A very warm welcome to the latest update from Teesside University Students' Union (TUSU). We get in touch every month during the academic year unless you ask us to stop by unsubscribing.
In this edition we're looking forward to a chance to relax and recharge over the spring break and hoping you will get at least some time to do the same! The availability of our services and spaces will be slightly different from 5th to 28th April, and we have full details of that in the article further down. The changes will also be explained across our social media and on our website.
We're also looking back on another very exciting TUSU Elections, and we congratulate the three Student Officers Elect who will take over from us in July. We also want to thank the thousands of students who took the time to vote for their next leaders and representatives and say a final well done to all candidates.
Before spring break gets underway, we are excited to recognise exceptional individuals and groups at our Societies Celebration and TUSU Student Rep Awards. Stay tuned to our social media on Wed, 2nd and Thu, 3rd April for coverage, and we'll have a full report in the next update. Congrats, and good luck to all nominees!
We are delighted to share an important recent win for students on the availability of spaces on campus in the evening after working positively with the Uni to ensure your feedback was heard!
We wish everyone a happy spring break, whatever you are doing. Be sure to check out the article further down for our top tips on keeping yourself and your accommodation/ property safe over the period.
Teesside University Students' Union (TUSU) reverts to spring break opening hours from Saturday, 5th April, until Monday, 28th April, when our usual opening hours and availability of services and spaces resume.
The availability of the TUSU Building and our services/ spaces are affected as follows:
At the end of February and into early March, twenty-one current students and one existing Student Officer campaigned to be the next Student Officers (President Education, International and Wellbeing). They wanted the honour of representing all Teesside Uni students and leading TUSU from July 2026 and we congratulate them all on their hard work and contribution to student democracy.
Over 3,600 students cast over 10,000 votes, and at a thrilling Results Party, we confirmed that Sai Dorapally (President Education Elect), Ganesh Poshala (President International Elect) and Clinton Aideloje (President Wellbeing Elect) will form your new Student Officer team this summer.
Find out more about them and the elections through tees-su.org.uk/elections and tees-su.org.uk/officerselect. They will also be keeping in touch throughout the summer across our social media and website, so be sure to look out for updates!
It's been another unforgettable academic year at TUSU, and before it ends, we want to take the opportunity to celebrate and recognise exceptional individuals and groups.
Stay tuned to our social media on Wed, 2nd April, as we celebrate all the highlights for student communities and societies. Then, on Thu, 3rd April, at The Student Rep Awards we're honouring Course and School Reps and presenting the very special Honorary Lifetime Membership of TUSU to several individuals who have made an outstanding contribution at the Student Rep Awards.
The events are invitation only, but you can watch coverage on our social media and website; then, we'll have a full summary of who won what in the next update. Congrats and best of luck to everyone who is nominated!
We are a Students' Union that prides itself on running "real-world" campaigns that focus on the issues that are most important to Teesside University students.
As Semester 2 draws to a close, the Student Officers and staff from our departments will continue to be online or out around campus with a range of campaign activities and events focusing on academic issues, accommodation, wellbeing and gathering your feedback.
Here are just some of the upcoming highlights (not running during the spring break period). Stay tuned to our social media and website for more info.
Teesside University Students' Union (TUSU) always works positively with the University to win for students! Student Officers, Student Reps and staff regularly meet with the most senior figures, including The Board of Governors, Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and their top team members. They also sit on key uni decision-making bodies and forums to ensure the student voice is always heard.
We recently offered to gather a range of student feedback in response to proposed changes to the availability of selected learning and social spaces on campus after 6.30 pm. They are being introduced to make the University even more energy efficient and were based on careful analysis of the use of spaces by students.
After gathering hundreds of responses from Course Reps, members of learning communities and societies and other students we were able to provide the Uni with a rich range of opinions and more detail on the various requirements students may have of campus spaces in the evening.
The University accepted our findings and based revisions to their original plans on the information we provided to ensure students still have the spaces and resources they need on campus later in the day. We made sure your voice was heard, the Uni listened, and we believe the final changes to building opening times are a win for everyone! Click here to see what is available when on campus and remember you can always give us your feedback and ideas through tees-su.org.uk/feedback.
The Terrace (1st floor, TUSU Building) is open seven days a week during the semester. Delicious food is available Monday through Saturday, and a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks is available. You can expect great service and a welcoming atmosphere every time you visit. Check out more details, including opening hours and this year's menus, here. AND...stay tuned to our social media for regular updates on discounts, offers and specials on food and drink.
Did you know that The Terrace...
