2000-2020

SU History Timeline

“Sex on Campus” campaign held with sex workshops and sex packs to freshers
Voter registration campaign
SU awareness week with SU clinics in Smokies, St. Anthonys, CSI/Nurses, Nuns Island etc.
10K walk
Overcrowding
Constitutional amendments dealt with getting rid of Post-grad officer and ADO & Womens into Equality & Disability officers
Dún Áras Shuttle bus was abandoned after ran out of funding and due to a lack of student interest
Union involved in Green nose day
RAG week charities: Local- St. Joseph’s Special School, Ábalta. National – CARI, MS Ireland, Meningitis Research, Diabetes. International – Gorta, VSA

2001-02
President: Pádraig Ó Duinnín

Fees protests held.
Safety week
USI Fresher packs not handed out as had alcohol vouchers and went against alcohol policy.
Overcrowding in lectures a problem.
Proposal to disaffiliate from USI
Committee to run RAG week, list of events on website from Jan onwards. “Events organised outside the spirit of raising money for charity and taking advantage of the weeks main objectives are condemned by the SU”
RAG week charities: St. Josephs Special School, Ábalta, St. Vincent de Paul, MS Ireland, Meningitis Research, Diabetes Ireland, VSA.
Enforcement and promotion of alcohol policy
Steps at Quincentenial Bridge/ Zebra crossings campaigns.
Sticker campaign on drug rape
SU Clinics at Nuns Island etc.
Online secondhand bookshop set up.

2002-03
President: Leona Byrne

Levy Referendum – membership fee on top of proposed levy
Possible fourth sabbatical position of Press & Communications Officer
Campaign for steps at Quincentenial Bridge
Campaigns included Cancer Awareness, Healthy Mind, Healthy Eating, Depression, Alcohol, Campus Watch, Fairtrade Campaign, Environment Day, Equality Day and SHAG week.
RAG week committee “moving focus towards charity. RAG week charities: VSA, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Josephs Special School, Ábalta School, Threshold, Samaritans, Meningitis Research Foundation, Diabetes Federation of Ireland, Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, The Marie Keating Foundation.

2003-04
President: Tony McDonnell

Class Reps Referendum held – changes were approved by student body
University begins collecting University centre levy – €100 each year for 18 years
Fresher Packs are brought back
Saw Doctors play RAG week
Bebo and facebook sites for the SU set up
Union supports protesting nurses and hospital staff
Class reps vote to not hold a referendum on USI membership
Assistant manager appointed
SIN boards moderator policy approved
Case Work policy approved
Class Reps training moved onto campus

2007-08
President: James Hope

Freshers’ Week changed to Freshers’ Fortnight
Fees campaign begins with thousands marching to Eyre Square
Grant information Evening held
Part Time students become members of Union
Elections take place in two locations – turnout up on previous years
Full Time Editor for SIN
45^th Anniversary Held
Controversy over visit by Ministers Éamón Ó Cúiv and Batt O’Keefe
Controversy over Bertie Ahern visit
National March Against Fees in Dublin
RAG week raises €32,000, University withdraws support
Math and English support centres established
Work begins on Áras na MacLéinn refurbishment
Union financial year changed to reflect academic term

2007-08
President: James Hope

Third level fees ruled out in the Green Party program for government.
Life Skills training programme run during year offering sign language, CPR and ASIST training to students.
397 registered Class Reps, an increase of 40%
Rebranding of RAG Week as College Week featuring gigs by Calvin Harris, The Coronas and Jason Byrne. €20,000 raised for Cope Galway, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Peter McVerry Trust and Habitat for Humanity.
Elections see the highest voter turnout in 10 years due to higher number of candidates running for full time positions.
SU Loyalty Card launched with over 8,000 sign ups.
SU Sessions run for a 2^nd year in the Canteen with 21 acts playing over the year.
Reading room opening hours increased to 1:30am

2008-09
President: Muireann O’Dwyer

Tellyourtd.com launched – 50,000 letters sent to TDs.
New SU Constitution approved.
NUI Galway Student Enterprise Awards launched.
Student Support Act signed into law.
€22,000 raised during College Week for Ability West and Alan Kerins Projects.
Life Skills Programme expanded.
Overcrowding in lecture halls tackled.
1,000 NUI Galway students at national demonstration against Registration Fee increase. 2,000 students attend Galway march.
Largest ever voter turnout in SU Elections.
Anonymous marking scheme agreed and improved student feedback policy passed.
Student Assistance Fund protected.
Corrib Village rent reduction secured.
Mature Students Officer introduced and Class Reps overhauled.

