Teesside University - Students' Union

Students' Union

The Students' Union is led by students for students with four current students (usually final year) elected by the student body to hold the positions of President, Education Officer, Student Activities Officer, Campaigns and Welfare Officer in March of each year. They then take their posts from July to the end of June each year and have the option to seek re-election for a second and final term if they wish.

The current Executive Officer Team is John Pinkney (President), Hannah Graham (Education Officer), Hannah Parratt (Student Activities Officer) and Natalie Davison (Campaigns and Welfare Officer) who will hold their posts until July 2012. As the Officer Trustees they sit on a wider Board of Trustees who oversee the running of the Students' Union which also includes External Trustees drawn from the worlds of local government, business, charity and the public sector.

The Students' Union has won numerous accolades; it was named Students' Union of the Year at the BEDA (Bar Entertainment and Dance Association) Awards in 2004 and Club Mirror Students' Union of the Year in 2002, as well as finishing runner-up in the latter award in 2007. In 2002/2003, the Students' Union also won the Sport England Volunteer Investment Programme Award, while the Union's bar, The Terrace Bar, was awarded Best Bar None status in both 2006 and 2008, overcoming competition from universities from across the two regions of the North East and Yorkshire before going on to win four Best Bar None Middlesbrough Awards 2009 recognising outstanding standards of staff training and strong focus on the safety of customers. The Students' Union also won the 2007 It's Not Funny competition, winning a live comedy performance featuring Bill Bailey, Marcus Brigstocke, Andrew Maxwell and Simon Amstell.

Alongside an award winning bar and venue, the Students' Union has support services for students in the shape of The Link which provides help with welfare, academic, financial and personal problems as well as a range of part-time jobs vacancies. Students are also encouraged to get involved in their Students' Union in a variety of ways. There are over 40 clubs and over 20 societies and if their interests aren't covered they are able to set up their own. The Activities Centre will help them to do this, as well as provide the opportunity to get involved in charity work such as Raise and Give (RAG).

The Tease, formerly The Terrace Star, is the Students' Union's monthly magazine and students are able to get involved as Media and Marketing Assistants by becoming editors, writers, reporters, critics, photographers and designers.

Student Rep Forum, Athletic Union and Societies Federation are held once a month and in this meeting the key issues affecting students are debated, motions are passed and the Executive Officers are held to account. The Chair and Vice Chair of Union Council are elected to these posts at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). There are plenty of committees for students to get involved with, such as Finance and Elections.