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.
We hope everyone had a safe, happy holiday whether you celebrate Christmas or not and we wish everyone the very best for 2024, we think it is already shaping up to be another very exciting year here at Teesside University.
In this edition, we are looking back one last time on an excellent 2023 and our impact on student life. We are also looking ahead to the early highlights of 2024, starting with a week full of activities, events, societies, support and more to welcome new and returning students in the shape of TUSU Refresh.
And it is now just weeks until nominations for the TUSU Elections 2024 open! Even if it means some of us lose our jobs, we hope you will consider running as a candidate! There’s full info in the article in this newsletter but we can personally vouch for what a fantastic experience it is just participating in elections while, if you win, you will be getting a unique opportunity to represent all Teesside University students and improve their lives while building your own experience and skills. We are happy to answer any questions you have if you are thinking of running, email: elections@tees-su.org.uk with enquiries or to fix up a time to meet with us.
Alongside the above, we have a great range of day and evening events, plus activities and support services, campaigns, daily essentials, food and drink, social and study spaces, meeting rooms and more! You can find the TUSU Building in Campus Heart opposite The Curve and next to Teesside Uni Library, so make sure you take the time to come in and have a look around soon!
Have a safe, happy month and make sure we are right at the heart of your student life once again!
Nevin, Femi and Michael – Student Officers 2023/24
Whether you are new to Teesside University or back for more you can probably use a bit of a boost as Semester 2 gets underway! Look no further than TUSU Refresh here in the TUSU Building (Opposite The Curve and next to Teesside Uni Library) and other locations from Mon, the 22nd to Saturday, the 27th of January.
A whole week of day and evening activities and events (in the TUSU Building unless otherwise stated), including:
Find out more and book your limited edition TUSU Refresh Goodie bag (while stocks last) through tees-su.org.uk/refresh.
Teesside University Students’ Union (TUSU) is led by students for students and each February, any current Teesside University student* can run in the elections to decide:
These are unique opportunities to gain new skills and experience while contributing to the democratic process at Teesside University! Past experience is less important than a willingness to work hard and a passion for helping your fellow students.
* You may not be able to run for a Student Officer role or take up a position if you're not going to be a current student when elections are held or don't meet other criteria for being a Trustee of a registered charity like the Students' Union. Click here for more info on the criteria, or e-mail: elections@tees-su.org.uk for a confidential discussion about your eligibility.
Alongside our TUSU Refresh week, 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, comic cons 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.
Our 2023 calendar year was one full of impact for Teesside University students and other stakeholders, including new records, international recognition, services that went the extra mile again and outstanding student achievement. We celebrate all the highlights in the Our Impact Report and through a series of short videos now on the Our Impact minisite. There are printed copies of the Our Impact Report available from the TUSU Welcome Desk (1st floor, TUSU Building. Open weekdays from 10 am to 4 pm).
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.
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.
The Terrace (1st floor, TUSU Building opposite The Curve and next to Teesside Uni Library) is open 7 days a week during semester time. It provides modern, inclusive social space, exciting events, a wide range of drinks, including many non-alcoholic options, and, except on Sundays, delicious hot food. There are also frequent offers on food and drink served as part of our wider work on student’s cost of living.
During the TUSU Refresh period (Mon, 22nd Jan to Sat, 27th Jan) and. while stocks last, choose from:
The SU Shop (ground floor, TUSU Building) is open Mon to Sat for great value food, drink, meal deals, Teesside Uni branded clothing and other merchandise, course materials and more! There are also frequent special offers and discounts for students on a wide range of products.
Find out more about The Terrace and see menus/ usual opening times through tees-su.org.uk/theterrace.
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 other treats from some of our commercial partners!
Head to tees-su.org.uk/soc to have your say, and remember that the more surveys you complete, the more you can win!
Happy New Year, and welcome to all our new and returning students! We hope you have enjoyed the winter break. Our reps are back and ready to help with any feedback you have about your academic or wider student experience. You can contact us via email, or social media or come and see us in the SU on refresh week!
What to expect from reps in Semester 2:
You can email representation@tees-su.org.uk with any questions or feedback you have. You can also check the SU website for individual School Rep email addresses.
We hope you have a great second semester. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
The TUSU Board of Trustees is led by the three Student Officers. They are joined by four External Trustees who are experienced and distinguished figures from sectors such as business, charity, education, and Local Government to provide expert advice and insight. The board is completed by three Student Trustees who are current TU students who provide vital grassroots feedback. The Board has ultimate responsibility for the governance and smooth running of the organisation and has the final say on all major strategic decisions.
We are delighted to confirm that current Teesside University students and School Representatives/ current and former TUSU societies leaders Joshua Williams, Dan Scrafton and Nixon Christian were appointed to the Board as Student Trustees towards the end of 2023.
Additionally, we were pleased to add Charlotte Hughes to an already exceptional set of External Trustees. She brings invaluable knowledge from her years working in the voluntary sector.
Find out more about the board by clicking here and stay tuned to their web pages as well as our social media for regular updates from the Board in 2024.
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!
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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