A very warm welcome to the latest update for students from Teesside University Students’ Union (TUSU). We get in touch every month during the academic year with all our latest news and upcoming events unless you ask us to stop by unsubscribing.
In this edition, we are heavily focused on the forthcoming Student Officer and NUS National Conference Rep Elections, which get underway next Monday (19th Feb) at 10 am when the self-nomination process opens.
The election period continues with campaigning activity from all of the candidates after nominations close at 4 pm on Friday, 23d Feb; then students cast their votes on Mon, 4th March between 10 am and 8pm and the winners (including our successors) are announced at our Results Party on Wed, 6th March from 7pm.
Although it has been an honour and pleasure to serve as your Student Officers, we will all leave our roles at the end of June, and we urge eligible students from ALL backgrounds to run in the elections. It is an amazing experience just being a candidate, and it will greatly boost your skills and confidence. While if elected, you could be getting paid over £25,000 and working full-time for at least a year as a Student Officer overseeing the running of TUSU and making a real difference for all students. And, in a separate opportunity, you could be one of six current students who join us to make sure the voice of Teesside Uni students is heard on the big stage at The National Union of Students (NUS) National Conference.
We would also urge ALL eligible students to take literally a few seconds to cast your votes online on Mon, 4th March. Even if you don’t get very involved in TUSU at present or don’t feel you know enough about the candidates, the results WILL make a difference to your student life, and you SHOULD have your say. Check out our Top 5 reasons to vote in the TUSU elections video for more.
The dedicated elections article in this update has full information for candidates and voters. We are also always happy to answer any questions from potential candidates or voters through elections@tees-su.org.uk. We send our very best wishes to all of the candidates who eventually participate this year and look forward to working with all of you!
Alongside the elections, there is plenty more coming up this month, including a wide range of day and evening events, new and returning campaigns, a look ahead to this April’s TUSU Awards ceremony and much, much more.
Can we also encourage you to:
Take the time to nominate Teesside Uni staff who they feel have provided exceptional teaching, support or feedback in the upcoming STAR Awards. It’s a chance to really show your gratitude and help ensure someone special gets the credit they deserve!
Complete the National Student Survey (NSS) if you are a final-year student. It’s short and simple but your feedback WILL make a difference to the improvements and developments that both the Uni and SU make in years to come. You could also be helping you and your coursemates secure a VIP package during Graduation Week!
Have a safe, happy, and successful month! And, as always, make sure TUSU is right at the heart of your student life!
Michael, Femi and Nevin – Student Officers 2023/24.
Most current Teesside University students* can stand as a candidate in the Student Officer and NUS National Conference Rep Elections from Monday (19th) to Friday (23rd Feb) AND have your say in who speaks for you as a Student Officer (President Education, President Wellbeing, President International) or National Union of Students (NUS) National Conference Rep.
Why run in the elections?
Why vote in the elections?
We understand that if you don’t know much about the candidates or don’t get very involved in your Students’ Union, you may wonder why you should bother taking literally a few seconds to vote online on Mon, 4th March, between 10 am and 8 pm. Here’s a few good reasons:
We have activities and events taking place most days that the TUSU building (found opposite The Curve and next to Teesside Uni Library) is open! We also give students a chance to see other parts of the UK on regular trips, which are either free or low-cost, to attend as part of our wider work on the cost of living for students!
The wide selection of daytime events includes campaign-related sessions providing support and the chance for students to give their feedback, fun and low-commitment activities at SUper Wednesday, clothing, and other sales, and much more!
The programme of evening events includes the ever-popular Monday Night Quiz with a different theme every week, Wednesday Night Karaoke, socials, and the chance to watch live sports, including Champions and Premier League football. There are also equally popular events run in partnership with external promoters on a weekly or monthly basis, like Shangri-La on Saturday night, epic Bongos Bingo nights and classic emo and rock anthems at Black Parade.
Keep in touch with everything coming up through tees-su.org.uk/events, the monthly TUSU events planner (also available in print from the TUSU Building) and the events section of the official TUSU Facebook page.
We are a Students' Union who pride ourselves on running "real world" campaigns that focus on the issues of most importance to Teesside University students. In Semester 2, this will include:
Find out more through tees-su.org.uk/officers and keep an eye on tees-su.org.uk/events or our social media channels for details of upcoming campaign dates.
