Colleges agree to fund reduced core ULU services and redirect savings to college student service provision

In January 2007, the Heads of Colleges Committee established a Review Group to consider the future role of the University of London Union (ULU) within the University. Chaired by Professor Paul Webley, Director and Principal of the School of Oriental and African Studies, the Review Group sought, among other things, to establish how ULU could continue to add value to the student experience under the University’s proposed new College-centred governance arrangements which envisage the majority of students being represented through their Colleges.

The existing funding agreement between the Colleges and ULU was approved in 1999 and specifies a number of core student services which ULU is obliged to provide in return for its annual grant. After reviewing the current arrangements in detail, the Review Group concluded that there remain a number of ULU services which add value to the student experience and which should continue to be funded by Colleges, namely:

• student representation (President and Vice-President)
• sports leagues and representational sport
• societies
• London Student newspaper

The current services provided by ULU cost Colleges collectively about £1 million in 2007/08. The services listed above represent a concentration of ULU’s current activities and would cost Colleges collectively in the order of £700,000 (using 2007/08 prices). The Heads of Colleges Committee supported the Review Group’s recommendation that the recurrent savings of approximately £300,000 a year should be redistributed to student service provision at College level.

Professor Webley commented on the proposed new arrangements: ‘The Colleges provide considerable funding for student service provision across the University of London as a whole and will continue to do so. The aim of the Review Group has been to ensure that this money is spent in the most efficient and effective way so as to ensure maximum added value to the student experience.’ Professor Webley added: ‘The Review Group felt that for some student services it remained the case that they could be provided more effectively and efficiently through collective action and, in other cases, it is better to redirect this funding to College level. It is not envisaged or recommended that there should be any reduction in the overall level of funding for student services across the University and its Colleges.’

The Review Group’s Final Report, together with the Heads of Colleges Committee’s comments from its meeting on 18 January 2008, will be considered by the University Council on 12 March 2008. Subject to the Council’s approval, a new Memorandum of Understanding between the University (on behalf of the Colleges) and ULU will come into effect in 2008/09, although funding changes would be phased in over a two year period to allow ULU to make the necessary internal adjustments.

For further information contact:
Andy Williamson, Head of Communications, University of London
Tel: (020) 7862-8020; Email: andy.williamson@london.ac.uk