SUmmit - Standpoints passed

It’s been a landmark year for SUmmit, a committee of your student leaders brought together to shape the political direction of The SU. We kicked off the year with a brand-new SUmmit format, co-designed by SU President Jiji and the Student Voice team, to make the committee more engaging and impactful. The student response was clear: all 44 membership places were filled, making this our most representative and active SUmmit ever!

Throughout the year, we passed eight SU Standpoints, making this one of the most productive cohorts ever. These Standpoints pushed for a number of substantial changes within the SU and university community: from higher standards for lecture recordings and more accessible study spaces, to ambitious action on trans inclusion in sport.

Over the year, we passed SU Standpoints in the following areas:

• Accessible and sensory-friendly study spaces: We backed the creation of low-stimulation study areas, regularised quiet hours, and proper accessibility data in room descriptions so everyone can study in environments that support them.
• Lecture recording quality: We expanded our previous Standpoint on mandatory lecture recordings, pushing for a minimum quality standard, faster uploads, and better staff training to support consistent, accessible content.
• Fairer assessment policies: From reforming late submission penalties to simplifying the IMC (Individual Mitigating Circumstances) process, we pushed for changes that prioritise student wellbeing without sacrificing academic integrity.

We also passed a Fossil Free Careers Standpoint, calling for the University to cut ties with CU200 fossil fuel companies, establish an ethical careers policy, and replace lost opportunities with green sector partnerships. Where the balance between employability and ethics is a hot topic, SUmmit, working with People and Planet, pulled through by demonstrating that student employability and sustainability can go hand in hand.

Our members didn’t just vote — they debated and scrutinised. We held SU Officers to account over major projects, including the defunct SULIS Club renovation, an AI toolkit to help with local housing complaints, and the future of Nightline-style peer support services. We responded to real student concerns (about rising rents, lecture accessibility, and support for victims of harassment), and offered feedback to the university on their use of engagement monitoring for well-being checks. This year, Summit showed what student democracy can be at its best: active, bold, and grounded in student experience.

Each of the SU Officers followed up Standpoints and actions within their remit. SU President Jiji worked with the Vice-Chancellor on our Fossil Fuel Careers Standpoint and, in response to questions from SUmmit members about collaboration with the SU at Bath Spa, started having regular one-to-ones with their SU President. Meanwhile, Community Officer Benji helped map out the EDI training that is offered to Committee Members and see how it can be improved, and worked on expanding low-sensory hours across the University.

We wrapped SUmmit’s year up with a bang. In our final meeting, we passed what may be the most progressive Students’ Union stance on trans inclusion in sport in the UK. This bold new position, submitted as a collaboration between the Sports Exec and Diversity and Support Exec committees, calls for a Trans Inclusion Charter and dedicated training for sports committees, setting a powerful precedent for equity in student sport.

Where does that leave SUmmit next year?

Whether you want to lead change as a full member by running for one of the 44 committee positions or prefer to start by observing and getting involved as a non-voting observer, there are many opportunities to get involved. Help shape the future direction of your SU, bring forward the issues that matter to you, and be part of a vibrant student democracy that makes real impact!

Keep an eye out for applications opening at the start of next academic year: your voice matters, and SUmmit needs you!