KeeleSU Strategic Plan
In 2014, students gave KeeleSU an 83% satisfaction rating in the National Student
Survey and from this it is evident that KeeleSU is greatly valued by its members.
Even though this rating is fantastic, we do, believe that there is a great deal more
that could be done for our members. KeeleSU is at the very heart of the Keele
community and the student experience. Looking to the future, we want to always be
able to meet the demands and expectations of students. In creating this five year
plan, after consulting with students, staff, trustees, and members of the university,
we should be able to create the changes that students want to see.
Based on this, we have developed a Vision, a Promise and set of themes that we
believe KeeleSU can embed in our work and priorities over the next five years.
Our Vision: Together, we will make KeeleSU the best Students’
Union it can be.
Our vision recognises that for KeeleSU to be a successful Students’ Union our
students must be at the forefront of leading and driving our organisation. This vision
reflects the importance of our members and staff.
Our Promise: We promise to put (our) students at the heart of
everything we do.
As a Students’ Union our core purpose is to represent, support and develop our
members. This is only possible by putting them at the centre of all our decisions,
actions and work.
Our Values
KeeleSU has a number of core values that should drive everything we do.
Democratic and student-led
Supportive, Honest and Transparent
Professional, Ethical and Respectful
Inclusive, Fun and Accessible
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KeeleSU Strategic Plan
We want to ensure that KeeleSU remains the ‘Place to be’ on campus that caters for
and meets the need of our diverse membership. There’s a great deal of evidence
that students use the services in the union on a regular basis.
1.1 Equality and diversity is valued and promoted in all areas of KeeleSU
1.1.1 We will recognise and celebrate our diverse student and staff
community
1.1.2 We will aim to maintain a safe environment that students and
staff can freely express themselves in.
1.1.3 We will utilise the expertise of our students and staff and
continue to further enhance the student experience
1.2 We aspire to ensure that all of our services are accessible for all students
1.2.1 We will provide events and support services ensuring that the
impact of KeeleSU extends beyond the physical building
1.2.2 We will assure that Elected Officers are visible and proactively
seek to be available for all students
1.2.3 We will strive to increase the quality of our services and increase
engagement with our members and the wider community
1.3 We will ensure that all students feel part of the KeeleSU community
1.3.1 We will work with the University and other key stakeholders to
ensure that KeeleSU becomes a relevant vibrant inviting space to
socialise, engage and take advantage of the opportunities we provide
Students told us how much they value the support that KeeleSU offers, rating our
independent advice service (known as Advice and Support at Keele (ASK)) very
highly. However, there are other aspects of their lives that they would like KeeleSU
to do more to support them.
2.1 KeeleSU support services, such as our provision of independent advice
including Advice and Support at Keele (ASK), will attempt to support all
students on issues related to University life.
2.1.1 Our advice service will seek to prevent problems before they
arise by being as proactive as possible.
2.1.2 Our advice services will strive to build a stronger relationship with
the University to ensure that regulations, policies and procedures are
fair and proportion.
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2.1.3 We will further develop our advice and support work (including
ASK
2.1.4 We will work with and integrate student volunteers where
possible and appropriate.
2.2 We will work to create a culture of support, in its various forms, across
KeeleSU and our students.
2.2.1 We will ensure that all KeeleSU staff are able to effectively
signpost students, where appropriate, to relevant support services on
campus
2.2.2 We will, where possible, utilise available expertise to create a
tailored KeeleSU staff development programme for all staff roles.
2.2.4 We will work with the University to improve student support from
the academic community
2.3 We will aim to improve the support students receive in and out of
University life, through external organisations and the University, to ensure
their services are accessible to all students.
2.4 We will increase support for support societies such as Nightline and Street
Team to ensure that they are sustainable and sector leading
2.4.1 We will work with support societies to deliver exceptional training
and ongoing support for student volunteers
2.5 We will ensure that KeeleSU continues to be a safe space, continuing to
place emphasis on exceptional security and safety standards.
Students told us that their course and their academic experience was the most
important factor in their decision in coming to Keele and whilst being at Keele.
3.1 Further develop a highly effective, well-resourced StARs system that is
both representative of the student body and fully able to drive change
3.1.1 All StARs will receive the highest quality initial and ongoing
training
3.1.2 All StARs will feel they are valued through ongoing recognition
3.1.3 We will strive to have dedicated staff support for StARs
3.2 Ensure student-led recognition and rewarding of excellence in teaching
and learning
3.3 To develop an ‘academic network’ between StARs, ASK and academic
societies
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3.3.1 Strive to maintain an effective integration of academic societies
and StARs with Keele University schools and faculties so they can
better develop the curricula and enhance students’ learning and love of
their discipline
3.3.2 Develop an evidenced based approach to academic
representation that encompasses the work of ASK, proactive research
and detailed scrutiny of policies
3.3.3 To have a student led audit of the academic experience
3.3.4 Students will continue to be actively involved in Quality
Assurance processes.
