logo reading GSU council

GSU Council is the highest decision-making body at Greenwich Students’ Union (GSU) The purpose is to reflect and represent the views of members.

Council sets out a course of action for the organisation and its representatives through the decisions it makes.

Attending and participating in GSU Council is open to all students. Any student can also submit an agenda item to be discussed at the meeting. This is just one way students can make a change at Greenwich.

 

 

 

Meeting Dates

There is a minimum of four meetings a year. The dates for this year are:

  1. Monday 3rd November 2025 (2pm-4pm)

  2. Monday 26th January 2026 (2pm-4pm)

  3. Monday 30th March 2026 (2pm-4pm)

  4. Monday 1st June 2026 (2pm-4pm)

     

Register for GSU Council 

GSU Council will be held in-person in the Lower Deck Saloon Bar.

 

Membership registration for GSU Council is open to all students who:

  • Have student status at the University of Greenwich for the 2025-26 academic year.

 

Voting for GSU Council is open to the following students:

  • Academic Reps
  • Student Group Executive Committee Members 
  • Liberation Chairs
     

What goes on

The function of GSU Council is to have reflective and informed discussion to lead to decision making that will:

  • Improve the student experience
  • Address disadvantages any groups of students are facing 
  • Enforce what students expect and want from their Students’ Union and representation.
     

GSU Council is conducted through round table group deliberation. This means everyone has the opportunity to input their views and opinions through facilitated groups, working towards an agreed set of actions to address a particular issue affecting the student community. Therefore every single attendee is shaping proposals and policy through an engaging and accessible format. 

The action points drafted by GSU Council are taken to an online vote from which our student representatives have the opportunity to vote on. Any student can attend GSU Council, but to vote you have to be a registered member. Please click the link below to sign up: 

 

Register for GSU Council 
 

Submit a petition

This platform allows for submitting, supporting, discussing, and progressing student petitions through GSU Council.

 

It is designed for use by students, elected officers, Council members, and relevant staff to ensure petitions are handled transparently, fairly, and with maximum impact.

 

 

 

Any current GSU student can submit a petition.

 

Please include:

  • A clear statement of the issue.
  • A specific action or proposal for Council to consider.
  • Any necessary context to help readers understand the background.

 

All submissions pend approval prior to being published.

How it works.

 

  • Once approved, petitions are published on the GSU website and visible to all students.
  • Students can show support by voting for the petitions they back.
  • The most supported petitions will be prioritised for discussion at the next Council meeting.

GSU Council dates 2025/26.

 

  • 3rd November 2025 at 2pm-4pm
  • 26th January 2026 at 2pm-4pm
  • 30th March 2026 at 2pm-4pm
  • 1st June 2026 at 2pm-4pm

 

GSU Council will be held in-person in the Lower Deck Saloon Bar.

 

 

If you would like to submit a petition you can through the form below. If you need any help with your submission, please do get in touch with the staff team by e-mailing e.snee@greenwich.ac.uk.  Petitions need to submitted by the outlined deadline in advance of a meeting to be considered for the upcoming GSU Council. 

It is at the discretion of the Chair which agenda items are discussed at GSU Council.

 

Back to list
  • 0 score
    0 voters

    One-Year Term Limit for Society Presidents & Permanent Separation Between Adviser and Elected Committee Roles

    Submitted 1 week ago by Md Rakibul Munshi
    Current
    • Accessibility
    • GSU
    • Opportunities
    • Representation
    • Societies
    • Wellbeing
    0comments
    I petition Greenwich Students’ Union (GSU) to introduce society governance rules that ensure leadership rotation and fair participation for all students, especially new students joining each year. The rules should apply consistently across all GSU-affiliated societies. GSU should adopt the following: One-year term limit for Society President A student may serve as Society President for a maximum of one term only (one academic year). A student who has served as President cannot run for President again in future years. Adviser–Committee role separation (permanent restriction) A Society Chief Adviser/Adviser (or equivalent advisory role) must remain neutral and must not hold any elected committee role (President, Secretary, Treasurer, or any other committee position) while serving as Adviser. In addition, anyone who has served as Chief Adviser/Adviser is not eligible to run for, or hold, any elected committee position in that society in future years (even after their advisory term ends).

    Action or Proposal

    GSU Council is asked to approve and implement these rules: A. President term limit (one year only) Define a “term” as one society committee year (one academic year). Limit the President role to one term total per person. After completing a President term, the student is not eligible to run for President again in that society. B. Adviser–Committee incompatibility rule (permanent) A student serving as Chief Adviser/Adviser is not eligible to stand for or hold any elected committee position in the same society during their adviser term. After completing an adviser term, the student remains permanently ineligible to run for or hold any elected committee position in that society. The Chief Adviser/Adviser role should be treated as a neutral, non-executive position that supports continuity without influencing elections. C. Implementation and enforcement Add these rules to GSU society governance guidance and require societies to include them in their constitutions/bylaws. Make compliance part of society election approval and committee ratification.

    Context

    Every year new students join the university and societies, and they should have a fair opportunity to take leadership roles. When the same person repeatedly holds powerful leadership positions, or moves between executive and advisory roles and later returns to executive roles again, it can reduce opportunities for others and create perceptions of group dominance or grouping within a society. These rules will help: ensure new leaders have real opportunities each year, increase fairness and trust in elections, reduce dominance by individuals or groups, and strengthen student engagement and representation across all societies. This petition is about fair and consistent governance for all societies, not about any individual.
No comments have been made.

 

 

 
 

Meeting Minutes & Actions

See the things discussed at each meeting below. You can also see all policies passed by GSU in the last three years here. 

2024/25 Academic Year 

2023/24 Academic Year 

2022/23 Academic Year 

2021/22 Academic Year 

2020/21 Academic Year

Older Notes and Documents