2010-11
President: Peter Mannion

Reformed Sin newspaper, with a new editor, design and editorial policy alongside the introduction of the SU Pages.
Raised over €20,000 for the Galway Rape Crisis Centre and the mental health charity SpunOut.ie
Threw 42 students out of a plane while another 20 walked over hot coals and 34 climbed Croagh Patrick for charity
Had fees for Repeat Years reduced from €2,350 to €1,600 – a decrease of €750 or 32%
Sent over 1,000 students to the national student demonstration against fee hikes and grant cuts in November (the highest number from NUI Galway ever)
Hosted ‘Pink Training’ for LGBT students from across the country
Organised Ireland’s first ‘Slut Walk’ with the Feminist Society
Registered hundreds of students to vote in a single day, and watched SU President 1964-65, Michael D. Higgins, become Uachtarán na hÉireann
Issued over 2,000 student travel cards and sold over 1,000 lockers on campus
Served over 400,000 cups of tea and coffee and over 80,000 meals throughout our catering outlets
Organised dozens of music and comedy gigs during the year, including Des Bishop, Natty Wailer, Dead Cat Bounce, David O’Doherty, the Freshers’ Ball, An Seisúin Mór and Neil Delamere
Launched Ireland’s first staff-student innovation initiative: EXPLORE (www.su.nuigalway.ie/explore) which partners staff and students and provides funding to work on innovative projects on campus
Opened two new SU-operated cafés in The Hub and Áras na Gaeilge
Signed the ‘Rag Week deal’, which included: an extra €60,000 a year for a fund for students in financial need, the abolition of the €2 entry fee at the Kingfisher Gym for clubs training, guarantees on free access to the Student Health Unit, more poster boards on campus for the SU, and the long-term protection of the respect given to this University and your degrees
Began negotiations for universal membership of the Kingfisher Gym, but deferred the vote until next year to ensure we get the best possible deal for students
Participated in “NUIG Wants It That Way” and helped raise €10,000 for a suicide-prevention charity
Introduced €5 daily meals in the College Bar, offering good quality food at a fair price, while also improving the SU Card system across all our outlets
Elected our first SU Mature Students Officer
Successfully addressed incidences of anti-social behaviour in the Newcastle area, winning commendations from several residents’ associations in the process
Introduced ‘remote voting’ for SU elections, so students can vote online if they’re off-campus on polling day
Gained over 2,000 Facebook friends this year, and grew our Twitter followers by 1,000

2011-12
President: Emmet Connolly

Lobbied with other SUs for additional €3 million to National Student Assistance Fund. €334,000 went to NUI Galway.
€3 chicken rolls and €3.50 dinners in College Bar.
Built new website for Sin newspaper sin.ie
Worked with University and students to decrease anti-social behaviour during unofficial RAG Week.
Established two new committees for non-traditional student support and disability cases.
Put Marriage Equality motion to Donegal Co. Council.
Áras na Mac Léinn committee re-established due to questions over the use and spending of the levy.
Opened mini SU Shop in The Hub.
Plans put in place for North Campus office to open in September 2013.
Created better access to college via a walkway from Dyke Road to Quincentennial Bridge.
Handed out over 33,000 condoms on Condom Wednesdays.
Occupied An Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s constituency office.
Held first information evening for members of the travelling community regarding third level education.
Had biggest voter turnout ever recorded for SU Elections as pro-choice Referendum passed.
Passed Equality Policy, Gender Identity Policy and Marriage Equality Policy.

