The future of AMSU

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The future of AMSU

• The future shape and direction of AMSU A
  discussion document from the AMSU Trustees.

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Missionas taken from the future of AMSU paper
presented to AGM 2009

• VISION
• AMSU has the aspiration that Students Unions
  should be leading organisations within the third
  sector. We want Students Unions to be
  recognised for the value they add to their
  members, institutions and communities by leading
  and engaging in civil society.
• MISSION
• AMSU will invest in nurturing and supporting
  communities of Students Union professionals to
  organise and collaborate to make Students Unions
  role model organisations.
• VALUES
• We will
• 1. be open and welcoming
• 2. be committed to Student Officer leadership
• 3. use peer to peer delivery
• 4. take a collaborative approach to achieving our
  vision
• 5. lead by example
• 6. be ambitious for ourselves and our members.

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Overview of this presentation

• Background to the current situation
• What does this mean for AMSU
• Trustee recommendations
• Your opportunity to input member consultation
• Next steps

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Background to current situation

• Recognition that if we were designing national
  infrastructure today it is unlikely we would
  create NUS/NUSSL and AMSU
• The collaborations project started - with the
  concept of merged functions and mutual support
• NUS has become stronger more credible
• NUS strong sustainable Union agenda covers
  ground that traditionally AMSU might have in
  previous times

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The trustees thinking

• Trustees started to look at the future of AMSU
  because they wanted to
• create a consistent and improved service
• ensure financial sustainability and value for
  money
• secure greater resources
• ensure AMSU fit the changed culture in the whole
  movement
• note the greater recognition of the role of staff
  in the work of NUS

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What does this mean for AMSU?

• AMSU are looking for a way to deliver
• Improved member services
• Consistent member services
• Whilst retaining key values
• Professionalism
• Staff involvement in their own development
• Collective support
• AGM 2009 passed a paper stating
• The Trustees believe Students Union staff need
  to be able to direct their own personal
  development in support of the strong
  sustainable agenda but do not believe AMSU
  necessarily needs to exist to deliver those
  things.

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How do we think this should look?

• AMSU Trustees seriously considered 3 options
• Status quo
• New improved AMSU with a higher subscription
• Dissolve AMSU and become a staff development unit
  within NUS

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Other options?

• Develop closer links with S/NCVO and become part
  of their work?
• Different AMSU structures
• AMSU is open to suggestions
• - The Trustees feel at the moment that the only
  viable option is to dissolve as a separate entity
  and become a unit within the NUS

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What does this mean?

• AMSU would dissolve
• NUS would create a staff development unit
• SU professionals would be involved in directing
  the work of the unit as a steering group
• All decisions will be made for AMSU by June 2010
  AGM but we need your input now

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What now?

• Member consultation to ensure that the proposal
  is fully considered and will enhance the
  professional development of staff
• Continued negotiations with the NUS
• Ensuring member feedback is reflected in these
  negotiations

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What we need from you?

• Today we would like you to give frank andhonest
  feedback to option 3
• Identify what risks you see
• What reservations you have
• What you believe needs to be in place for you to
  be reassured that this is the way forward to
  enhance the professional development of your
  staff team?
• Is there an option 4?

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Timescale

• Tight but achievable
• Continued consultation untilApril
• Continued negotiations with NUS until AGM
• Trustees will bring a paper to AGM outlining the
  future of AMSU on June 23rd 2010
• That paper will outline further timescales