President of Union Affairs

Alice Hodges smiles in the President of Union Affairs gown. The gown is faced gold with the Association and University crests emblazoned.

Alice amplifies your voice, improves Union services, and supports leaders to drive meaningful student change.

About my role

Read the President of Union Affairs' full role description.

Hey! I’m Alice, your first-ever President of Union Affairs, a role created to make sure your voice shapes every decision. I’m the bridge between you, the Union, and the University, fighting to turn your feedback into real action. My time as Union Affairs Intern showed me how vital this role is, and I am ready to build on the strong foundations of the Change Program to deliver even bigger wins for you.
 
So, what does my job involve? 

As President of Union Affairs, I am jointly accountable (alongside the Union’s Chief Executive) for steering the strategic direction and long-term sustainability of the Students’ Association. I work with the Association Executive, student leaders, and our staff team to ensure our services, governance, and structures reflect student need.

This includes:

  • Representing students on University Court and attending key committees to ensure your voice is present when decisions are made.

  • Overseeing the Union’s democratic functions, including the SRC, Forums, and student-led change structures.

  • Working with commercial teams to shape Union services in ways that serve you better.

  • Leading the Association Executive and supporting officers across portfolios.

  • Ensuring the Union remains ethical, financially sustainable, and environmentally responsible.

  • Acting as a liaison between the Union, the Rector, and the local community.

  • Communicating openly with students about decisions, progress, and challenges.

My manifesto, Plan-A(lice) Is built on transparency, fighting for affordability, community and ensuring we secure the future of the Union without a need for a plan B. This means transparency you can trust through open consultations and standardised updates, fighting for affordability with trialling a free breakfast initiative and productive Campus Larder funding, and holding power to account on housing costs, as well as a better postgraduate experience with dedicated spaces and representation. I’d like to build a Union that fights for our future by embedding sustainable practices and plans for the years to come.

SEMESTER ONE PROJECTS

Focus: Affordability (cost of living and accommodation), Sustainability, Transparency and PG Only Spaces, student led change (as per the next phase of the Change Programme)

  • Push for a strategic shift in funding focus for the Campus Larder and secure more donations and funding from external organisations
  • Widen access to and participation in Freshers' Week
  • Trial free breakfast 
  • Expand device loan schemes and work with IT services to minimise the cost of electronic devices
  • Hold the University accountable to affordable rent and increase bursaries, particularly for PGTs
  • Push for and facilitate external reviews of our commercial and financial services
  • As the first ever President of Union Affairs I hope to refine and be transparent with regards to its remit as well as push for standardised financial training and literacy for all Executive Officers both within the Union and University Court
  • Improve the standards of PBSA (purpose built student accommodation) in town as well as university managed properties
  • Increase transparency by streamlining how we share Executive projects and wins
  • Organise the first ever All Student Forums and within it enable the building of new democratic structures like student working groups
  • Use my place on PARC (subcommittee of court) to hold power to account to their Albany Park affordability commitment
  • Work with the PG Presidents to ensure their voices are present in the meetings where decisions affecting them are made
  • Make Beacon Bar a Postgraduate only space one night a week
  • Relaunch Save Our Scottish Universities campaign in a way that reflects the current Tertiary Education funding landscape and meet with the Minister for Higher and Further Education in Scotland
  • Reconnect our union with other sabbs and unions in Scotland
  • Champion the ethical realignment of our institution’s investments using my seat on University Court
  • Partner with environmental groups to make sustainability effortless and visible across your union and increase our contribution to the biodiversity strategy
  • Champion a more connected and empowered Exec Team by introducing structured shared planning sessions and regular informal check-ins to improve collaboration across all portfolios
  • Implement weekly progress dashboards and weekly 'Ask the Exec' forum so students can track our work

SEMESTER TWO PROJECTS

Focus: community & care, climate action, postgraduate experience, supporting officers, representation & rights

  • Working with the Careers Centre, I’ll advocate for a platform that highlights flexible job opportunities compatible with studies while working with your President of Wellbeing to develop a resource that will help advise students who are balancing work, academics, and mental health
  • Establish a Student Action Hub to provide comprehensive support for student campaign funding, training, and mentorship.
  • Work with your President of Wellbeing to ensure that SafeZone rollout is integrated into a broader Student Safety Plan, including night-time transport, consent workshops, and crisis support
  • Introduce a Student Justice Charter
  • Start a Union podcast so that we are able to streamline our signposting and projects into more impactful and accessible content
  • Include St Andrews in the 'Rate Your Landlord' platform (Rate Your Landlord is a partnership between Unipol Student Homes and Leeds University Union with agreements with a number of Universities and Students’ Unions)
  • Review and implement ways with Development and Student Services to reduce the financial burden of graduating
  • Revolutionise our volunteer experience by implementing comprehensive training programs and establishing clear communication channels so every volunteer feels equipped and supported
  • Work with PresOpps to push for a Volunteer Development Framework that will provide certified skills recognition, professional references, and clear progression routes
  • Establish a space for volunteers to work and communicate with each other
  • Expand the annual One Union Awards
  • Be an active member of the Scottish Elections campaign (nationally)
  • Create a YOUR Scottish Elections Guide 2026
  • Help create and plan an impactful Sustainability Week working with your Environment Officer

Liaises with external relations

National Representation

The PresAffs responds to consultations run by Westminster, Holyrood, and Fife Council on behalf of St Andrews students.

They monitor developments in policy and are responsible both for making external bodies aware of student concerns/views as well as for informing students about policy changes which directly impact them.

Our Wider St Andrews Community

The PresAffs is the first point of contact in the Students Association for issues affecting students in the town.

The PresAffs sits on the Royal Burgh of St Andrews Community Council.

 

Previous holders

 

 

Year Name Resources
2025/26 Alice Hodges