2012-13
President: Paul Curley

The grant was protected from cuts this year – which was the first time in four years
We had national and international coverage on our “Marriage Equality” and “Support for the Boycott of Disinvestments and Sanctions” referenda. I was delighted to see 96% percent of NUI Galway Students vote in favour of the Union working to support the Marriage Equality referendum that will take place in 2015. Overwhelming support was also achieved for the BDS Movement, which shows the political awareness and activism of our students.
Highest part-time election turn-out in SU history.
The Reading Room Extended it’s opening hours to 24 hours for exams/ extended hours during the year
The Cloakroom was secured for three years and was redesigned and so continues to hire students as staff and provide an invaluable service
Student Card replacement fee reduced to €20 after extensive lobbying
Agreed that repeat exam results will be released prior to college commencement to allow time to register earlier with relevant modules/preferences
Successfully lobbied to get the lift fixed from the Bialann to outside the library-as it had been broken for years.
CÉIM was launched in the College of Engineering, which is an example of Peer Assisted learning at its best. An SU Staff member facilitated the programme and second year Student Leaders facilitated groups of first year students.
Continuing success of EXPLORE (Irelands only Staff Student collaboration of its kind). Where Students and Staff bring an innovative idea to fruition. They are facilitated by SU Staff and funded €1000 each to make it happen. 28 projects were funded this year.
Life Skills training programme run during year offering sign language, CPR and ASIST training to students.

2013-14
President: Sean Kearns

After consistent lobbying efforts, an ‘on balance’ favourable budget to students was revealed.
Following difficult negotiations with University management the Students’ Union remain in control of their commercial operations, being one of the few remaining SU’s nationwide to do so.
The Union successfully lobbied Galway City Council for a safety audit of the city’s waterways following a series of tragic drownings – this was regarded as an important strategic step to make the city safer, not least for our own members.
Following very serious revelations regarding gender equality at the University, the President and Vice President robustly challenged the University on issues surrounding this at several Údarás na hOllscoile meetings.
Following the decision to establish a Gender Equality Taskforce, upon which there was no intention to include a student, the President and Vice President of the SU indicated at Governing Body that the Union would not be supporting the Taskforce unless there was a student. A student was then added to it.
After the imposition of a new policy regarding deferrals, there was much disquiet among students – the SU lobbied for this policy to be relaxed, which was acceded to by the University.
Elected 416 Class reps (which is the highest in the last 3 years).
Repeat Exam results out before term starts and Christmas exam bus service arranged.
Added 4,000 NUIG students to the Electoral Register to vote in the Marriage Equality Referendum as part of a two year campaign to get the Marriage Equality referendum passed. IT PASSED!
Raised €12,500 for the SU Charities Console and BeLonG To through events such as the Aquathon, Croagh Patrick Climb, Table Quiz, Christmas Day and Pet Farm Visit & Cake Sale.
The students of NUI Galway voted via Referendum that the Students’ Union will now actively support the legalisation and regulation of the cultivation, sale and possession of cannabis for adults aged 18 years and over.
Gigs during the year included: Panti Bliss, Foil, Arms & Hog, Al Porter, The Dirty Circus, Karl Spain, Fred Cooke, Eric Lalor and The Viper.

