Helen Gimber, President of Students’ Union University of the Arts London, said: “To be recognised by NUS is quite amazing. We have prioritised equality and diversity this year by brining in a dedicated member of staff as well as making it part of our everyday activities like risk assessments and health and safety. We have also trained up all our staff so they can train all our student volunteers.”
Equality and diversity has been a key area of development for Students’ Union University of the Arts London (SUARTS) as it has gone through a rapid organisational development over the past few years.
SUARTS has introduced a number of initiatives to form a strong and sustainable foundation to its long-term quality work, these include:
Introducing ‘assemblies’ for black & Asian students, disabled students, foundation and FE students, international students, LGBT students, mature students, part-time students, postgraduate students, student parents, and women students.
Creating the position of Equality Coordinator, on a fixed term basis, to kick start SUARTS’ work on equality and diversity.
Changing all toilet signs across its bars and venues, so accessible toilets do not de-genderise users with specific access needs and do not solely refer to wheelchair users.
All areas of SUARTS have been equality impact assessed with actions taken including, creating guideline for print and web content, action taken to monitor involvement more closely and equality and diversity training for staff and student volunteers. The impact assessment also generated a strategic statement, on which all future activities will be based.
An inclusive freshers’ festival introduced more than 20 new nights including, ‘Girls Night In’ for women students, ‘Kids Party’ for student parents and a mature students networking event.
All course representatives were canvassed to find out if they are interested in equality and diversity issues. Many reps subsequently became involved in assemblies, campaigns and lobbying.
SUARTS has become “more vocal” on University committees, particularly in Disability Working Group and the Diversity Committee. This has lead to the University addressing a number of problems including accessibility, gendered violence, no senior manager with responsibility for disability and access and student parents.
Diversity has been monitored including participation in sports clubs, societies and ‘buddying’ and showed a “good level of diversity”.
A part-time researcher was brought in to support the Parents’ Assembly to undertake research into student parents. The report’s recommendations will be included in the University’s strategic plan.