New terms of reference for the Ethical and Environmental forum.

During my election I promised to make this forum it stronger, more effective, more open and more democratic. Obviously these are process to be work upon and constantly reviewed. I don’t intend these changes to last forever and I hope they will be changed and improved again and again.


Pippa Calver who was EEO last year made some excellent changes, The best of which in my opinion is the reporting relationships she set up. I’ve left all of her changes intact, In these edits I have only built on the work of previous officers not changed it.

For the most part I aimed to clear up sections I thought were ambiguous. In addition I have included several sections which are aimed at making sure the Forum is called and takes place on a regular basis. This is hopefully encourage more feed back and improve student involvement in the decision making process.

I have also included a short section at the end within the reporting relationship regarding the publishing of the minutes and the feeding back into guild council, in the hope to make it more open and democratic.

The First Forum will be held in early November – I’m just waiting until marketing materials are ready to promote it, before announcing it here which I will do as soon as I know .

My additions are in bold – please feel free to add any of your own

Terms of reference

(a) The Ethical and Environmental forum must meet three times in the first term, Three times in the Second term and twice in the third term, at least two week intervals. it is the responsibility of the EEO to organise these meetings failure to do so will result in automatic censure. This will be monitored by the independent chairs.

(b) To ensure that guild council mandates are implemented effectively.

(c) To ensure fair and proper representation of Ethical and Environmental issues at the University of Birmingham and within the Guild of Students

(d) The Ethical and Environmental forum will elect representatives to the Environmental Working Group and Ethical Working group

(e) To provide an opportunity for The Guild to keep students informed of developments &/or other issues pertaining to Ethical and Environmental matters

(f) To act as an informative consultation system by addressing any issues which arise in relation to Ethical and Environmental issues at the University of Birmingham and report back on their progresses

(g) To monitor feedback from students through the forum and to collaboratively work with the University and the Guild to initiate review or change

(h) To encourage a holistic approach to Ethical and Environmental issues at the University of Birmingham

(i) To act as a platform for the co-ordination and mutual support of student ethical and environmental campaigns

(j) To reduce the Guild of Students’ and University’s negative impact on society in relation to Ethical and Environmental issues

(k) The agenda of the Ethical and Environmental Forum must be available on the ethical and environmental officers blog and the greener guild section of the website at least 8 days before the meeting. it is the responsibility of the EEO post this failure to do so will result in automatic censure. This will be monitored by the independent chairs.

(l) Any full member of the guild of students can add something to the agenda


Membership

The Ethical and Environmental Officer of the Guild of Students shall Chair the meeting

Any full member of the Guild of Students can take part in the Ethical and Environmental Forum and will hold a vote within that forum and can initiate a vote within that forum

Additional groups may be added to target specific students

Invitees in Attendance

To be determined by the chair

Appropriate University staff members

Appropriate Guild staff members

Reporting Relationship


The Ethical and Environmental Forum has the power to make recommendations to the following groups


Environmental Working Group


Ethical Working group


University Sustainability Task Group


Guild management

The Ethical and Environmental Forum must report back to guild council about any of its decisions and guild council has the power to reverse any decision made by the Ethical and Environmental Forum

The minutes of the Ethical and Environmental forum must me posted online on the greener guild section within 3 weeks, it is the responsibility of the EEO to type them up failure to do so will result in automatic censure this will be monitored by the independent chairs.