2014-15
President: Declan Higgins

After consistent lobbying efforts, an ‘on balance’ favourable budget to students was revealed.
Following difficult negotiations with University management the Students’ Union remain in control of their commercial operations, being one of the few remaining SU’s nationwide to do so.
The Union successfully lobbied Galway City Council for a safety audit of the city’s waterways following a series of tragic drownings – this was regarded as an important strategic step to make the city safer, not least for our own members and now is part of a collaboration to address water safety in Galway City with many organisations as well as the council.
Following very serious revelations regarding gender equality at the University, the President and Vice President continue to robustly challenge the University on issues surrounding this at several Údarás na hOllscoile meetings.
Following the decision to establish a Gender Equality Taskforce, upon which there was no intention to include a student, the President and Vice President of the SU indicated at Governing Body that the Union would not be supporting the Taskforce unless there was a student. A student was then added to it.
After the imposition of a new policy regarding deferrals, there was much disquiet among students – the SU lobbied for this policy to be relaxed, which was acceded to by the University.
Elected 416 Class reps (which is the highest in the last 3 years).
Added more than 2,000 NUIG students to the Electoral Register to vote in the 2016 General Elections which is the most out of any other Institution/Union in the country.
Raised €22,500 for the SU Charities Irish Cancer Society and the Galway Rape Crisis Centre through events such as the Croagh Patrick Climb, Table Quiz, Christmas Day and Pet Farm Visit & Cake Sale.
The students of NUI Galway voted via Referendum that the Students’ Union will now actively support decriminalization of Drugs for personal use.
NUI Galway Students’ Union hosted the national Pink Training which is the largest LGBTQ training event in Europe which saw more than 350 students across the country learning about key issues and building a support network for LGBTQ students.
Working alongside Gigsoc (NUI Galway’s LGBTQ Society), we held the first ever Trans* Awareness week and were the first institution in the country (and possible the UK) to raise a Transgender flag on campus.
NUI Galway SU teamed up with USI and SIPTU on a workers’ rights campaign to highlight key issues in the workforce and to educate students on their rights be that in part time employment and beyond. The campaign also sought to increase the minimum wage in Ireland to that of a living wage and is ongoing.
NUI Galway Students’ Union won Best Large Delegation at the Annual USI Congress in Clare for our contributions throughout the event.
President Phelim Kelly was short-listed by the Junior Chambers Ireland Galway Top Outstanding Young Persons Award for his work on the Marriage Equality Referendum and the General Election.
The Students’ Union continues to actively campaign for Safe, free and legal access to abortion in Ireland and to Repeal the 8th Amendment to Bunreacht na hÉireann.
The Students’ Union voted via referendum to condemn the direct provision system which is inhumane and denies asylum seekers their basic rights and calls for its abolition and replacement with a system which respects the human rights of asylum seekers. In line with policy supported by the Migrant Rights Centre and other concerned NGOs
Gigs during the year included: Al Porter, David O’Doherty, The Dirty Circus, Kevin McGahern, Fred Cooke and comedy hypnotist Michael McCoy.
NUI Galway Students’ Union was part of the delegation chosen to represent Galway at the European Youth Event in Strasbourg in May. This is a two day gathering of 7,000 young people to discuss key youth issues. The Galway delegation will be representing both the Galway European Youth Capital 2019 bid and the Galway European Capital of Culture 2020 bid.

