Could you be a student executive officer or student leader?

Get the inside track on DUSA straight from the CEO, Cheryl-Ann Cruickshank:

“I often get asked the question, what does DUSA actually do? It’s a good question, and before I joined DUSA I knew very little about what DUSA does, or how. I understood that DUSA existed to represent student interests but could not tell you how it did that.

Student representatives are the lifeblood of both DUSA and the University and they ensure student voice is at the heart of everything DUSA and the University do. The DUSA Executive are also Trustees of DUSA Board, and alongside seven additional trustees, hold me to account as the CEO. I have delegated responsibility for the management of DUSA’s staff and resources, but I don’t call the shots – students do!”

Being elected as a DUSA Executive Officer, School President, Student Representative Council Chair or Independent Member of Court is a unique career-enhancing opportunity where you get to influence the education, experience and support provided by the University of Dundee and DUSA. Our shared goal is to provide a first-class student experience which transforms the lives of University of Dundee students”

Nominations open from 19 February and you can view the roles up for election here: dusa.co.uk/elections

There are 4 sabbatical roles up for election which are paid the real living wage and run from 1 July to 30 June each year.

 

Student Partnership Agreement

Student Voice is a partnership between DUSA and the University with priorities, outcomes, and actions that are reviewed annually. We have over 500 class reps, and each school has a democratically elected School President, alongside school-appointed Vice Presidents. School Presidents, the DUSA Executive, The Student Representative Council (SRC) and its Chair, and the Independent Member of the Court are all democratically elected annually. This means that you, as students, decide who represents you.

Student Representative Council

DUSA supports and trains the DUSA Executive Officers, SRC Councillors, School Presidents, School Vice-Presidents and Class Reps to empower them to represent student interests and bring forward any concerns they may have to make these known to both DUSA and the University. The SRC can recommend Policy to DUSA and lobby the University in their own right. You can see some of the recent motions discussed on the SRC section of the DUSA website. 

DUSA Societies 

DUSA supports over 240 student societies which each represent academic, social, cultural, and recreational interests. Each society has its committee, meaning we also support over 1000  individual student committee members with training, administration, support and banking. Our societies have a thriving community of over 5,500 members collectively. If there isn’t a society of interest students can start their own with support from DUSA. Everything you need to know about societies and how to create one is available on the DUSA website.  

Where is DUSA? 

The DUSA main building boasts a prime location on campus, ensuring easy accessibility for all students due to its central placement. However, DUSA extends far beyond the confines of the bricks and mortar of the building – DUSA is a community of staff, students and volunteers working together to provide an excellent student experience that goes beyond learning and teaching. We cater to the social, emotional, and developmental needs of students at all stages of their journey through university to help ensure they’re supported every step of the way. We also visit Ninewells and Kirkcaldy, our two satellite campuses, to ensure students who aren’t based on our main campus regularly receive support and have their interests represented too.  

DUSA’s legacy as a late-night venue provides us with the ready-built infrastructure for hosting the types of events and experiences students are looking for. You may be aware that there has been a shift away from the weekly night clubs – feedback from students is that they want different types of events and experiences, and they also want to be collaborators and co-creators of those experiences, not just consumers. DUSA will continue to provide the experiences students want, and if there is a well-evidenced demand for a return of nightclubs, we can certainly do that in the future again. 

Unlike alternative venues in the city, DUSA is a private, members-only club. This means only students can attend our events. Non-students can be signed in by current students, but by limiting public access, we can ensure that our venues are safer and built exclusively for, and by, students. Our whole building is licensed during the day through to the early hours of the morning. Whilst alcohol sales represent a small part of our income, we will continue to offer it to those students who want it. 

DUSA is the safest place in Dundee for socialising and meeting new friends 

Our commitment to student safety is infamous, and this principle is firmly rooted in all our events and social spaces. As cited in the recent Emily Test, ‘Though DUSA is currently unable to host nightlife events, the University should still detail DUSA’s commitment to safety and its trauma-informed, GBV-focused strategies during its time of operation.’ This commitment extends beyond our 4 walls and has been extended outdoors to the marquee on The Terrace to create a safe and inclusive environment where student well-being is at the forefront of our work, from planning through to delivery.

DUSA is still doing nightlife events, mostly in collaboration with student societies. So far, we have collaborated with multiple societies to successfully launch diverse and engaging club nights, including Bollywood Night, Balkan Night, Mediterranean Night, and multiple Dundee Electronic Music Society (DEMS) events. These events underscore our commitment to assisting our societies to create meaningful experiences for their members and the broader student community. With the expertise of our events team, we facilitate each society’s vision, offering guidance, resources, and a tailored approach to event planning. As we move forward, this trend will continue, ensuring that we can provide a platform for societies to showcase their cultures, raise funds, and foster a sense of unity within the university community. 

As we embrace The Terrace and Pavement Cafe as our primary major events venue since the loss of access to our nightclub spaces, we continue to uphold our commitment to safety, security, and inclusivity, synonymous with the DUSA experience.  

