Your Board of Trustees
University of Sunderland Students’ Union is governed by the Board of Trustees. The Board consists of elected Officer Trustees, professionals with specific skills and expertise known as External Trustees, and current students from various areas of the University. Together, they hold ultimate responsibility for all aspects of the Students' Union, including governance, financial management, and strategic planning.
Officer Trustees
Student Trustees
External Trustees
Committees
The People and Governance Committee advises the Board of Trustees on Union's resource utilisation, human resources strategies and on governance issues, reviews proposals for constitutional amendments, ensures compliance with laws and charitable objectives, and promotes student participation in elections and policy setting. It consists of key members, External Trustees, Officer Trustee, and a Student Trustee. The External Trustee chairs the committee, and the Union's Chief Executive or their representative attends as the advisory Clerk. The committee meets at least four times per financial year.
The Finance and Risk Committee advises the Board of Trustees on the Union's financial matters. They review and approve the annual budget, monitor performance, and make recommendations. The committee oversees expenditure, financial statements, auditors, and the Union's bank account. They also guide investment, fundraising, and affiliations. Staff-related responsibilities are delegated to the Chief Executive within the committee's framework. The committee maintains confidentiality and includes External Trustees, Officer Trustee, and a Student Trustee. The Chief Executive attends as a clerk, providing advisory support with senior staff members. The committee meets at least four times per financial year.
The committee's role is to implement decisions made by various bodies such as Referenda, Student Member's Meetings, the Board of Trustees, and Union Council. They are responsible for representing the Union in University meetings, presenting reports on committee and Union business to relevant bodies, reviewing and updating Union policies, and being members of Union Council and its committees. They also develop and execute an Executive Committee plan, recommend changes to the Constitution, and appoint Advisory Panels as needed. The committee's decisions are made by a majority vote but are subordinate to decisions made by higher-level bodies within the Union.
The Appointments Committee is responsible for reviewing and filling vacancies on the Board of Trustees, ensuring a diverse and skilled membership aligned with the strategic plan. They establish criteria, shortlist, and select applicants, advertise positions, conduct interviews if needed, and recommend suitable candidates for appointment. The committee also oversees training, development, and adherence to the Code of Conduct for Trustees. They assess individual Trustee contributions and effectiveness. The committee meets at least once per year.