2015-16
President: Phelim Kelly

The Students’ Union lobbied every TD in Galway on multiple occasions regarding the Peter Cassells Report, the societal benefits of Publicly Funded option and the detrimental impact of an Income Contingent Loan Scheme option.
We campaigned across campus and in lectures for weeks, mobilizing students to travel to Dublin to march for their future. We filled ten fifty seater buses of 500 students, adding to the largest student demonstration in over 5 years
After more than a decade of consideration from NUI Galway, The Students’ Union were committed to seeing anonymous marking of exams being finally introduced. The perseverance of our Vice President / Education Officer proved successful, gaining a unanimous agreement from the University’s Academic Council.
As the only pilot University in Ireland, we successfully integrated the National Student Engagement Programme (NStEP), where students are seen as partners in decision making – the beginning of a new milestone in our Union’s potential to enhance an environment of academic excellence.
We have progressed in our aims to achieve excellent working relationships with all University staff, ultimately benefiting our students.
After three incredibly successful years, through lengthy negotiations our CÉIM programme secured €100,000 funding to run in the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies.
Gained new student representation on both internal and external committees to the University. Internally, we secured representation on new college boards, a student staff liaison committee in the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies, the Equality & Diversity Committee and were notably involved in the process of appointing the new University President. Externally, we gained representation on the Steering Committee of the Western Region Drug & Alcohol Task Force (WRDATF) and the Galway Children and Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC).
Through community outreach we secured additional student accommodation (200+ beds) in the midst of a national crisis.
The REACT (Responding to Excessive Alcohol Consumption at Third Level) agreement was co-signed by the Students’ Union and the University President.
We successfully lobbied and secured funding for the continuation of our on-campus free STI Clinic for the second year.
Our Vice President / Welfare Officer also lead our Union in being successfully awarded the ‘Amber Flag’, as recognition of our hard work in stigma reduction, awareness and training surrounding mental health and suicide.
We introduced ‘Disclosure Training’ run by Galway Rape Crisis Centre to our list of Life Skills Programmes.
We welcomed the inaugural team of Equality Volunteers, to add to our established Class Representative System and Welfare Volunteers.
We brought our members to Dublin have their voices heard nationally, on issues regarding access to education, the 8th Amendment, and the Direct Provision System.
We continued on from two very successful years of voter registration campaigns on campus, and registered an additional 500 members.
We worked closely with the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) Society to see NUI Galway commit to divesting from Fossil Fuel shares (total of €3.4 million) by the end of 2017.
We collaborated with a number of external people to successfully run an in depth Workers’ Rights campaign.
We openly challenged the University on its decision to remove the Irish language requirement for the Presidency.
During the uncertainties of Brexit, on request of our members we facilitated a referendum on the unification of Ireland, passing by a three quarters vote.
SU Council’s agreement to make a constitutional change to our SU Election regulations combined with an incredible calibre of candidates, saw an increase in voter turnout of over 1,000 students.
We secured funding to upgrade and renovate our Commercial Services, and welcomed a new Chairperson to the Board of Directors.
Vice President / Education Officer, Cathal Sherlock, and Equality Officer, Megan Reilly, were nominated for their work at the Student Achievement Awards Ireland 2017.
NUI Galway Students’ Union won ‘Best Large Delegation’ and ‘Best Speaker’ (Cathal Sherlock) at the annual USI Congress, with President Jimmy McGovern being elected on the Officer Board of the Union of Students in Ireland.
Our Union donated €15,400 to Galway Lifeboat Station / the RNLI and Threshold after a year of charity events.
The Students’ Union was nominated for three awards in the Online Marketing in Galway Awards – People’s Choice, Best Website and Best Social Media.

2016-17
President: Jimmy McGovern

We gained new student representation on both internal and external committees to the University. We increased our representation on interview panels for the Dean of Students, Brexit Officer and University Sustainability officer.

We held a protest during the year around the underfunding of Mental Health services, and secured an extra €5,000 for the University Counselling service.
We sustained a substantial campaign about seating across campus, including a stunt where we ‘borrowed’ chairs from the Aula Maxima, and had a petition in the form of a chair (Chairlie), as well as a protest in the Quad.
We worked with the SMART Consent programme to train up over 40 students and staff to deliver Consent classes to over 400 first year students.
We were nominated for 15 Student Achievement Awards and our Welfare and Equality Officer Clare Austick won Student Activist of the Year on the night.
We ran Mental Health Mondays during each semester, increasing our presence on North campus by being there once a week to give out free fruit and water.

We ran themed weeks each semester; on Mental Health, Equality, Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance (SHAG) and Culture.
We had hundreds of staff and students walk out of class to join us in our Fund the Future Protest.
We were chosen by USI to have a delegate attend the European Students’ Union Convention.
We lobbied for a new library to be built and have seen the fruits of our labours in that this has become the number one priority for the University in terms of funding bid for capital projects.
We attracted national media attention around our journalism students being awarded fees back, as well as our criticisms of Menlo student village for their increase in rent, and our Fund the Future rally.

We used the opportunity of the opening of Goldcrest to call out extortionate prices in student accommodation.
We worked closely with the One Galway movement during the year; a collection of Trade Unions and Students’ Union. In particular we hosted the crisis campout during the year, a stunt where we pitched tents in Eyre Square to call attention to how the accommodation crisis is affecting students.
We lobbied successfully to stop the Hub being used as a catering space during Graduations
We helped organise and spoke at the Christmas tree lighting this year, using it as an opportunity to speak out against the Direct Provision system.
We were given the chance to present alongside USI to the Joint Oireachtas committee on Housing around the increases in Purpose Built Student Accommodation. Shortly after this the announcement came that rent pressure zones will extend to PBSA and that student residences will have to register with the RTB; this was a major victory and something the Union has been lobbying for for two years.

