Introduction

SRUCSA has come a long way from its creation in 2012 when Scotland’s land-based colleges combined to form SRUC. We are proud to be a student-led organisation that has developed strong representational systems that listens to our student members and makes real changes that improve the lives of students at SRUC.

SRUCSA is a product of all the work that has come before it, we are grateful to all the previous student officers who have brought SRUCSA to where it is today. These efforts will not be lost as we move forwards. We welcome feedback on this plan from friends and past students. We will circulate and continually discuss this plan with our student members, who are invited to take part in making this a reality.

This is a plan for how SRUCSA will grow beyond where it is now, to better fit the needs of our student members.

This plan sets out our intention for the next five years. Each year, our leadership team changes, and they bring with them new projects, new ideas and priorities. This plan is set out in a way that allows us to flex with this and still grow towards our creating a community where student become who they want to be.

Our Mission

We listen, we amplify, we take action, to empower SRUC students.

Our Vision

A community where students become who they want to be.

Our Values

Perseverance	We work hard with determination regardless of the outcome.
Inclusion	We exist to empower everyone who studies with SRUC.
Collaboration	We take pride in our ability to network and create relationships.
Transparency	We are fully transparent. We share our areas of work with students

Work Themes

We use the same themes as set out in The Framework for the Development of Strong and Effective College Students’ Associations. We divide out aims into these themes to know we are making progress in these areas.

Value and Impact

• SRUCSA Officers see big changes during their year in office and go on to influence in their chosen fields.
• Students create and run communities that thrive and provide a wide range of activities.
• SRUCSA leads projects that align with our students’ ideals, students join projects because they care about the outcomes.

Shaping the Life and Work of the College

• Students volunteer their time to contribute to SRUCSA projects together. Some of them lead and create visible changes on campus for themselves.
• SRUCSA provides students from different courses and different campuses multiple opportunities to meet and talk regularly outside of study.
• SRUCSA is skilled in challenging SRUC, it always asks SRUC to do better, and shows them how.

Aware and Active Students

• When something goes wrong, students are confident that SRUCSA will make sure it is fixed.
• Students who are involved in SRUCSA continue to contribute to SRUC after they have graduated.
• Before students join SRUC, they know about SRUCSA. SRUCSA is seen as a student-owned, student-run success, that gets stuff done.
• Students lead exciting events that happen on campus and off, in real life and online. Students know they will be welcomed if they join in.
• SRUCSA enables a rep system that is exciting, effective, and innovative
• SRUCSA enables students to take part in SRUC committees at every level

Sustainable Resources

• SRUCSA is a fun and exciting place to work and volunteer that allows you to explore and create and take on responsibility in a way that is safe and comfortable.
• SRUCSA has adequate funds to accomplish projects and stay strong in adversity.
• SRUCSA funding is secure, and its robust processes ensure students and SRUC are confident it is being spent well.
• SRUCSAs staffing is adequate for it to achieve its project aims.

Governance and Democracy

• SRUCSA Officer positions are pursued by our students. We have lots of students running for the positions and elections are a big event.
• Our education officers and class reps are knowledgeable about education and learning, beyond their own experiences.
• SRUCSA has a robust governance process that allows it freedom to choose its own destiny.
• SRUCSA actively works to engage students from all backgrounds and all modes of study at SRUC.

The Three Phases

We have split our aims into three phases, for our first phase we have identified our goals to reach this aim. The second and third phase will be reviewed in future and goals will be identified.

Phase One

SRUCSA Officers see big changes during their year in office and go on to influence in their chosen fields.

• Elected Officer manifesto aims will be operational priorities.
• We will include career development advice for SRUCSA officers.
• We will have a personal development fund for all elected officers.

SRUCSA is skilled in challenging SRUC, it always asks SRUC to do better, and shows them how.

• Each year we will complete a robust and thorough handover between teams.
• We will build a knowledge and relationship database.
• Officer training will give a strong foundation for role knowledge building.

SRUCSA actively works to engage students from all backgrounds and all modes of study at SRUC.

• We will regularly meet with staff leads and student representatives from each teaching area.
• We will work with the National Society of Apprentices to increase work-based learner engagement.
• We will introduce paid liberation officer posts.

SRUCSA has a robust governance process that allows it freedom to choose its own destiny.

• A governance review with SRUC student and external input will be carried out.
• We will carry out an evaluation the SRUCSA Executive format.

SRUCSA enables students to take part in SRUC committees at every level.

• A committee review will be completed.
• We will introduce a programme that supports students who sit on committees.
• A guide on how to use student representation effectively will be created.

SRUCSA funding is secure, and its robust processes ensure students and SRUC are confident it is being spent well.

• We will work with SRUC to develop our financial check and measures.
• A regular report on our spending will be made to SRUC and students in a way that makes sense to them.

SRUCSA has adequate funds to accomplish projects and stay strong in adversity.

• We will create a financial business plan that will allow us to grow.

SRUCSA is a fun and exciting place to work and volunteer that allows you to explore and create and take on responsibility in a way that is safe and comfortable.

• We will introduce Wellness Actions Plans for all staff and officers in SRUCSA.
• We will carry out six team activities per year (with 3 in person)

Phase Two

Goals will be identified when the plan is reviewed.

• SRUCSA leads projects that align with our students’ ideals. Students join projects because they care about the outcomes.
• SRUCSA provides students from different courses and different campuses multiple opportunities to meet and talk regularly outside of study.
• SRUCSAs staffing is adequate for it to think bigger and achieve more without comprising its current work.
• Our education officers and class reps are knowledgeable about education and learning, beyond their own experiences.
• SRUCSA Officer positions are pursued by our students. We have lots of students running for the positions and elections are a big event.
• SRUCSA enables a rep system that is exciting and innovative.

Phase Three

Goals will be identified when the plan is reviewed.

• Students volunteer their time to contribute to SRUCSA projects together. Some of them lead them and create visible changes on campus for themselves.
• Students create and run communities that thrive and provide a wide range of activities.
• Before students join SRUC, they know about SRUCSA. SRUCSA is seen as a student-owned, student-run success, that gets stuff done.
• Students lead exciting events that happen on campus and off, in real life and online. Students know they will be welcomed if they join in.
• When something goes wrong, students are confident that SRUCSA will make sure it is fixed.
• Students who are involved in SRUCSA continue to contribute to SRUC after they have graduated.