both Full Time Officers and students engage in the process.

 

Upcoming Meeting

November

Who When  Minutes

 UMCA 

04/11/2024 @ 18:00-19:00 Lolfa Fach, Pantycelyn  
Academic 05/11/2024 @ 18:00-19:00 SU Picturehouse  

Wellbeing and Liberation

06/11/2024 @ 18:00-19:00 SU Picturehouse  
Sports,

Societies, and Volunteering

07/11/2024 @ 18:00-19:00 SU Picturehouse  

 

Febuary

Who When Minutes
Academic  25/02/2025 @ 18:00-19:00 SU Picturehouse  
Wellbeing and Liberation 26/02/2025 @ 18:00-19:00 SU Picturehouse  
Sports,

Societies , and Volunteering

27/02/2025 @ 18:00-19:00 SU Picturehouse  
   

 

March

Who

When

Minutes
UMCA 24/03/2025 @ 19:00-20:00 Yr Hen Lew Du   
Academic  25/03/2025 @ 18:00-19:00 SU Picturehouse  

Wellbeing and Liberation

26/03/2025 @ 18:00-19:00 SU Picturehouse  
Sports,

Societies , and Volunteering

27/03/2025 @ 18:00-19:00 SU Picturehouse

Past meetings:

2023-2024

November
  When 
Opportunities 02/11/2023 18:00
Academic 07/11/2023 18:00
Wellbeing 09/11/2023 18:00
President 13/11/2023 18:00
UMCA (Location: Pantycelyn Lolfa Fach) 14/11/2023 18:00
Febuary
  When   
UMCA (Location: Pantycelyn Lolfa Fach) 05/02/2024 18:00  
Academic 06/02/2024 18:00  
Wellbeing 08/02/2024 18:00  
Opportunities 20/02/2024 18:00  
President 15/02/2024 18:00
April 
  When  
UMCA (Location: Pantycelyn Lolfa Fach) 22/05/2024 18:00  
Academic 23/05/2024 18:00  
Wellbeing 24/05/2024 18:00  
Opportunities  25/05/2024 18:00  
President 30/05/2024 18:00

 

2022-2023

  Date
Welsh Culture  06/03 @ 6PM | Pantycelyn
Academic  07/03 @ 5PM | Picturehouse
Wellbeing  08/03 @ 6PM| Picturehouse
Sports and

Societies

09/03@ 6PM | Picturehouse
  Date
Welsh Culture   14.11.22 @ 18:00| Pantycelyn
Wellbeing  09.11.22 @ 17:15 | Picturehouse
Sports and

Societies

10.11.22 @ 18:00 | Picturehouse
Academic  15.11.22 @ 17:00 | Picturehouse 
  Date
Welsh Culture    06/02 | Pantycelyn
Academic  07/02 | Picturehouse
Wellbeing  08/02 | Picturehouse
Sports and

Societies 

09/02 | Picturehouse

More About Each Forum

Welsh Culture Forum

 

Chaired by: Welsh Culture Officer and UMCA President

Staff Support: Support and Representation / Opportunities (Welsh Community)

Usual Suspects: Welsh Language Officer, UMCA Executive Committee

Bringing together anyone who has an interest in the Welsh Culture, this Forum discusses matters relating to:

  • Welsh Language, Bilingualism and learning Welsh in Aber
  • Access to Higher Education through the medium of Welsh
  • Welsh events, celebrations and holiday activities
  • Support and community resources for Welsh Students and their groups such as UMCA

This forum is accessible bilingually, if you wish to communicate in Welsh or English you are welcome to attend.

 

Academic Forum 

 

Chaired by: Academic Affairs Officer

Staff Support: Support and Representation

Usual Suspects: Faculty Reps, Academic Reps, Academic Based Society Committees

Relating to all things education, this Zone covers:

  • The Academic Representation system
  • Specific issues relating to anything from lectures, courses, modules or even degree schemes as a whole
  • Issues relating to services such as libraries, information services or online tools
  • Changes to University structures, staffing or activities

 

Wellbeing Forum 

 

Chaired by: Wellbeing Officer

Staff Support: Support and Representation

Usual Suspects: Liberation Officers, Club/Society Wellbeing Officers, Charity or Wellbeing themed Society Committees

Covering the big picture of Wellbeing on campus, this forum discusses:

  • Support available to students through the SU, University and local health provision
  • Issues affecting accessibility and the physical and mental health of students
  • Campaigns and support to celebrate and promote diversity and inclusion

 

Sports and Societies Forum 

 

Chaired by: Opportunities Officer

Staff Support: Opportunities

Usual Suspects: Sports Club and Society Committees

This forum is split into an hour each for Clubs and Societies and where relevant covers:

  • Taking part in a club or society and all that it involves
  • Grants, funding, coaching and representation
  • Matters relating to facilities
  • Big events such as Varsity, Superteams and Awards
  • Fundraising and volunteering

 

 

Presidents Forum 

 

Chaired by: Students Union President.

Staff support: Students Union Voice

This forum is for any students interested in Union strategic developments and current President Priorities.

 

 


Forums are a great opportunity to get the ball rolling on the discussions you want us to have, and the actions you want us to take.

Submit an idea through our online form here.

If you’re unsure whether a Forums is the right place for your idea get in touch anyway!

 

 Ash Sturrock 

Campaigns and Democracy Coordinator
  suvoice@aber.ac.uk