We expanded our Board of Trustees to include former Vice President for the Student Experience at NUI Galway, Dr Pat Morgan, and former NUIGSU Welfare Officer and current Registrar and CEO of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, Eucharia Meehan
We tightened up our processes at our Council meetings, having more motions passed than in previous years, as well as a sustainability policy. We created a documents section on our website where speeches and presentations we have given are posted.
For the first time ever we presented to the University Management Team on Student Issues, and followed up by hosting a UMT in our Board room for a student specific meeting.
We worked on the University of Sanctuary committee to secure Sanctuary status.
We brought motions to the National Students Union around accessible campuses, the Irish language, Hate Crime legislation, sustainability and transport, all of which were passed.

We have worked closely with St. Angela’s College Students’ Union in the run up to the merger to ensure student representation continues to be strong on their campus.
We developed links with reps in Shannon College of Hotel Management and committed to being present at their orientation, as well as helping them improve services there.
CÉIM, our peer assisted learning programme, saw another a great year of success. In September it will be piloted to the School of Psychology, bringing the number first year students CÉIM is offered to up to over 1,500.
We were honoured to host Pink Training, Europe’s largest Student LGBT+ conference (350 people) ran by the Union of Students’ in Ireland (USI) for the second year in a row which included 3 days of workshops, safe spaces and interactive talks to support and celebrate the student LGBT+ community.
Through partnership with Galway City Council we secured €5,000 funding for a second year running to run a mental health campaign.

We ran our first ever Charity week, with events like the ‘line of euros’ and a special Superclub with Electric
We ran our first ever ‘Wind down week’ which saw a second and very popular outdoor cinema, as well as free yoga and hula hooping classes.
We developed a Student Partnership Agreement, to be signed by the University and the Students’ Union; detailing where we commit to establishing committees and working together to ensure students are represented at every level.
We hosted a European Elections Hustings, to encourage students and the wider community to educate themselves and participate in the vote.
CÉIM was introduced for 1st year Political Science and Sociology students.

We raised over €11,000 for the SU Charities COPE Galway & Galway Rape Crisis Centre.

