Societies S.T.A.R.S

SOCIETIES TRAINING AND REWARDS SCHEME (STARS)

UMSU have developed a new system for recognising and rewarding societies. The new system links society activities and plans for development with their ability to get funding, as well as other privileges, including better access to resources or better Union promotion.

For 2010/11 UMSU will retain the 'pay-per-member' system but also combine it with a merit scheme for additional funding and other privileges. As well as collecting sign-ups from members, societies will be able to work towards Silver and Gold awards, which will advance their status and give them better access to Union funding and resources.

There will be 3 levels of merit: Bronze, Silver and Gold. To be an officially recognised society, (to receive union funds, book rooms, etc.) each society must achieve at least Bronze status.

n.b. All registered societies will automatically have (at least) Bronze status

 

* UMSU BRONZE SOCIETY AWARD *

Bronze Requirements:

  • Completed Registration Forms
  • Attendance at a Treasurer Training session (usually Society Treasurer)

Bronze Rewards:

  • £2 per member (up to a maximum of 250 members)
  • Booking: Up to 1 room in Biko Building (Main Campus) and 1 room in Barnes Wallis (North Campus) per week
  • Free access to basic union equipment (e.g. projectors, craft materials etc.)
  • Society pigeonhole (in the Student Activities Centre)
  • Union web resources (e.g. email listserve)
  • Use of Union publicity in general (noticeboards, poster-run, UMSU website, etc.)

 

** UMSU SILVER SOCIETY AWARD **

Silver Requirements:

  • Attendance at at least 3 UMSU societies training sessions (by at least 1 committee member), which must include either the 'Society Development' session or the 'Running a Campaign' session. (n.b. A committee member may not register as representing more than one society at any training session, with the exception of Treasurer Training.)
  • At least one committee member to attend at least one UMSU General Meeting.
  • A 300-500 word report to be submitted after having attended either the 'Society Development' session or the 'Running a Campaign' session.
  • At least 10 society members must fill out the (short) online UMSU Societies Questionnaire for your society. The Questionnaire can be accessed at www.tinyurl.com/socquiz

Silver Rewards:

  • An additional £1 per member (up to a maximum of 250 members)
  • Limited access to special funding (further details from Societies Committee)
  • Silver Society status marked on website and other union publications
  • A certificate of UMSU Silver Society award for your society (on request)

 

 

*** UMSU GOLD SOCIETY AWARD ***

Gold Requirements:

On attaining their Silver Award, societies will receive a Gold Award Nomination Form. After submitting the form, societies will attend a Societies Committee meeting, at which they will present evidence that their activities merit a Gold Award. There are no set criteria as we recognise that all societies are different. However, suggestions include:

 

  • A sound society development plan
  • Evidence of involving lots of people and/or collaborating with other societies
  • Representation at several UMSU General Meetings
  • Attendance at lots of societies training sessions
  • A good Web presence and other effective Communication/Publicity

Gold Rewards:

 

  • 1 extra room p/week in Biko Building (Main Campus) and Barnes Wallis (North Campus)
  • Enhanced access to special funding
  • Gold Society status marked on website and other union publications
  • A certificate of UMSU Gold Society award for each of your regular committee members (on request)
  • A prominent position in the Welcome Week Student Fair at the start of the next academic year
  • Use of Union to order subsidised society hoodies
  • Society Chair can be on recorded keylist for societies storage room

This is a new scheme and still in a test phase, so please remember to give us your feedback and suggest other trainings, rewards, etc. that you think the union can offer for societies.

Contact Mies at activities@umsu.manchester.ac.uk

View the timetable online here

Download the timetable as a Word file here