Notices

Calendar

22 February, Saturday. Congregation of the Regent House at 2 p.m. (see p. 374).

4 March, Tuesday. End of third quarter of Lent Term. Discussion at 2 p.m. in the Senate-House.

9 March, Sunday. Preacher before the University at 11.15 a.m., The Reverend Professor O. M. T. O'Donovan, Professor of Christian Ethics and Practical Theology Emeritus in the University of Edinburgh (Hulsean Preacher).

14 March, Friday. Full Term ends.

Amendment to the regulations for the Graduate Union

19 February 2014

1. Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Graduate Union (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 193) states that 'No amendment of the constitution of the Graduate Union to give effect to a change in the objects of the Union shall have effect unless Regulation 2 has been amended by the University.'

2. The current wording of Regulation 2 is as follows:

2. The constitution of the Graduate Union shall provide for the objects of the Union to be:

(i)to advance the education of its members by the provision of facilities and services or by other means;

(ii)to provide in the interest of the social welfare of members facilities for recreation or other leisure-time activities, being facilities

(1) which will improve their conditions of life by enabling or assisting them to participate in the intellectual, social, and other activities of, or connected with, the University;

(2) of which they have need by reason of their being University members;

(iii)in furtherance of the objects specified above

(1) to promote and further communication between the membership of the Union and the University and other bodies, and to represent members in their relations with the University and its officers;

(2) to co-ordinate and promote contact between Middle Combination Rooms or equivalent bodies.

3. The University has received notification from the Graduate Union that the Union proposes to revise its constitution, including the objects clause, to one more closely based on the model recommended by the National Union of Students. Accordingly the Graduate Union has requested that University approval be granted to amend Regulation 2 as follows:

2. The constitution of the Graduate Union shall provide for the objects of the Union to be:

the advancement of education of graduate students at the University and any other persons who are members of the Union by:

(a)promoting the interests and welfare of graduate students and other members of the Union, and providing support and advice to them;

(b)being a recognized representative channel between graduate students (other than those who are not members of the Union) and the University and bodies external to the University; and

(c)providing social, cultural, sporting, and recreational activities and forums for discussions and debate for the personal development of graduate students and any other persons who are members of the Union,

and 'graduate students' shall mean any individual who is formally matriculated and registered for an approved graduate or postgraduate programme provided by the University, all undergraduates of the University who are in their fourth or higher year of residence, or who are formally registered for an approved programme of study provided by the University and are 21 years of age or over at the commencement of their course of study, and any student who is a member of the institutions belonging to the Cambridge Theological Federation or any successor body.

4. This form of words has been recommended for approval by the Council Committee for the Supervision of the Student Unions, which has responsibility for the statutory oversight of the Graduate Union (and the Cambridge University Students' Union) at the University under section 22 of the Education Act 1994. (It also has the support of the Charity Commission and the firms of specialist solicitors acting for the Graduate Union and the University in these matters.)

5. The Council has agreed to accept the Committee's recommendation and is accordingly submitting a Grace (Grace 1, p. 374) to the Regent House for the approval of the amendments to the Regulation as set out in paragraph 3 above.