2018-19
President: Megan Reilly

We succeeded in securing funding for the exam buses out to our satellite exam venues in Salthill. Students will no longer have to pay for transport to these facilities.
We brought forward a proposal and secured €57,000 for the Library Laptop Loan Scheme initiative. Students who don’t have their own personal laptops or can’t avail of a computer on campus will be able to borrow one of the laptops for a few hours a day from the library.
We distributed 3,000 Keep Cups across campus and had over 3,000 students sign our Sustainability Pledge committing to being more sustainable and environmentally friendly in their everyday lives.
We helped NUI Galway receive the University of Sanctuary designation through our involvement and contribution on the steering committee since it was initiated in 2017. The University of Sanctuary campaign aims to make NUI Galway more inclusive and welcoming to asylum seekers, refugees and members of the Irish Traveling Community through events, collaboration, courses and scholarships offered. This year NUI Galway offered 6 undergraduate and 3 postgraduate scholarships through the initiative which will be built upon year on year.
We engaged with both local and national media on many student issues including the cost of student accommodation, the barriers that exist when accessing higher education, the importance of voting in the general election, tips on exam stress and much more to ensure the student voice was always represented and on the agenda.
We collaborated with the One Galway movement to host a General Elections Hustings on campus to ensure students and the wider community were informed on the different candidates and their policies in advance of casting their votes.
We coordinated the Freeze the Four campaign to reverse the decision taken to increase the on-campus student accommodation rents by 4% . This included a letter writing campaign, media attention, rallies, protests, attending meetings and camping out and occupying the Quad.
We helped organise and participated in the second Christmas Tree Lighting celebrating staff and students coming together as part of the NUI Galway community.
We raised €10,000 for our two chosen charities this year: Sexual Health West and Domestic Violence Response.
We presented to the University Management Team on student issues.
We held our first AGM in 10 years at the first Student Council of the year to be more accountable and transparent with the Union’s finances.
We increased voter turnout out by 4.5% in the Students’ Union Elections Full Time Officer Elections from 2019.
We ran campaigns on mental health, sexual health awareness and guidance, voter registration, breaking the barriers in accessing education, climate change and sustainability, exam destress and empowering women to participate in sports.
We increased student engagement on various issues on campus through regular working group meetings on sustainability, the student levy, the constitution and living wage.
We were actively involved in the crafting of the University’s new Strategic Plan for 2020-2025 ‘Shared Vision Shaped by Values’ where two of the core values ‘Openness’ and ‘Sustainability’ were mainly driven forward by students. Students had their say and were listened to. The University will be accountable in ensuring their flagship goals are achieved in making NUI Galway a more sustainable and inclusive campus.
We collaborated with the national union, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) throughout the year at national councils, national campaigns and addressing student issues. We sent students to their main events such as Pink Training, Women Lead, the Power of Disability – A National Forum and the Mature Students’ Seminar.
CÉIM, our peer assisted learning programme, saw another great year of success. The programme was commended in the CINNTE Institutional Review Report and it was recommended the programme be mainstreamed. The number of students offered CÉIM increased by over 35% this year.
The Students’ Union was involved in a University investment of nearly €200,000 into scoping out more inclusive learning practices. We campaigned to highlight the barriers that students face in their learning environment. This allowed the Students’ Union to plan and facilitate workshops training staff in inclusive practices for teaching, plan an international conference on Universal Design for Learning and launch a new Blackboard app called Ally that enables students to download their learning material in more accessible formats.
The SU International Officers and Vice President/Education Officer were involved in the ENLIGHT project which is a culmination of teamwork and effort from 9 universities around Europe, working together to create a connected community and support accessible and mobile learning. If funding is granted students will have the opportunity to move between each of these universities, either physically or through online learning, and have a cohesive degree from across the EU. If successful, the opening event of this project will be hosted here in NUI Galway.
The Union took a more proactive approach to Postgraduate Students, electing over 100 Postgraduate class reps and creating a better environment of engagement between Postgrad students and the Union. A position paper was drawn up of key areas to advocate for Postgrad students on including working and pay conditions, access to resources, stipends, mental, physical and financial support for PhD students and support for Postgraduate Taught students.
For the third year running, NUI Galway was selected by USI to host Pink Training, Europe’s largest LGBT+ workshop weekend. We had over 300 delegates participant in workshops over 3 days looking at how to make your SU more LGBT+ friendly, how to be a good ally or to explore a part of your identity in a safe environment. We were delighted to be part of such an amazing event highlighting the importance of the LGBT+ community.
We worked to establish greater links with Shannon College of Hotel Management, speaking at their 1st year orientation, electing several class reps and visiting them several times a semester.
A working group was set up to look at the core document that governs what we do – our SU Constitution. This working group posed a referendum that challenged what people thought made an effective Students’ Union Executive. While this referendum failed, it posed several important questions about the Students’ Union going forward.
A protest was held in the lead up to the General Election as the University had handed over the Áras na Mac Léinn building to RTÉ for a leaders debate event. This effectively locked students and staff out of the building and also caused disruptions for many societies. The protest of 70 students was led by the SU Societies Chairperson and the protesters took over space in the Quad to highlight the issue to the University Management Team and voice their frustration at the lack of consultation with staff and students regarding the closure of Áras na Mac Léinn.
NUI Galway SU was shortlisted for eight categories in the Student Achievement Awards Ireland including: Part Time Officer of the Year – Pádraic Toomey, Full Time Officer of the Year – Clare Austick, International Student of the Year – Mansi Kesarwani, Equality Campaign of the Year – University of Sanctuary, Outstanding Mental Health Activism – Emma Jane Kinsella, Student Representative of the Year – Reíltin Tynan, Postgraduate Champion of the Year – Cameron Keighron, Access Champion of the Year – SU

2019-20
President: Clare Austick

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