The Terrace (1st floor, TUSU Building opposite The Curve and next to Teesside Uni Library) is open seven days a week during semester time. It provides:
Find out more about The Terrace and see menus/ usual opening times through tees-su.org.uk/theterrace.
The SU Shop (ground floor, TUSU Building) is open Mon to Sat (some Sundays depending on activities/ events in the building) during semester time. It provides:
Find out more about The SU Shop, order TU-branded clothing and see the usual opening times through tees-su.org.uk/sushop.
Even though Semester 1 is well underway, we know some students will still be looking for appropriate accommodation. It is increasingly difficult to find in central Middlesbrough. You may need to widen your search area and live outside of the town. This will mean travelling to campus daily, so you must also factor in the travel costs for each site on top of your rent and living costs. We have a wealth of information and useful links on our dedicated accommodation page, tees-su.org.uk/accommodation, and there are also useful tips below.
Public Transport:
There is plenty of public transport from the surrounding areas into Middlesbrough itself. Both buses and trains run daily from most areas, and often, weekly or monthly passes can be purchased at a reduced rate.
Temporary Accommodation:
Whilst looking for accommodation, you may need somewhere to stay temporarily. Below are some options for this:
Air BnB – This is a popular website that allows you to rent a room or entire property. If you are here with friends or family members, this is a good option as you can split the rent and choose a property size to suit your needs.
Hostels - A hostel is a great option for students travelling on a budget. You can often get a bed in a shared dorm for around £20 - £30 per night.
independenthostels.co.uk/hostels-with-private-rooms/ has hundreds of hostels across the country. Find one near you, call them or book it online.
hostelworld.com/st/hostels/europe/england/ may also be a useful site to take a look at.
Hotels - If you're looking for a bit more luxury, then staying in a hotel is an option. However, this option is often more expensive, with rates starting at around 50 pounds per night. Check out the links below for more.
We know that most students are feeling the pinch right now as living costs spiral. One great way of saving on eating out, fashion, music, cinema, travel, and more is the TOTUM app and card. It is the only OFFICIAL student discount app and card, the only one offered by the National Union of Students (NUS) and the only one we recommend!
Aside from all of that, you will be helping your TUSU as we receive payments from NUS depending on how many students download the TOTUM app, how often they use it and the number of students who upgrade to the complete TOTUM package! All that money is poured back into making your SU even better!
We can only keep improving if Teesside Uni students tell us how. The short, simple Student Opinion Counts (SOC) surveys are a chance for you to tell us about your student life and where you want TUSU to fit in. You can also give us your thoughts on our activities, events, services, spaces, and societies.
Best of all, we do not expect you to give up your time and feedback for nothing! There is a great range of prizes to be won for your time, including £500, £300, and £200 in cash from TUSU and great treats from a wide range of our commercial partners including free VIP packages, a free bottomless brunch, a £50 Amazon gift voucher, a 3 month gym membership and much more!
Head to tees-su.org.uk/soc to have your say, and remember that the more surveys you complete, the more you can win!
We are excited to announce that our very first TU London School Representative, Mujib Ahmad, has been recruited. If you are one of our TU London students and you would like to give your feedback to Mujib, then you can email him at tulreps@tees-su.org.uk
Our School Reps will be running at least one in-person and one online drop-in each week. Our on-campus sessions will be held across the School buildings and in the Students’ Union. Our online sessions are bookable one to one meetings with one of our School Representatives. You can contact your School Reps, follow our social media pages or email representation@tees-su.org.uk for more information.
We will soon be starting our recruitment process for the 2024/25 School Representative team. If you are interested in the role you can email representation@tees-su.org.uk for more information and to register your interest or speak to one of our current reps.
TU Xtra is the official Teesside University student radio station. It has recently resumed broadcasting after a long break, and you can listen and find out more here. Any current student who is interested in volunteering as a presenter or helping out behind the scenes can email: studentradio@tuxtra.co.uk to get more info.
Your SU works closely with the University and a range of external agencies such as Cleveland Police, Cleveland Fire and the NHS to try to keep all students safe and well. It remains important to keep taking sensible precautions to minimise the risk to both yourself and other students.
Check out our tips for staying over the freshers period and throughout semester one.
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