Your Students' Union President explains how the Union is trying to get the best deal for all students.
Students' Union Graduation statement
Last year the Students' Union received feedback from graduating students that it wasn't fair they were being asked to pay £35 to attend their own graduation ceremony. As a Union we have taken a position opposing any hidden course costs and have raised these issues with the University as part of their review of the Awards ceremony.
We believe attending graduation should be free for students and this principle has been accepted by the University.
In representing students' interests throughout this process, the Union has been working to ensure that students are well served and there is a fair approach. At the same time the Union has had to recognise the reality of balancing the costs of hosting such a prestigious event over the course of a week.
We believe that it is fairer where a group of guests are attending, that they contribute more to the cost of the event, than a graduate attending alone or with just a couple of guests.
In ensuring the costs of the event were appropriate, there was an Awards Ceremony review that took place last year and a number of other possible local venues for hosting the Graduation Awards were considered. What the Union had learnt from students from a previous University proposal to relocate the awards to the Fenton Manor Leisure complex is that collecting their degree is a special moment. These strong student feelings were fed back into the review process.
Graduating students' feedback on the use of Trentham Gardens over the last few years has been overwhelmingly positive, but noted more could be done to improve the quality of the food and drink, and the flooring (should it rain).
In balancing standards for the event and pricing for guests' attendance, price comparisons were made with equivalent universities and focus groups held with students to identify what was acceptable.
The Students' Union supported these changes on the basis that the £25 guest ticket allows for improvements to the event. The improvements secured included a steel floor being installed to prevent weather affecting conditions, free parking, access to the ceremony hall, a celebratory brochure, much improved catering for all attendees after the ceremony and entrance into the gardens.
It would have been ideal to have been able to bring these costs lower, but we couldn't see a way to direct the University to a cheaper ticket price without reducing the quality of the event and venue. We understand that even at these guest prices, it is still only a part contribution to the cost of the event.
We understand that for students wanting to bring a large number of guests then the total cost of attendance will increase, but believe this a fairer way of running the event than every student paying the £35 charged last year.
Gary Richardson, President
On behalf of the Students' Union Executive Team.