For students, by students  

The success of any students’ association relies heavily on its ability to engage and cater to the needs of its members. Whilst we eagerly anticipate the building of a new DUSA, our current building, with some adaptations, presents a unique opportunity to not only enhance DUSA’s viability in the marketplace, but also go a step further by directly benefiting our student community through providing living wage job opportunities for students, and enhanced engagement.  

Extending DUSA’s outdoor footprint has elevated the student experience, providing practical benefits to students. DUSA has long been the provider of choice for entertainment and major events, such as Halloween, St Paddy’s and Grad Ball. We believe this is a win-win that supports the future sustainability of DUSA by creating a lively social space that supports a thriving student community, while also creating the employment opportunities students require to support them financially through their time at university. 

Student staffed café  

Our catering and banqueting services are supported primarily by student staff, who are paid a real living wage. This means our customers get a friendly welcome from someone who understands the highs and lows of Uni life! Extending our, ‘by students, for students,’ approach beyond our representative structures into our trading operations. Furthermore, all income is reinvested in the student experience, creating a circular economy. There is no other place like it in the city. It’s a haven for students from around the globe, and just happens to serve up great food and coffee from expertly trained student baristas! 

The Freshers’ Experience  

Freshers’ Week plays a crucial role in the journey of first-year students as they embark on their university experience. This initial week provides a unique window of opportunity for students to forge lasting relationships that become a vital support system throughout their academic journey. The connections they form will act as a cornerstone, offering emotional, academic, and social support during the challenging transition to university life. Through our events, students from various backgrounds can interact, fostering an environment where friendships are built on inclusivity and shared experiences. DUSA plays a pivotal role in offering the quintessential fresher’s experience to new students. This allows students to form connections with their peers and establish a sense of belonging right from the beginning of their university journey, in a safe and inclusive environment.  

Social interaction with other students  

Beyond the lecture halls and textbooks, it is through meaningful social interactions that students navigate their complex personal growth, self-discovery, and community integration. Our event programmes provide a diverse melting pot of perspectives, cultures, talents, and social interactions that are the catalysts for new ideas and forging lifelong friendships. These interactions shape and mould our student’s worldviews, enhance their communication skills, and cultivate the sense of belonging that is crucial for our students’ mental well-being.

Wonkhe and Pearson surveyed more than 5,000 students on belonging and inclusion at universities, noting: “When asked what would help students feel a greater sense of belonging, developing closer or more friendships was the most popular choice for all respondents (46 per cent) across all demographic categories – and selected by fully half of those who do not feel they belong, and 48 per cent of those with worse than average mental health.” Studies have shown that positive social experiences increase integration into academic systems and have a positive effect on both student retention and graduation, whereas negative social experiences weaken academic integration and can lead to student drop-out. It is well documented that social networks:  

• provide support, promote self-esteem and a sense of well-being
• provide a safety net that helps deal with stress and difficulties 
• help maintain emotional stability 
• can help with studying (e.g., peer study groups) 
• increase cultural exposure and help students’ form cross-cultural connections 

DUSA provides a dedicated entertainment space to develop student communities and foster a sense of belonging  

Pearson found in their student survey a strong correlation between students’ level of confidence and imposter syndrome (defined in the survey as doubting your abilities and feeling like you do not deserve to be at university) and their sense of belonging. Our inclusive events aim to bridge the gap, creating a space where student communities can flourish, enriching everyone’s student experience, particularly first-year, female, BAME and LGBTQI+ students. The transition from high school to university can be daunting, marked by the uncertainty of unfamiliar surroundings. By providing a venue that encourages students to connect, we lay the foundation for the development of supportive communities. Our facilities and customer safety staff work round the clock ensuring that our facilities are maintained to a high standard and are set up based on requirements. Our events team can transform almost any space into a bespoke, themed event space. DUSA has even been hired for weddings! 

These communities offer an avenue for students to exchange ideas, share experiences, and ultimately provide mutual support, alleviating feelings of isolation and bolstering their overall confidence and well-being. We support and empower students to explore their identities, discover their strengths, face up to their weaknesses, and establish a foothold within the university’s social fabric. We believe that this environment provides our students with the resilience that propels them forward on their academic journey with a sense of purpose and confidence.  

DUSA has a bespoke, award-winning retail chain, catering to student needs 

DUSA’s retail footprint extends beyond our Premier store to the Library and Ninewells. It represents just over half of DUSA’s total income, and we have ambitious plans to extend our offering online to allow all our students to feel part of the University Community. We stock a range of sustainably produced branded clothing and study materials, fostering a sense of belonging to DUSA and the University. We stock everything from bubble tea to dragon soup. If students want it, we’ll stock it. 

DUSA provides a free breakfast club and campus pantry  

DUSA operate these cost-of-living initiatives in response to the cost-of-living crisis.  These initiatives are run by student volunteers, working in partnership with DUSA catering and retail staff. 

DUSA provides a free and confidential advice and support service 

DUSA supports on average over 100 students per month through our advice and support staff who provide advice, guidance, and representation to students in academic appeals, fitness to practice, and other matters related to their studies.