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Passed by Referendum: March 2007 Expires: 9th March 2010
Motion Proposed by: Rachel Hubbard Motion Seconded by: Lizzie Fellows
Passed by Union Council: 22/01/07 Expires: 22nd January 2010
Motion proposed by: Michael Moncrieff, 200-175-678 Motion seconded by: Beth Forrester, 200-040-778
Passed by Referendum: February 2008 Expires: 21st February 2011
Proposer: Zoe Roberts Seconder: Guppi Bola
Proposer: Joshua Jones Seconder: Sean McCormack
Proposer: Kathryn Elizabeth Bird Seconder: Susan Nash
Passed by Union Council: 3rd December 2007 Expires: 3rd December 2010
We, the Student Parent Assembly (SPA), wish to request the support of the Union Council to have students with dependents fully recognised as a group that qualifies for special support & consideration by Leeds University. We envision a family-friendly and inclusive future for Leeds University through the support of the University and Union.
A report written on students' experiences of combining higher education with caring responsibilities (Cappleman-Morgan, 2005) argued that "Firm policies supporting student-carers’ needs are vital if widening participation, retention and positive academic outcomes are to be realistically achieved" and that "Multiple demands and the resulting emotional impact on student retention and educational outcomes must be recognised at managerial level if universities are to adapt to the needs of the changing student demographic".
1. That students with dependants have a moral and legal commitment to their children that often conflicts with their commitments as a student.
2. Many student parents (especially groups such as lone parents) are disadvantaged in terms of money and time.
3. Current university policies and practices are often a barrier to education for students with dependents.
4. University policy and procedure does not currently reflect the special challenges of students with dependents. For example:
5. The presence of families on campus brings extra health and safety concerns.
6. Extra money is available to support mature students, many of whom have dependants.
7. The extent to which student parents feel supported & included varies widely across departments.
8. That current policy exists to standardise the way that other groups of students with special requirements are treated.
That Students with Dependents should be officially recognised as a minority group with specific needs by the university (in a similar way to disabled students).
That the Union Council mandate the Exec to bring this to the attention of the university authorities with the aim of:
Proposed by:Siobhan Gallagher and Saskia Middleton
Passed by Union Council: 11th February 2008 Expires: 11th February 2011
Proposer: Susan Nash Seconder: Alex Rickard
Passed by Referendum: 4th December 2008 Expires: 4th December 2011
Proposed by: Stephanie Lett Seconded by: Jessica Parker
Passed by Union Council: 26th January 2009 Expires: 26th January 2012
1. The University of Leeds should ensure low-cost access to its medicines and other health-related innovations in low-and middle income countries (through including licensing terms in technology transfer agreements that ensure low-cost access to health-related innovations).
2. The University of Leeds should adopt policies which promote and increase research and development into neglected diseases.
3. The University of Leeds should make global human welfare a primary goal of technology transfer and incorporate this into its strategies.
Proposed by: Harry Burn, 200027215 Seconded by: Sunil Bhopal, 200029347
1. Department for International Development (2004). Increasing access to essential medicines in the developing world: UK Government policy and plans. London: DFID. Available from: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Pubs/files/accessmedicines.pdf
2. A 2000 U.S. Senate report found that 15 of the 21 drugs with the greatest therapeutic impact were developed using federally funded research, most of which occurs at universities.
3 Article 25, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1984.
Passed by Union Council: 9th November 2009 Expires: 9th November 2012
Proposer: Hanif Leylabi Seconder: Hannah Morgan
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