A very warm welcome to the final edition of the monthly update from Teesside University Students’ Union (TUSU) for this academic year. We contact you each month from September to May with our latest news and events unless you ask us to stop by unsubscribing.
As we prepare to leave the office at the end of June, we want to thank Teesside University students one last time for the honour and privilege of being trusted to represent you to the most senior figures at the Uni and oversee the running of your Students’ Union. We also want to acknowledge the invaluable advice and support we have had from reps and staff here at TUSU and at the University. We wish our successors the very best and are confident they’ll help take the students’ union on to even bigger and better things next year!
In this edition, we’re looking ahead to our epic end-of-year party, The Big Summer Send-Off, on Friday, 17th May. We'll also have a great week of events before that from Monday, 13th, to end the academic year in style for most students. We hope to see as many of you as possible at what is a FREE event for current Teesside Uni students. Find out more in the article below or the link above.
We’re also congratulating all the very worthy winners and nominees at last month's TUSU Awards 2024, back on another great year for the organization through TUSU in Review, ahead to how the summer will affect our opening hours and service availability and to what’s sure to be another unforgettable Graduation period this July.
If you’re due to leave Teesside University in the coming weeks and months, we wish you the very best for the future and urge you to keep in touch. We also wish everyone a safe, happy, and successful summer. We hope everyone gets some time to relax and have fun!
Michael, Femi and Nevin – Student Officers 2023/24
The Big Summer Send-Off kicks off at 4 pm on Friday, 17th May, in Campus Heart and the TUSU Building! It’s an epic end-of-year party that’s free or just £3.50 (food guaranteed) for current Teesside Uni students and just £5 for other guests!
You and your friends/ coursemates can enjoy:
It’s part of a whole week of events for students and their guests before TUSU takes a summer break. The week also includes a summer special of the Monday Night Quiz, Wednesday Night Karaoke, and a not-to-be-missed Afropiano Night.
Find out more and book your FREE tickets through tees-su.org.uk/sendoff.
Teesside University Students’ Union (TUSU) will revert to summer opening hours from Saturday, May 18th, until the middle of September. The availability of the building and services/ spaces are affected as follows:
*The above is subject to change depending on levels of usage and unforeseen events. Any changes will be posted on our social media as soon in advance as possible.
The current Student Officers Femi Abolade (President Wellbeing), Michael Adewunmi (President Education) and Nevin Edwin (President International) leave their roles at the end of June. Femi was originally elected by Teesside Uni students in March 2022 and re-elected last March, while Michael and Nevin secured their roles last year but have chosen not to run for a second term.
We thank all three of them for their contributions to the students’ union, first as students and society members/ leaders, then as elected officers overseeing the running of the organisation, representing students and leading a range of campaigns and events.
Blessing Oluwanifemi Ihuoma (President Wellbeing Elect) said: “Femi has been an inspirational figure for many students throughout his time at Teesside University. In his role, he has worked to ensure people from all backgrounds have their voices heard and can access the support they need while they study. He has also brought important maturity and leadership along with relentless positivity to the Student Officer team across both years he has held his role.”
Harshavardhan Chikatla (President Education Elect) said: “Michael has made a very important contribution to improving student awareness and understanding of academic misconduct and the potentially serious implications of not attending lectures and seminars as the Uni requires. Students and staff have clearly appreciated his calm, professional and considered approach to his role.”
Ebubechi Blessing Azunna (President International Elect) said: “Nevin has devoted himself to trying to bring students from different backgrounds together throughout his time in his role. He has been dedicated to improving cultural exchange and facilitating far greater integration between students from different parts of the world. This has resulted in some very memorable events and activities.”
Look for goodbye videos for each of the current Officers on our social media and YouTube channel at the end of June.
The Student Officers Elect officially take over at the start of July, and you can find out more about them and their early priorities through tees-su.org.uk/officerselect.
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 has included:
Find out more at tees-su.org.uk/officers , and check tees-su.org.uk/events or our social media channels for details of remaining campaign dates.