Did you know that the SU Shop...
Find out more about the SU Shop and order branded clothing online here.
Since our last update, we have welcomed and trained additional Course Representatives. It has been wonderful to hear about their contributions so far, including their participation in the Your School Your Voice meetings, where they discussed areas for improvement and highlighted the positive features of their schools. Our School Rep team have enjoyed meeting with students at their drop-in sessions and represent this feedback to senior university staff.
Our Reps also recently attended the Student Experience Sub-Committee meeting with the University Executive Team to discuss a range of student experience issues that are important to you. The Reps will share the meeting outcomes with you soon.
This month, we are thrilled to present a fantastic opportunity for students enrolled in the 25/26 academic year to serve as School Representatives. If you are enthusiastic about enhancing the student experience within your school and the broader university community, we encourage you to apply for one of our positions today. For further details and to obtain an application form, please reach out to the Senior Representation Coordinator at m.craven@tees.ac.uk. Open positions are available across all schools. Please be aware that this role is not hourly paid and involves attending meetings and events on campus.
Our School Reps are continuing to host online and in-person drop-in sessions throughout the semester including dedicated sessions for students on a degree apprenticeship. They look forward to hearing your feedback and thoughts and you have about your experience. These sessions are a great chance for you to share ideas, ask questions about updates, or chat with fellow students and representatives.
Keep an eye out for the details of the sessions or email representation@tees-su.org.uk for a list of our upcoming events and booking links.
The Student Opinion Counts (SOC) survey is the single biggest piece of market research done at TUSU each year. It's a chance for ALL TU students to tell us about your student life, the challenges you face and what you want from us.
You can also give us suggestions for improvement and tell us what you think of how we represent you and the events, services, and spaces we provide! Better still, the survey is short and simple to complete, and there are great prizes to be won (see the full list below). Head to tees-su.org.uk/soc to have your say and be in with a shot of great prizes!
We hope everyone is having a great Semester 2 so far, but if for any reason you need advice and support, remember that TUSU is here to help! Our SU Student Support (SUSS) service (1st floor, TUSU Building) is run by experienced, professional advisers who specialise in issues around your academic experience and can help with accommodation problems too.
If they cannot help you with something, they will do their best to refer you to a university or external service that can.
Did you know TUSU has an official podcast with new episodes in most months of the academic year! It is a chance to hear from your Student Officers in depth, find out what has been happening and get a preview of what is coming up at TUSU! The fun-packed holiday special is now available; make sure you check it out!
We also regularly have special guests, including TUSU staff and senior university figures, including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Mayor of Middlesbrough, no less!
Check out the latest episodes and access the archive through tees-su.org.uk/podcasts. AND...got ideas for future content or guests? E-mail: comms@tees-su.org.uk to give us feedback.
The TUSU Board of Trustees has the final say on the running of the Students’ Union and takes all of the biggest decisions on strategy and spending. The members oversee the running of the organisation and work with and support the Student Officers and Chief Executive whilst also holding them to account.
It is led and chaired by The Student Officers but also includes distinguished and experienced External Trustees from a range of backgrounds including education, finance, government, and the Students’ Union movement. It is completed by Student Trustees who provide vital grassroots feedback from students.
We have been delighted to welcome two new External Trustees and three new Student Trustees to an already excellent lineup in recent months. You can read more here about new External Trustees Alexander Lee-Hall and Mairead Sunley alongside new Student Trustees Corinna Russell, Kingsley Omoayena and Salomey Konadu Bondah.
Unitemps is Teesside University's recruitment agency, matching candidates with exciting businesses. Launched in September 2024, the Unitemps Teesside University branch is located in the Student Life Building, Teesside University.
What can Unitemps offer students?
As a Teesside University student, you have access to our Student Assistance Programme, a 24/7 support service open 365 days a year. You can access it anytime, and all graduates have access to this service for three months after graduation.
You can speak directly to a qualified Counsellor or Adviser by calling the confidential 24/7 number 01642 342111 at any time. There is also a chat function available from Monday to Friday, 8 am – 6 pm, which can be accessed via the Wellbeing Hub.
In the Hub, you will also find a full range of free and helpful resources to support your wellbeing.
This programme can support with a range of issues that may be affecting your time at University, such as mental health, housing, exam pressures and welfare. Find out more here.
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 safe throughout the academic year. And, if you’re going to be travelling abroad or to other parts of the country over the spring break, please be extra mindful of keeping your accommodation and valuables secure. Also consider the potential risks of visiting somewhere you are not familiar with:
