University of Nottingham Students' Union
Encyclopedia
The University of Nottingham Students' Union is the students' union
at the University of Nottingham
, England
. The Students' Union is housed in the Portland Building on University Park campus a building shared with some non-Student Union activities. The Union receives a block grant from the University of over £ 2 million although the Union also raises money though income streams such as the Union Shop and a Bar. All members of the University of Nottingham
are automatically members of the Students' Union unless they use their right to opt out of membership.
, and responsible for a number of areas of work: Student Representation, Student Activities, Student Advice on Education and Welfare, and Campaigning. Prior to 2000, the University of Nottingham Students' Union was known as the University of Nottingham Union, abbreviated to UNU. The renaming was intended to clarify the Union's status as a Students' Union. Its current full name is the University of Nottingham Students' Union, shortened to the Students' Union or simply 'SU' where appropriate.
In the 1960s, the Union rationalised its representative system into a series of guilds, mostly based on halls of residence as 'constituencies'. This systems worked well for over two decades, before a critical mass of students came to live outside halls, at which point the strong communities on which the Guild system was based lost their universality. During the 1970s the Union took on a more militant air, with sit-ins and student strikes. This did lead to some positive results, such as student representation of many University committees - an opportunity openly satirised by the 1980s as less of a revolutionary shift than expected. The pace of change in the Union accelerated after the Robbins Report, as rises in student numbers drove it towards a bigger capacity, more permanent staff and sabbatical officers, more rooms and offices and bigger turnovers and budgets. Income rose from £250,000 in 1982 to £1,480,000 in 2006. Membership rose by 23,000 in the same period, whilst staff numbers more than trebled. Recently, the Union has started to address a number of pressing challenges presented by the dynamism and growth of the University under Sir Colin Campbell - such as provision of Union services to members at East Midland sites beyond the main Nottingham campuses.
Students' Union Council is the highest regularly meeting decision-making body of the Students' Union. It meets around eight times per year. For Council to make any binding decisions it has to be quorate
; the quorum for Students' Union Council is set at 50% of voting members of Council. Members of Students' Union Council can be either voting or non-voting members. The voting members are designed to be representative of the membership of the Students' Union as a whole. Most non-voting members sit on Council to represent various views that it is felt important to have represented at this level, but where they do not represent a clear constituency of students; each Student-Run Service, for example, has a non-voting seat on Council, since it is felt that there will be issues that it useful to have their input on, but that those involved in their organisation are already represented through a Council Rep.The Constituencies for Voting Members of Students' Union Council are, for the most part either residential or subject-based. Generally, first year undergraduates are grouped into constituencies determined by their residence (e.g. Hall of Residence)., with students in subsequent years represented through their subject or faculty.The remaining Council positions are held by the Executive Officers, JCR and Association Heads, and Student-Run Service Heads. In 2011 democratic reforms were announced that would in effect abolish Council and replace it with a new democratic structures. The previous democratic structures had only been quorate 15% of the time in the past 10 years and it was widely felt that they were inaccessible.
. Non-Sabbatical Officers (both Executive and Representational) hold their position alongside their studies, whilst Sabbatical Officers hold the position full time, either taking a year out from their studies, or for a year after they finish their course. An individual is only allowed to hold the office of the Sabbatical Executive positions for one term (equal to one year). Individuals are allowed to hold non-Sabbatical Office for multiple years, or multiple Executive years of office - providing the one Sabbatical term rule is adhered to. The Executive Officers are elected by a cross-campus ballot of all students.
As of January 2011 there are currently 9 positions on the Students' Union Executive Committee:
Representational Officers are non-executive officers of the Students' Union. The Representational Officers are elected by a cross-campus ballot of students who self-define into the constituency of the respective officer. These roles were established in 2008.
There is a President's Committee ('Pres Com') where Presidents of halls can share best practice. The JCRs are supported by a member of staff called the JCR Development Worker.
There are currently 20 Residential Association committees:
to chess to gliding
. There are also extensive local and international volunteering opportunities at the Students' Union, notably the InterVol project which works in Uganda
on health and sanitation, Golden Futures which works to support children in Cambodia as well as local initiatives to support the British Red Cross
and Oxfam
.
.The Athletic Union competes at the highest standard within university sport, finishing 5th in BUSA in 2007, and on course to do the same in 2008. It contains numerous international competitors, and the plays at some excellent facilities which are run by the department of sports & physical recreation.As well as the Sports Clubs, the Athletic Union also runs one of the largest Intramural sporting programmes in the country with hundreds of teams competing each week in 6 sports: Rugby, Football, Hockey, Basketball, Tennis and Netball. The winners of each sport then compete in our annual intramural varsity match against Loughborough university. Held annually, the Varsity Series is a series of sports matches against Nottingham Trent University over the Spring term in ten different disciplines: rugby union (men's and women's), hockey (men's and women's), basketball (men's and women's), football (men's and women's), ice hockey (men's), Netball (women's), cricket (men's), swimming (men's and women's combined) and rugby league (men's). This is one of the best attended series in the UK, with over 6,000 watching the ice hockey, and 3,500 watching the football and rugby. The games are held at the top sporting venues in Nottingham; both the football and rugby at Meadow Lane
(home of Notts County), and the ice hockey at the National Ice Arena.
There are over 70 AU clubs.
which would require planning permission to be obtained in order to convert houses into HMOs (House of Multiple Occupancy).
The Students' Union makes the following awards to non-students:
The Ordo Caligulae is the highest award of the Students' Union, and includes Honorary Life Membership of the Students' Union, and consequently members of the Ordo Caligulae enjoy those benefits detailed under Honorary Life Membership. Membership of the Ordo Caligulae (literally, "The Order of the Boot") is granted to those "who have given outstanding contribution to the University of Nottingham Students’ Union." It is probably named after Jesse Boot (later Lord Trent), who was a great benefactor of the University. Members entering the Ordo Caligulae are presented with a cast metal boot on a pedestal at the Union's Annual General Meeting. This is at a substantial expense to the Students' Union when compared with the cost of the other awards. The existence of the Ordo Caligulae is laid down in the Ordinances of the University (Ordinance XI: Union of Students), which are themselves approved by the Privy Council
.Honorary Life Membership is conferred on those who have furthered the achievements of the aims of the
University of Nottingham Students’ Union.
The Students' Union Constitution lays down certain rights of its members (including Honorary Members):
(Further rights, such as the ability to stand and vote in Students' Union Elections, are reserved for "Full Members" - those registered as students at the University).In recent years typically five to eight new Honorary Life Members have been created in any year.
With typically thirty recipients each year (from a graduating class numbering around 8000) the Union Prize is presented to graduating students of the University of Nottingham in recognition of their contribution to the benefit of the students.
Students' union
A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities, and has started appearing in some high schools...
at the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The Students' Union is housed in the Portland Building on University Park campus a building shared with some non-Student Union activities. The Union receives a block grant from the University of over £ 2 million although the Union also raises money though income streams such as the Union Shop and a Bar. All members of the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
are automatically members of the Students' Union unless they use their right to opt out of membership.
Introduction
The Students' Union is a charitable organisation, enshrined by legislation such as the Education Act 1994Education Act 1994
The Education Act 1994 is an Act passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom under John Major's government.Part I relates to Teacher Training....
, and responsible for a number of areas of work: Student Representation, Student Activities, Student Advice on Education and Welfare, and Campaigning. Prior to 2000, the University of Nottingham Students' Union was known as the University of Nottingham Union, abbreviated to UNU. The renaming was intended to clarify the Union's status as a Students' Union. Its current full name is the University of Nottingham Students' Union, shortened to the Students' Union or simply 'SU' where appropriate.
History
The Union's activity started in the 1880s when a cycling club was formed. At the old University College Site in the city centre the 'RAG' started in 1923. The Gong Magazine (now Impact, having been Gongster and Bias at various points) initiated in 1939 was an early sign of developing Union life. In 1928 the expanding college moved to the new out-of town Highfields Estate and here the Union's first permanent residence was in the lower corridor of the Trent Building. By 1956, the Portland Building had been opened, and was originally designated as a Union building, but although the Union is the major user, the management of the building has always rested with the University.In the 1960s, the Union rationalised its representative system into a series of guilds, mostly based on halls of residence as 'constituencies'. This systems worked well for over two decades, before a critical mass of students came to live outside halls, at which point the strong communities on which the Guild system was based lost their universality. During the 1970s the Union took on a more militant air, with sit-ins and student strikes. This did lead to some positive results, such as student representation of many University committees - an opportunity openly satirised by the 1980s as less of a revolutionary shift than expected. The pace of change in the Union accelerated after the Robbins Report, as rises in student numbers drove it towards a bigger capacity, more permanent staff and sabbatical officers, more rooms and offices and bigger turnovers and budgets. Income rose from £250,000 in 1982 to £1,480,000 in 2006. Membership rose by 23,000 in the same period, whilst staff numbers more than trebled. Recently, the Union has started to address a number of pressing challenges presented by the dynamism and growth of the University under Sir Colin Campbell - such as provision of Union services to members at East Midland sites beyond the main Nottingham campuses.
Governance
The Students' Union is governed by its Constitution and Regulations. This 150 page document is informally known as the 'Big Red Book'. The Students' Union also maintains a Policy File, which outlines its stance on various issues. The Students' Union is established by the Statutes of the University, which provide that "There shall be a Union of Students of the University" and that "Ordinances shall prescribe the constitution, functions, privileges and other matters relating to the Union of Students." Ordinance XI: Union of Students fulfills this role. The Students' Union is, naturally, subordinate to the law of the land; one of the most relevant pieces of legislation is Part II of the Education Act 1994, which specifically deals with students' unions. Changes to the Constitution, Regulations and Policy File are typically made by Students' Union Council; however, the whole membership can vote on a policy in a referendum. Referendums are generally fairly infrequent, and on major issues.Students' Union Council is the highest regularly meeting decision-making body of the Students' Union. It meets around eight times per year. For Council to make any binding decisions it has to be quorate
Quorum
A quorum is the minimum number of members of a deliberative assembly necessary to conduct the business of that group...
; the quorum for Students' Union Council is set at 50% of voting members of Council. Members of Students' Union Council can be either voting or non-voting members. The voting members are designed to be representative of the membership of the Students' Union as a whole. Most non-voting members sit on Council to represent various views that it is felt important to have represented at this level, but where they do not represent a clear constituency of students; each Student-Run Service, for example, has a non-voting seat on Council, since it is felt that there will be issues that it useful to have their input on, but that those involved in their organisation are already represented through a Council Rep.The Constituencies for Voting Members of Students' Union Council are, for the most part either residential or subject-based. Generally, first year undergraduates are grouped into constituencies determined by their residence (e.g. Hall of Residence)., with students in subsequent years represented through their subject or faculty.The remaining Council positions are held by the Executive Officers, JCR and Association Heads, and Student-Run Service Heads. In 2011 democratic reforms were announced that would in effect abolish Council and replace it with a new democratic structures. The previous democratic structures had only been quorate 15% of the time in the past 10 years and it was widely felt that they were inaccessible.
Officers
There are currently nine Executive Officers of the Students' Union. Four of the Executive Officers are also trustees of the Union: Education Officer, President, Finance and Services Officer and Democracy and Communication Officer. There is currently only one Non-Sabbatical Officers (Environment and Social Justice Officer) and eight full time Sabbatical OfficersSabbatical officer
A sabbatical officer is a full-time officer elected by the members of a students' union , commonly at a higher education establishment such as a university...
. Non-Sabbatical Officers (both Executive and Representational) hold their position alongside their studies, whilst Sabbatical Officers hold the position full time, either taking a year out from their studies, or for a year after they finish their course. An individual is only allowed to hold the office of the Sabbatical Executive positions for one term (equal to one year). Individuals are allowed to hold non-Sabbatical Office for multiple years, or multiple Executive years of office - providing the one Sabbatical term rule is adhered to. The Executive Officers are elected by a cross-campus ballot of all students.
As of January 2011 there are currently 9 positions on the Students' Union Executive Committee:
- President
- Democracy and Communications Officer
- Activities Officer
- Education Officer
- Environmental and Social Justice Officer
- Equal Opportunities and Welfare Officer
- Financial Servies Officer
- Athletic Union Officer
- Accommodation and Community Officer
Representational Officers are non-executive officers of the Students' Union. The Representational Officers are elected by a cross-campus ballot of students who self-define into the constituency of the respective officer. These roles were established in 2008.
- LGBT Students’ Officer
- Postgraduate Students’ Officer
- Mature Students’ Officer
- Disabled Students’ Officer
- Women’s Officer
- International Students’ Officer
- The Black Minority Ethnic (BME) Students’ Officer
Residential Associations
More commonly called JCRs (Junior Common Room) these committees are elected from students in halls to put on social events throughout the year. There is also a Regional Students Association for students who are not living in halls.There is a President's Committee ('Pres Com') where Presidents of halls can share best practice. The JCRs are supported by a member of staff called the JCR Development Worker.
There are currently 20 Residential Association committees:
- Ancaster Hall
- Cavendish Hall
- Cripps Hall
- Derby Hall
- Florence Boot Hall
- Hugh Stewart Hall
- Lenton and Wortley Hall
- Lincoln Hall
- Nightingale Hall
- Rutland Hall
- Sherwood Hall
- Willoughby Hall
- Newark Hall
- Melton Hall
- Southwell Hall
- Broadgate ParkBroadgate ParkBroadgate Park is a self-catered hall of residence at the University of Nottingham for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Housing about 2400 students and containing 2,223 rooms it is one the largest student villages in Europe. It is located outside of the West Entrance of the University Park...
Residents' Association (BPRA) - Raleigh Park
- Regional Students' Association (RSA)
- St Peter's Court
- Sutton Bonington
Networks
There are seven representation networks headed by Representation Officers.- Disabled Students' Network
- International Students' Bureau (ISB)
- BME Network
- LGBT Network
- Mature Students' Network
- Postgraduate Students' Association (PGSA)
- Women's Network
Student-Run Services
The Student-Run Services are set apart from societies since they exist for the benefit of the wider student body. Each Student-Run Service is run by an elected student committee. As of January 2011 there are 9 Student Run Services. Summer Party was dissolved as an SRS after making a substantial loss in 2010. Forum, a public speaker series was dissolved as a student run service but was relaunched (though not as an SRS) in 2010.- TEC PA & Lighting (Sound and Lighting Company)- provide 'tech' support for SU events
- CD & Record Library - A CD library
- ImpactImpact (student magazine)Impact Magazine is the official student magazine of the University of Nottingham, it has been published in various forms and various names since 1939 Run on a voluntary basis using funds from the Students' Union, the magazine is available free to students. Impact also publishes a website, which has...
is the official magazine for students at the University of Nottingham. It is a monthly, glossy magazine that can be picked up free from distribution boxes across Nottingham campuses. - Karnival Europe's largest student-run charitable organisation and the UK's biggest - A rag groupRAG (student society)University Rag societies are student-run charitable fundraising organisations that are widespread in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Most universities in the UK and Ireland, as well as some in South Africa and the Netherlands have a Rag...
which raises money for charity - New Theatre (Nottingham)New Theatre (Nottingham)The New Theatre is a playhouse and production company based on University Park campus, Nottingham, England. It is funded in part by the University of Nottingham Students' Union and constitutes one of the Union's 10 Student-Run Services...
- Student Theatre company which is England's only student run theatre - NightlineNightline (student service)Nightline is the name given to various confidential and anonymous overnight listening, emotional support, information, and supplies services, run by students for students at universities around the world...
- Welfare-based telephone listening and information service) - URNUniversity Radio NottinghamUniversity Radio Nottingham is the multi-award–winning university radio station of the University of Nottingham, England, where it is part of the Students' Union...
- Student Radio for Nottingham (Radio Station) - NUTSNUTS (student television)Nottingham University Television Station, commonly referred to as NUTS, is the student television station of the University of Nottingham. It is funded by the University of Nottingham Students' Union and constitutes one of the Union's 9 Student-Run Services...
- Student Television station - Week One - Put on events in freshers week to welcome students.
Societies & Volunteering
The University of Nottingham Students' Union has one of the largest ranges of student societies and volunteering opportunities in the UK. There are nearly 200 societies that cover a wide range of interests from bell-ringingNottingham University Society of Change Ringers
The Nottingham University Society of Change Ringers is one of the oldest societies affiliated to the University of Nottingham Students' Union , being founded in 1958. Its principal aim is to allow students from both the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University to practise English...
to chess to gliding
Nottingham University Gliding Club
The Nottingham University Gliding Club is the gliding club of the University of Nottingham. The aim of the club is to provide affordable flying in order to introduce as many members as possible to unpowered flight...
. There are also extensive local and international volunteering opportunities at the Students' Union, notably the InterVol project which works in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
on health and sanitation, Golden Futures which works to support children in Cambodia as well as local initiatives to support the British Red Cross
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross Society is the United Kingdom branch of the worldwide impartial humanitarian organisation the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with over 31,000 volunteers and 2,600 staff. At the heart of their work...
and Oxfam
Oxfam
Oxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
.
Athletic Union
There are over 70 sporting clubs affiliated to the Students' Union, which fall under the Athletic UnionAthletic Union
An Athletic Union or Athletics Union usually refers to the group of student sports clubs within a university or other institute of higher education, in the United Kingdom.-General information:...
.The Athletic Union competes at the highest standard within university sport, finishing 5th in BUSA in 2007, and on course to do the same in 2008. It contains numerous international competitors, and the plays at some excellent facilities which are run by the department of sports & physical recreation.As well as the Sports Clubs, the Athletic Union also runs one of the largest Intramural sporting programmes in the country with hundreds of teams competing each week in 6 sports: Rugby, Football, Hockey, Basketball, Tennis and Netball. The winners of each sport then compete in our annual intramural varsity match against Loughborough university. Held annually, the Varsity Series is a series of sports matches against Nottingham Trent University over the Spring term in ten different disciplines: rugby union (men's and women's), hockey (men's and women's), basketball (men's and women's), football (men's and women's), ice hockey (men's), Netball (women's), cricket (men's), swimming (men's and women's combined) and rugby league (men's). This is one of the best attended series in the UK, with over 6,000 watching the ice hockey, and 3,500 watching the football and rugby. The games are held at the top sporting venues in Nottingham; both the football and rugby at Meadow Lane
Meadow Lane
Not to be confused with The Meadow, home of Southern Football League Premier Division football team Chesham UnitedThe Meadow Lane Stadium is a football stadium in Nottingham, England...
(home of Notts County), and the ice hockey at the National Ice Arena.
There are over 70 AU clubs.
- Aikido
- American Football
- Archery
- Athletics and Cross Country
- Badminton
- Baseball
- Basketball (Ladies')
- Basketball (Men's)
- Boat Club
- Boxing
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Budo Taijutsu
- Canoe
- Canoe Polo
- Caving
- Cheerleading
- Cricket (Ladies')
- Cricket (Men's)
- Croquet Club
- Cycling
- Diving (Spring & High Board) Club
- Dodgeball
- Explorers
- Fencing
- Floorball Club
- Football (Ladies')
- Football (Men's)
- Gaelic Football (Men's)
- Gliding
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Handball
- Hockey (Ladies')
- Hockey (Men's)
- Ice Hockey Club
- Ju Jitsu
- Judo
- Karate
- Kite Surfing
- Korfball
- Kung Fu
- Lacrosse (Ladies')
- Lacrosse (Men's)
- Lifesaving
- Mixed Martial Arts
- Motorsport
- Mountaineering
- Netball
- Orienteering
- Polo Club
- Rambling Society RAMSOC
- Riding
- Roller Hockey
- Rugby (Men's)
- Rugby (Women's)
- Rugby League
- Sailing Club
- Skydive
- Snooker and Pool
- Snowsports
- Softball
- Squash
- Sub Aqua
- Surf
- Swimming
- Table Tennis
- Taekwondo
- Ten Pin Bowling
- Tennis
- Thai Boxing
- Trampoline
- Triathlon
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Volleyball Club
- Wakeboard & Waterski
- Waterpolo
- Windsurf
- Wing Chun Kung F
Education Network
The Education Network exists to represent students on issues relating to their education while at University. The Network is chaired by the Education Officer. ThereCampaigns
The Students' Union has run a number of campaigns over the years on a wide range of subjects affecting students. These include B-EAT aimed at helping those with eating disorders and an Exam Stress campaign aimed at helping students get through the exam period. Around January when students begin to consider housing options for the next year a campaign is run to help students look for housing. The Student Advice and Representation Centre are also available to check housing contracts free of charge.Easy Tiger
Each year a campaign run to coincide with Week One, to promote safe sex amongst freshers arriving at university. The campaign previously also promoted alcohol awareness, but in 2011/2012 Easy Tiger was stripped unceremoniously of this duty. The campaign mascot is a person in tiger suit; the tiger itself often has helpers with tiger facepaints.Your Hall! Your Call!
In 2011 the Students' Union ran a campaign called 'Your Hall! Your Call!' aimed at protesting cuts to the number of wardens and the number of tutors in halls which it was argued would be detrimental to the welfare of students living in halls. Over 3000 students signed a petition against the cuts. The campaign succeeded in its demand for student consultation over the proposed changes.HMO lobby
In 2011 a campaign was launched to protest against HMO legislation being planned by Nottingham City CouncilNottingham City Council
Nottingham City Council is the non-metropolitan district council for the unitary authority of Nottingham in Nottinghamshire. It consists of 55 councillors, representing a total of 20 wards, elected every four years. It is led by Jon Collins, of the majority Labour Party. The deputy leader of the...
which would require planning permission to be obtained in order to convert houses into HMOs (House of Multiple Occupancy).
Parking Charges
In 2011 a campaign was run against proposals by Nottingham City Council to introduce parking permits for students which would not apply to residents who were not students.Prizes and Awards
There are currently three levels of awards granted by the Students' Union to graduating students:- Ordo Caligulae
- Honorary Life Membership
- Union Prize
The Students' Union makes the following awards to non-students:
- Don Varley Award
- Golden Jubilee Award
The Ordo Caligulae is the highest award of the Students' Union, and includes Honorary Life Membership of the Students' Union, and consequently members of the Ordo Caligulae enjoy those benefits detailed under Honorary Life Membership. Membership of the Ordo Caligulae (literally, "The Order of the Boot") is granted to those "who have given outstanding contribution to the University of Nottingham Students’ Union." It is probably named after Jesse Boot (later Lord Trent), who was a great benefactor of the University. Members entering the Ordo Caligulae are presented with a cast metal boot on a pedestal at the Union's Annual General Meeting. This is at a substantial expense to the Students' Union when compared with the cost of the other awards. The existence of the Ordo Caligulae is laid down in the Ordinances of the University (Ordinance XI: Union of Students), which are themselves approved by the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
.Honorary Life Membership is conferred on those who have furthered the achievements of the aims of the
University of Nottingham Students’ Union.
The Students' Union Constitution lays down certain rights of its members (including Honorary Members):
- Take part in functions organised by the Students’ Union.
- Become members of all Clubs and Societies affiliated to the Students’ Union.
- Attend Union Council, Executive Committee and Standing Committees
- Wear official University colours.
(Further rights, such as the ability to stand and vote in Students' Union Elections, are reserved for "Full Members" - those registered as students at the University).In recent years typically five to eight new Honorary Life Members have been created in any year.
With typically thirty recipients each year (from a graduating class numbering around 8000) the Union Prize is presented to graduating students of the University of Nottingham in recognition of their contribution to the benefit of the students.