KeeleSU, as a student-led democratic organisation and is designed to ensure our
members have an effective way of shaping and influencing their students union. This
will enable effective representation and allow communication with the University
through their elected officers.
4.1 We will ensure that our democratic structures enable students to make
change within KeeleSU
4.1.1 We will always encourage and support innovative ideas which
enhances the student voice within KeeleSU
4.1.2 We will ensure that all students know they are members of
KeeleSU and what that means for them, however remote they are from
the physical building.
4.2 We will commit to continually reviewing our democratic structures and
processes to ensure that they remain relevant and accessible
4.2.2 We will ensure our constitution remains up-to-date and relevant
4.3 We will work to ensure that student representatives reflect the diverse
nature of our student community and ensure that students feel actively
involved in electing their representatives
4.3.1 We will proactively target and support underrepresented student
groups to equip them with the tools to be able to represent students
4.3.2 We will attempt to increase voter turnout year on year and
improve the quality of student engagement with our elections
4.4 We will continually strive to ensure all students know who their elected
officers are, know what they are working on and feel able to influence their
work
4.4.1 We aim to recruit a permanent member of staff dedicated to
officer support, both Full-time and Part-time elected officers
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Our societies, volunteers, sports teams, and StARs are a core element of what
makes KeeleSU fun! Students saw their development as a person, beyond their
academic endeavours, as vital and from this KeeleSU will continue improving on the
positive impact we already have on their time at Keele University.
5.1 We will aim to offer an even broader range of enjoyable opportunities to
enable and promote professional, personal and academic development. We
will continue to measure and improve the engagement
5.2 We will aim to develop and expand the offering of KeeleSU Activities and
Volunteering
5.2.1 We will continue to ensure that the Activities department are able
to effectively support our student’s development through the cocurriculum
5.2.2 Volunteering will be a distinctive feature of the Keele experience
and we will aim for all students at Keele to be involved in volunteering
at some point in their time at Keele
5.2.3 We will continue to focus on developing student-led volunteering
projects
5.2.4 We will work hard to secure permanent funding to expand the
capability of both the activities and volunteering department
5.3 We will aim to support students via the KeeleSU Jobshop to find relevant
part-time work that both supports their studies and gives them the best
opportunity to enrich their future potential
5.3.1 We will transform the Jobshop from an advertising platform into
an agency that works with students to find tailored work opportunities
that support the skills they want to develop
5.3.2 We will work with local employers and the University to enhance
and increase the number of work opportunities available to students
5.5 We will aim to recognise, support and value our diverse range of societies
and sports clubs at every opportunity
5.5.1 We will continue to celebrate the successes of our societies and
sports clubs through awards and ongoing recognition, internally and
externally.
5.5.2 We will strive to ensure that our facilities reflect the requirements
of our clubs and societies and enable them to develop
5.6 We will ensure the Athletic Union is effectively integrated into the
Students’ Union, receiving the full support and assistance of all departments.
5.6.1. We will create an Athletic Union strategic plan to help grow
and develop both Team Keele and sport at Keele
5.6.2 We will aim to have another member of staff dedicated to focus
on sports events and development, supporting the current structure
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5.7 We will continue to recognise and promote KeeleSU’s contribution to
student retention and endeavour to maintain this by working in partnership
with the University.
Keele University is striving for the highest standards in environmental and ethical
sustainability as seen in their strategic plan. We believe that KeeleSU should also
play a crucial part in this.
6.1 We will aim to embed environmental sustainability into all students thinking
through their shared Keele experiences
6.1.1 We will continue to develop co-curricular activities that educates
all students in the real world benefits of being environmentally
sustainable citizens
6.1.2 We will equip students with the tools to campaign and deliver on
environmental projects
6.1.3 We will work with the university to try reduce carbon emissions in
the KeeleSU building
6.1.4 We will campaign locally and nationally on environmental
sustainability working with the university and the National Union of
Students’ (NUS)
6.2 KeeleSU will strive to be a more ethical organisation that respects the
people and the world around us
6.2.1 KeeleSU will work with the University to ensure that both
KeeleSU and Keele University becomes a living wage employer at the
earliest possible opportunity
6.2.2 We will work with external suppliers to ensure that our
procurement meets our own ethical standards
6.2.3 We will ensure all our staff have appropriate ethical, sustainable
and environmental training
6.3 We will ensure that KeeleSU is well resourced and financially sustainable
6.3.1 We will aim to increase our funding with support from the
University
6.3.2 With support from the University we will have a fully redeveloped
and expanded first floor of KeeleSU to ensure we are able to sustain
our offer to students within the life of this plan
6.3.3 We will aim to maintain and grow our commercial services and
develop our external and out-of-term business
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We have engaged International students who have responded to our efforts to
involve them in the Students’ Union and co-curricular activities. However, we can
always do more to support them and foster a global community based around shared
student experiences.
