GU Campaigns and Graduate Issues

Current and Ongoing

Constitutional Amendment 2009: The GU proposes to amend its constitution to introduce a second sabbatical officer, the “Graduate Union Vice President”
Review of Graduate Education: The University has been conducting a Review of Graduate Education. The Review Group has now reported and a Steering Committee has been formed to implement the recommendations. The recommendations are important and wide-ranging, including the roles of the Board of Graduate Studies and the Colleges.

Older Issues

Constitutional Amendment 2008: The GU proposes to amend its constitution to allow it to more effectively represent its members and contemporary issues, whislt improving electoral and complaints procedures.
Electoral Reform: Following a complaint during the 2007 Presidential Election, the GU is assessing and seeking to improve its electoral procedures.
Openness in the University: The GU is encouraging University committees to publish minutes, using requests under the Freedom of Information Act where necessary.
Rents Information: The GU is obtaining information from all colleges about their rent levels and policies for graduate accommodation.
CamSIS: Various problems have been reported with the CamSIS interface which must be used by graduates. The GU is lobbying for improvements to be made.
Graduate Students Code of Practice: The Board of Graduate Studies drafted a Code of Practice for Graduate Students, which the GU had been pushing for.
Online Journal Provision: The GU is investigating how online access to journals at Cambridge compares to that at other institutions.
NTL Student Phone Service: Details of concerns about the current telephone provision for students provided by NTL, and the GU's efforts to address these.
GU Facilities and Social Events: To increase usage of the GU lounge and build on the social functions of the GU, it is proposed that a coffee shop be opened in the GU lounge and a licence obtained for alcohol to be served at evening social events.
College Provision Document: The Graduate Tutors' Committee has been working on a document aimed at documenting and standardising the current provision offered by the colleges to graduate students.
Local Mental Health Provision: Some worrying cuts are being proposed to NHS mental health services in the Cambridge area. The GU has responded to the formal consultation exercise.
Ownership of Intellectual Property Rights within the University: In 2004, the University Council and General Board published a draft Ordinance on IPR, which explicitly covered some IPR generated by students.
GU Reform and Restructuring: In 2004/05 the GU underwent various reforms, including major changes to the constitution.
MPhil Provision within the University: In July 2000 the General Board agreed to establish a Committee to review the University's current provision for the M.Phil Degree and to make recommendations for future provision.
Differential College Fees: In October 2004, a Consultation Paper was circulated to by the Senior Bursar at St John's which considered ways Colleges might respond to the restrictions placed by funding bodies on their level of support for the College Fee.
HEFCE Report on Improving Standards: Issues relating to the 2003 report "Improving standards in postgraduate research degree programmes", and the subsequent consultation.
White Paper: "The Future of Higher Education": On 22 January 2003 the government published a White Paper, which set out their plans for radical reform and investment in universities and HE colleges.