Manifesto Tracker

Image of Your Officer Team 2023/24. Luke, Ashween, Pravjoth, Asad (from left to right) and Jay (bottom)

Manifesto Tracker

Use this page to track your Executive Officers' progress in delivering the goals from their manifestos, throughout their term in office. These are the goals they were elected to achieve, voted for by BCU students during the BCUSU Leadership Elections.

Select an Executive Officer to track their manifesto goals and current progress:

Victoria Aurora Bennett-Salvador - President

Portrait photograph of Victoria Bennett-Salvador

Student Safety

  • Ensure crime safety continues to remain a priority for both BCUSU and BCU.
  • Join forces with everyone, battling for better student safety across the University.
  • Use the Report and Support Tool to ensure #YourVoice is at the centre of decision making.

    • Update January 2022

  • Met with West Midlands Police Commissioner to discuss experiences and responses to recent spikings in the West Midlands
  • Working with University of Birmingham and Aston University on student safety in the city
  • Looking at safety of students on Gopsal Street with a focus on privatisation to keep students safe and prevent disruptive vehicles
  • Using feedback from Report & Support Tool in collaboration with the University to deliver a consent campaign

    • Diversifying Representation

  • Implement fundamental changes both on campus and online to ensure real change can occur.
  • Work hard – and smart – to increase individualised representation for all identities.
  • Gather student feedback on where there are gaps in representation, especially for minority groups.

    • Update January 2022

  • Requested the Board of Governors for VP Union Opportunities and Community to sit on BCU Enterprise Board
  • Planning a Period Poverty project alongside the Women’s Society alongside VP Equity and Inclusion
  • Worked with the Board of Governors on proposals to amend EDI training ensuring understanding of a greater diversity pool

    • #StudentsDeserveBetter

  • Deliver dynamic post-Covid response to provide you the best student experience.
  • Increase the access to Hardship Funds for International and European students.
  • Lobby the government to deliver maintenance GRANTS instead of loans!

    • Update January 2022

  • Engaging with NUS as part of the working group with Chief Executives and Senior Staff to discuss how the Freedom of Speech (Expression) bill will impact our Students’ Union and Higher Education as a whole

    • Leanna Grant - VP Academic Experience

    Portrait photograph of Leanna Grant

    Structures

  • To improve system/structure of timetables/assignments.

    • Update December 2021.

  • Gained a greater understanding of how the timetabling system works; from room bookings and the types of sessions being delivered.
  • Part of the meeting looking at timetabling issues affecting HELS students.
  • Attended following key meetings representing students: Learning, Teaching, Assessment Quality Committee (LTAQC) – alongside Professor Julie McLeod, Student Feedback Committee (Chair), School Rep Forum and Academic Regulation & Policy Committee (ARPC).

    • Communication

  • To improve communication between students and academic staff

    • Update December 2021.

  • Discussing staff and department communication channels with Professor Julie McLeod (Pro-Vice-Chancellor Learning & Teaching).

    • Improve Academic Experience

  • To improve the academic experience for mature, international students and students living with disabilities and improve the attainment gap between the least deprived and the most deprived students at BCU

    • Update December 2021.

  • Attending monthly Board of Governors meetings alongside the Vice-Chancellor Office and the Students’ Union President to ensure that the student voice is continually being heard in terms of learning and teaching in high level meetings.
  • Working with academic staff on decolonising the curriculum throughout BCU courses.
  • Working with the EDI department to create an Inclusivity Practice Toolkit aligning with the BCU EDI strategy.
  • Attended following key meetings representing students: Academic Board, Academic Regulation & Policy Committee (ARPC).
  • Working with the EDI department to create an Inclusivity Practice Toolkit.
  • Working with the EDS Dept creating a skills accredited course for students

    • Asha Stewart - VP Equity & Inclusion

    Portrait photograph of Asha Stewart

    Celebrate minority groups and raise awareness

  • Promote, support causes and celebrate minority groups by working alongside culture and faith societies to create events, fundraise and raise awareness university wide.

    • Update January 2022

  • Organised and delivered a number of Black History Month events, including Proud to Be Black in the NHS, working alongside the Nursing Society and an external speaker
  • Delivered Black History Month video, alongside interviews with Scratch Radio and Polygon
  • Delivered a Karaoke Extravaganza Celebration with the LGBTQ+ Society for National Coming Out Day
  • Be S.E.E.N Campaign the helps protected to Support, Educate, Empower, Network students from diverse minority group

    • University wide calendar highlighting key dates

  • Create a university wide calendar highlighting key religious and cultural dates and celebrations. I hope to promote and educate students on the significance and importance of these dates through workshops, events and social media posts.

    • Update January 2022

  • Inputted EDI dates into BCUSU wall planners, which have been distributed across campus
  • 1-2-1s booked in with Protected Societies to plan out key EDI dates we’ll be running events for
  • Completed one to ones with protected societies and created a teams channel with a shared EDI calendar
  • Interfaith Week: created and delivered a round table event with different religious societies, including the Multi-Faith Society. The event discussed what people love about their religion and the stereotypes they face
  • Created a forward plan for the BCUSU EDI committee placing key cultural and awareness days on the upcoming agendas so they can be planned in advance

    • Make campus and accommodation safe for everyone

  • Work with University and Mental Health and Wellbeing team to make campus and accommodation areas safer and more comfortable for vulnerable groups.

    • Update January 2022

  • Worked on Open Letter concerning spiking in the West Midlands alongside other Executive Officers
  • Carrying through the night time safety proposal submitted, and voted for, through the Ideas Board
  • Working with the Women’s Society and Union President on the Period Poverty campaign
  • Working with multi-faith society to get safer space for faith rooms in City South
  • Taking part in a Health and Safety committee meeting regarding COVID Safety

    • Jinal Shah - VP Opportunities & Community

    Portrait photograph of Jinal Shah

    Inclusivity

  • Work with societies and sports clubs to promote regular check-ins and provide accessible and reliable mental health support for all students.
  • Facilitate student-led workshops with LGBTQ+ students, disabled students, and BME students, to ensure that everyone has their voice heard on campus and by BCUSU.
  • I will insure all the Faith & Cultural society groups will get Equality, Diversity & Inclusion training, where we can create an open space to listen everyone opinions.
  • Inclusive campaigns, Cross cultural activates/events across all the campuses at BCU (Confirmed once a month activity at City South Campus).
  • I will explore more societies which represent our wider range of student’s community.

    • Update December 2021.

  • Helped promote societies to students which has seen the largest update since records began!
  • Meeting all societies regularly for events and activities. Helping resolve minor issues, whilst also motivating and supporting them throughout the year
  • Promoting the online training for all Faith & Cultural Societies to undertake Equality, Diversity & Inclusion training.
  • Helped lead and deliver the 2021 Diwali Celebrations in collaboration with the Indian Society and International Office. The event saw over 100 student attendees, alongside activities and prizes.
  • Promoting and encouraging students to create societies which do not currently exist, to open up the Students’ Union to more students.

    • Sustainability

  • Work with local authorities and Birmingham-based organisations to establish links for work experience, internships, and career opportunities for our university students.
  • Work towards the NUS Green Impact Award – embed sustainable practices across the University and wider community, and actively work to address the climate crisis.
  • Work with students and societies to create and expand resources which promote sustainable practices within university.

    • Update December 2021.

  • Setting up a BCUSU Environmental Committee in conjunction with the VP Student Voice. This is to prepare the organisation so it is ready to apply for the NUS Green Impact Award in 2022.

    • Accessibility

  • Lobby for increased transport subsidies and reliable transport links for students commuting to City centre campus and City south campus.
  • Work with local councils, and the university to continue the fight for affordable accommodation for students in both University and private accommodation.

    • Update December 2021.

  • Discussed transport subsidies with Professor Plowden, Vice-Chancellor. The university will be taking this forward as part of wider plans.

    • Dhanusha Hema Reddy - VP Student Voice

    Portrait photograph of Dhanusha Hema Reddy

    Empowering the Student Voice.

  • Promote a greater Students Union Voice presence and will uphold the democratic values of the Students Union at Birmingham City University.
  • Improve relations between Union and Students by creating focus groups concentrating on wider issues like climate change.
  • Ensure that everyone can speak and not only to be listened but also heard. I will also consider race, sexuality, gender, age, disability, and religion to make sure that everyone has equal opportunities

    • Update December 2021.

  • Delivered “Add Your Voice” in-person stalls at Seacole (City South), Curzon Building, School of Jewellery, Birmingham School of Art, and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
  • The “Add Your Voice” stalls promoted how students could influence their university experience by joining the becoming a School or Course Rep or submitting their suggestions through the BCUSU ideas board
  • Attended regular meet and greets of societies to increase the visibility of Student Voice and encouraging students to contact their reps
  • Setting up an Environmental Committee at BCUSU to fight issues like climate change

    • Develop the “YOUR IDEAS” system.

  • I will hold regular brain storming sessions to generate more new ideas working with course representatives and school representatives for the betterment of the university.
  • Will organise regular campaigns to create awareness of “YOUR IDEAS” system so that we can help you make your student experience at Birmingham City University a better one.

    • Update December 2021.

  • The “Add Your Voice” stalls promoted how students could influence their university experience by joining the becoming a School or Course Rep or submitting their suggestions through the BCUSU ideas board

    • Work with Student Representatives and Students to make the system work for all.

  • Introduce a facility for students to meet with Course Representatives and School Representatives to discuss issues.
  • Ensure that everyone can make their voice heard and express their opinion on the running of the school, regardless of faculty, year, or any other factor.
  • Review our core messages to ensure it is clear what we do for you as YOUR Students Union and all students are aware of our services.

    • Update December 2021.

  • Alongside the work completed in Empowering the Student Voice, holding regular catch-ups with School Reps and supporting them to increase engagement of Course Reps
  • Planning to publish blogs sharing ideas on how to collect feedback and highlight the benefits of joining the student representation system.