What an incredibly exciting year it has been for our SRUCSA team, and how incredibly fast did it go. It was a year of new faces, as – under the guidance of SRUCSA Elder James – both a wholly new officer and staff team made their debut. With these new faces also came steep learning curves that were met with determination as they undertook new and continued projects.

Proactive Engagement

Catherine, organised well-attended events such as Barony’s Burns Night, attended by 26 people. She also played a vocal part in the courageous student protest in Elmwood, affirming SRUCSA’s priority to fight for student rights. Central Co-President Damson created a fantastic Speak Week Report, which gathered 205 responses and 714 comments, highlighting key themes for improvement. Jerry visited Craibstone and Elmwood, meeting with students to talk about their experiences.

Advocacy and Impact

Due to the huge decision being made to move out of the main building at Elmwood campus and downsize teaching. SRUCSA organised the student voices to make sure they were heard. These protests were a powerful example of student activism leading to tangible results. The protests, driven by concerns over building changes and course closures, garnered widespread support and resulted in significant attention from both SRUC leadership and the media.

Addressing Cost of Living

In response to a 20% increase in food prices, SRUCSA took decisive action to make living costs more manageable for students. We successfully advocated for DIY cooking facilities across campuses, ensuring students have affordable food options. The inclusion of a microwave at King’s Buildings and a cabinet for food and sanitary products in Glasgow highlighted our commitment to supporting students’ everyday needs.

Innovative Student Projects

One standout initiative was the ambitious Student Contact Project, which aimed to personally reach out to every SRUC student throughout the year. We contacted 2,082 students in total, ensuring that each response was carefully considered and discussed with the relevant faculty co-president.

Addressing Cost of Living

In response to a 20% increase in food prices, SRUCSA took decisive action to make living costs more manageable for students. We successfully advocated for DIY cooking facilities across campuses, ensuring students have affordable food options. The inclusion of a microwave at King’s Buildings and a cabinet for food and sanitary products in Glasgow highlighted our commitment to supporting students’ everyday needs.

Continuous Improvement

The creation of the Student Community Coordinator role marked a pivotal step in our efforts to build a vibrant student community. A comprehensive review of our society affiliation process and benchmarking against other Scottish Students’ Associations led to numerous recommendations aimed at improving the sustainability and longevity of student societies.

Our 2024-2025 annual report showcases the dedication and hard work of the SRUCSA team in enhancing the student experience. We look forward to continuing this momentum into the next academic year, ensuring that SRUC remains a supportive and engaging environment for all students. This has confirmed, too, that our place within our SRUC Community is a respected one. We will continue to foster a partnered approach with SRUC to navigate the challenges ahead.