7.1 We will seek a commitment from the University to increasing support and
resources for international students that matches any increase in numbers
7.1.1 In partnership with the University, we will seek increased financial
support for international students
7.1.3 We continue to work with the University to increase pastoral
support for international students including immigration, health and
wellbeing and disabilities
7.1.4 We will ensure that the full-time Elected Officers are and remain
internationally minded and focused.
7.1.5 We will work with the University to secure additional funding to
support international student engagement and increase intercultural
activities
7.2 We will provide opportunities for all students to become global citizens by
internationalising the experiences of Keele students
7.2.2 We will continually review our internal events, activities and
services to ensure that they remain relevant to students’
7.3 We will work with the University to seek to ensure that all students’ leave
Keele with excellent interpersonal skills enabling them to benefit from the
diverse community they live in
7.3.1 We will facilitate student led activities which enable them to share
their experiences and develop intercultural understanding
7.3.2 We will work with the relevant university departments to ensure
that all students are able to access interpersonal developmental
opportunities
7.4 We will endeavour to provide all our staff with a multicultural
understanding so as to enable them to better support the student body of a
multicultural University
7.4.1 We will ensure all KeeleSU staff have an element of intercultural
training
7.4.3 We will work with the University to develop international
opportunities and skills for KeeleSU staff
7.5 We will work alongside the University to ensure that our events,
entertainments and catering offers reflect the diverse student and staff
community
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Our partnerships which enable us to effectively represent students remain very
important to us. Our relationship with the University is crucial to the success of both
KeeleSU and Keele University and important to our common goal of ensuring all
students have an excellent student experience.
8.1 To further develop relations across the University with KeeleSU staff and
Elected Officers
8.1.1 All University staff will have a clear understanding of what
KeeleSU does and KeeleSU core values
8.1.2 Relevant University staff will be consulted where appropriate on
all high level decisions made by the Students’ Union that has a direct
impact on the University
8.2 To have a student representative on all high level University appointments
8.2.1 KeeleSU would like to be consulted where appropriate on all high
level decisions that impact on students’ or the Students’ Union
8.2.2 To have student involvement in recruitment and selection via
student panels and forums during interview processes
8.3 KeeleSU will seek to work with Keele University in partnership to develop
student facing commercial and non-commercial services
8.3.1 Keele University will support KeeleSU to maintain and further
develop our commercial services
8.3.2 We will work with the University to ensure that the services we
both provide reflect the demands of our student body and are
complementary
8.4 KeeleSU will be a critical, challenging friend of the University
8.4.1 We will work with the University to improve all aspects of the
student experience
8.4.2 We will challenge the University when it is in students’ interests to
do so
8.5 KeeleSU will aim to maintain and expand our partnerships and continue to
work with the current links in order to get the best for our students.
8.5.1 Supporting NUS and fellow Unions in campaigns that benefit and
develop the Student movement both nationwide and globally.
8.5.2 We will aim to communicate better with our members, the
students. By consistently working for them and getting the best out our
partnerships.
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Students’ told us that they want to drive change both at Keele and in the world
around us. As a campaigning organisation we want to equip all our students with the
ability to change things that matter to them.
9.1 KeeleSU will be a campaigning organisation and focus on issues that
affect not only students’ as students’ but also as citizens (e.g. healthcare, local
changes, government changes and international changes)
9.1.1 We will aim to empower students to drive change by procuring
the resources necessary to co-ordinate effective campaigns
9.1.2 While remaining neutral to political parties and individuals, we will
oppose and challenge attitudes and actions which are in contradiction
to our organisational values.
9.2 We will be proactive and endeavour to tackle the cause rather than just
responding to the symptoms, empowering our students’ to make the change
9.2.1 We will endeavour to create a culture where students want and
feel able to make effective change
9.2.2 We will aim to remove barriers to students’ voices being heard
through creating student activists
9.3 We will work to promote the fact that our students recognise the
importance of the communities they are part of, and their own social
responsibility,
9.3.1 We will support students to play an active role in their community
9.4 We will strive to create a greater sense of community to bring more
students together, and create links for students locally, nationally and
internationally, increasing awareness of their social responsibility.
9.5 We will continue to promote Keele, through our contributions to the
national student movement, by showcasing areas of best practice within
KeeleSU, and shouting about our successes.
9.6 We will continue to respect and empower minority groups at Keele,
developing a meaningful and active liberation strategy
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