AND…what do YOU think the next Student Officer team should focus on in the next academic year? What campaigns should they continue, and what new issues should they tackle? Tell us through the Student Opinion Counts (SOC) surveys.
The TUSU Awards 2024, which took place on Thursday, 18th April, here in the TUSU building, were a welcome opportunity to recognise individuals and groups from our societies and Student Reps who have excelled or gone the extra mile over the past academic year. The awards, held in partnership with Everyone Active and The Stockton Globe Theatre, were a hugely enjoyable event, and you can see pictures and videos from it now through tees-su.org.uk/awards.
We cannot wait to celebrate with graduating students and their loved ones from the 9th to the 18th of July in what is always an unforgettable period of the year. The TUSU Building (opposite The Curve and beside Teesside Uni Library) will be back open on ALL days of Graduation from 9 am until late for:
Check out tees-su.org.uk/graduation for more on how we can help you and your loved ones have a magical day during Graduation.
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!
It’s been another highly successful academic year at TUSU, with awards, international recognition, high-performing services and unforgettable day and evening events among the many highlights. You can look back at the best moments through tees-su.org.uk/tusureview, which is available online from the week starting Monday, 20th May. Printed copies will be on display in the TUSU Building from mid-June.
What a fantastic year it has been! We have loved meeting you in both drop-in and online sessions. We have enjoyed meeting hundreds of our course reps during training.
This year, the school and course have been your voice in getting important issues heard by the university. We have worked with staff to improve accessibility, ensure students have relevant supervisors for research, look at ways to support the cost of living, co-created mental health support models, raised important issues for international students, and much more! We want to thank you all for connecting with us and improving the student experience.
As the academic year draws to a close, we want to wish all students good luck for final exams and preparing for graduation. A huge thank you to all our course representatives for their hard work and impactful contributions this year. Have a great summer!
Freshers at Teesside University Students’ Union (TUSU) runs from Saturday, September 14th, to Saturday, September 28th. It’s a jam-packed fortnight that provides new and returning students with activities, advice and support, day and evening events, societies, and much, much more!
Keep up with all the latest TUSU Freshers announcements and confirmed events throughout the summer through tees-su.org.uk/freshers and our social media.
Whatever you’re doing over the summer period, you can access great discounts and savings on eating out, fashion, music, cinema, travel, and more through 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 how many students upgrade to the complete TOTUM package! All that money is poured back into making your SU even better!
As the summer looms, we know many students will be looking for appropriate accommodation for the next academic year. 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.
TUSU works closely with the University and a range of key external agencies such as Cleveland Police, Cleveland Fire, and the NHS (National Health Service) to keep students safe while studying and living here in Teesside and in other places.
This month, we want to remind you about staying safe and limiting your chances of being affected by crime over the summer, whether you are remaining in Teesside or travelling elsewhere for some or all of the break.
We also want to remind you that the University and the Students’ Union have partnered up to produce a series of short, informative video guides designed to help you avoid being affected by fraud or scams. These will cover finding employment and accommodation as well as typical money-related crime both online and in person. Head here for more info and to watch the videos.
If you are going to be away from rented accommodation over the summer period:
If you are going to be travelling/ socialising over the holiday period:
We know the lengthy summer break can be a busy period for catching up with friends and family or meeting new people while you travel and work. We hope you have a wonderful time, and here are a few suggestions on how to make sure you stay safe.
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Until 16 June, new and existing fitness members at Everyone Active’s leisure centres across Teesside will have the chance to win a weekend at Wild Canvas. New members will be entered into the prize draw when they join, and existing members will be entered when they use the leisure centre facilities ten times throughout the promotional period.
Ten prize winners will win a weekend for up to four people at Turvey House Estate in Bedfordshire. They can relax in a traditional tipi or yurt tent furnished with beds and bedding, with food and activity vouchers included. A further ten winners will win camping stays with activity vouchers included, pitching their own tent for the weekend.
For full terms and conditions, visit everyoneactive.com/wildcanvas.
