In this section

Improved communication is vital for us to ensure that information flows freely between the SU and students. Through this we can tackle concerns more efficiently, advocate for necessary changes, and create opportunities for students.

 

What we are working on

 

Improved JCR Communication - Katie Clarke & Sarah Anderson

Background

Cambridge’s collegiate system is in many ways brilliant, but it does mean we have quite a different relationship with students than other SUs might. We want to make sure that we are supporting your JCR reps the best we can so that they in turn can deliver for you!

 

What have we done?

We’ve spent the Long Vac and Michaelmas meeting with your J/MCR reps - primarily Presidents and Access Officers, but hoping to meet more as we go. We were consulting them on the future direction of the SU and some of our key projects.

  • The consultation with J/MCR Presidents ultimately led to the passing of the governance review at the first student council of Michaelmas. The changes made by this review hope to reinvigorate student activism with the SU as an effective and supportive change-making force in Cambridge.
  • We ran a college forum on the 30th October with 12 JCR reps attending where they were able to discuss cross collegiate issues.
  • Sarah is hoping to run rent negotiation training for J/MCR reps in Lent

What do we want to achieve?

We want all JCRs to feel comfortable coming to the SU for support when they run into issues in college. We want to be seen as an organisation that facilitates cross-collegiate collaboration through platforms like student council and college forum.

Improved MCR Communication - Neela Maadhuree & Sumouli Bhattacharjee

Update coming soon.

Alumni Network - Elleni Eshete

Update coming soon.

Centralised events calendar  - Elleni Eshete

Update coming soon.

Big Cambridge Survey- Sarah Anderson

Background: Historically, CUSU ran an annual Big Cambridge Survey to understand the problems facing Cambridge Students. We want to bring this back so we can best understand what you want us to campaign on!

 

What have we done? I’ve been looking at other SU’s student surveys, as well as the past Big Cambridge Surveys, to work out what kinds of questions we should be asking.

 

What do we want to achieve? I am aiming to run a trail of the Big Cambridge Survey in Lent. It would be for first and second year undergraduate students, and ask questions which are specific to the Cambridge experience. If I can’t get this to happen, I want to set it up for whoever takes over from me to be able to easily run it in Lent 2026.