Barry leads the Association as the main spokesperson for students.
About my role
Read the Association President's full role description.
Barry Will, as Assocation President, is a student advocate who champions what is important to you at all levels, from the University to political bodies both local and national.
I'm in charge of external relations with the local community and wider world, sustainability, affordability issues such as accommodation and widening access, alumni engagement, and strategy and governance of the Association.
You can find out a bit more about what my role entails in the sections below. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
News
Accommodation
The President works closely with the SRC Accommodation Officer to run Accommodation Week, the How To Rent Campaign in semester 1, and the How to Move Out Campaign in semester 2.
The President advocates for student interests when it comes to housing policy in the private sector and the University's accommodation strategy.
The President negotiates University accommodation rent each year and they also work with the University to develop the Accommodation Bursary.
The President oversees the Union's collaborative relationship with Marks Out Of Tenancy, an online platform for reviewing one's landlord/letting agency and rental experience.
The SRC Accommodation Officer is line managed by the President.
Student community
Widening access
The President's role is to encourage the University to do everything possible to ensure that all talented students have the opportunity to study here, no matter their background. We are a diverse student body but can become more so, especially in terms of socio-economic backgrounds and pathways to University.
The President works with the University, the entire Sabbatical team, and many other groups to improve the experience for students from access backgrounds, from the point of application to participation in the student community once here.
The SRC Member for Widening Access & Participation is line managed jointly by the President and the DoWell.
Alumni engagement
The President is the main point of contact in the SA for Alumni. They are responsible for ensuring that alumni remain a key part of the St Andrews experience.
They help support student-alumni relationships, crucial to maintaining the nature of the St Andrews community.
The Association Alumni Officer is line managed by the President.
External relations
National representation
The President 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.
Community relations
The President is the first point of contact in the Students Association for issues affecting students in the town.
The President sits on the Royal Burgh of St Andrews Community Council.
The Association Community Relations Officer is line managed by the President.
University relations
The President is a trustee of the University and sits on University Court as well as a number of its sub-committees. These groups make major high-level decisions about how the University is run and the President's role is to represent students in these decisions.
Brexit
The President sits on the University's Brexit Preparedness Group with the DoEd. They regularly communicate with other Scottish SUs regarding the potential impacts of Brexit on students.
Related to Brexit, the President closely follows government policy regarding tuition fees and international student visas.
Press and media
The President manages all media enquiries as the official press contact for the Students' Association.
They coordinate and approve all press releases and statements/quotes given on behalf of the Students' Association.
Strategy
The President heads up the strategic direction of the Students' Association and guides the high-level priorities for the year.
Finance
They sit on the Students' Association Board (SAB) and chair the SAB finance committee.
They are involved in negotiations for the annual block grant from the University which funds society budgets, grants and events the Union hosts.
Sustainability, ethics, and environment
The President works with the SAB, Union staff, and students to ensure that the Union operates, invests, and conducts its general business in such a way that reflects the ethics, principles and worldview of the majority of the student body, as voted upon by its elected representatives.
Working with the Association Environment officer, various student groups, community groups, and the University's environment team, they encourage the student community to be active and vocal on issues concerning sustainability.
The Association Environment Officer is line managed by the President.
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