What Are The Better Forums?

In short, the Better Forums are how members of LUU create Policy - members present their ideas to a student panel to be voted on. They're split into three - Better Union, Better University and Better Leeds - so that members can seek change in all areas of student life. They take place once a term in November, March and May.

Alongside our wider Strategic Plan and the objectives of your elected Student Executive - policy is what guides us as an organisation.

The Better Forums were created in 2009 after feedback from and consultation with the whole student body - who told us that they wanted to have a say in decisions, but not all decisions, only important ones. They also told us that the language and process needed to be accessible, and open to everyone - not just political experts and keen debaters.

The Better Forums are the outcome of that wide research (and we've continued to adapt and change them since based on student feedback) - they're our way of seeing what a cross section of the student body makes of an idea, and if they can't decide we ask all of you in a campus-wide referendum.

All you need to have is an Idea.

The next Forum is in November 2024. 

Who's At The Better Forums? There are three groups of student that attend every Better Forum

1. You: You’ll need be there to tell people why you submitted your idea, and why you’d like the panel to vote yes.

2. Reps: Each Better Forum is attended by relevant reps (Activities Exec at Better Union, Faculty Officers/School Reps at Better University and Sustainability Reps at Better Leeds - plus the Liberation Coordinators attend all three). They’ll relay other students’ views and give feedback on ideas.

3. Student Panel: A randomly selected panel of 16 students (that mirror the demographics of the whole student body) will listen, ask questions, and decide whether to approve or reject your idea – like a jury. 75% of them need to say ‘Yes’ to turn your idea into policy. If they can’t agree then ideas can move to a campus-wide referendum to let all students decide.