Candidate for the position of President

Image for Dom White

Dom White

VOTE DOM FOR PRESIDENT

Hi, I'm Dom and I am running for...

PRESIDENT!

It's time to build a better Union, University and Buxton & Leek College through; community, accessibility, and stronger representation.

Hello! for those who might not know me, my name is Dom White and I am currently YOUR Vice President Activities! I have studied at the University of Derby for 3 years as well as 1 year at Buxton & Leek College.

I have been very lucky to be able to represent students in many different roles, some of which are…

 · Vice President Activities (1 year) ·

· Student Officer for Humanities & Journalism (1 year) ·

· Sports committee member (3 years) · Sports Councillor (2 years) ·

· Societies committee member (2 years) · Societies Councillor (1 year) ·

· University Student Rep (3 years) · Buxton & Leek College Student Rep (1 years) ·

 

Through my experiences as a student, who also received the Disabled Students Allowance, I understand the value of being provided with the support and resources that all students need to thrive, and I am committed to making this a reality for all of you.

It is this lived experience that has enabled me to make positive changes as your Vice President Activities this year, such as...

  • Creating the foundation of a Para Sports program from scratch,
  • Diversifying Union social media photo stocks,
  • launching a halls sports program
  • Installing Lacrosse lines and 2 Rounders pitches
  • Expanding the Strength & Conditioning training provision
  • increasing the amount of First Aid and Mental Health training opportunities
  • Improved Societies Storage Space
  • Relaunching Social Sport at Buxton & Leek College
  • Supporting the creation of the coaching & officiating bursary
  • Creating clear paths into National Governing Bodies’ coaching & officiating training courses
  • Proactively collecting and actioning societies committee feedback to improve the experience of societies.
  • AND MUCH MUCH MORE!!!!

A vote for me means choosing a candidate with a successful track record and the ability to get things done!

This is why as your next Union President; I aim to achieve the following...

 

1) To provide more facilities for students

  • To continue building a better spectator & sports performance experience by pushing for the construction of outdoor scoreboards / sheltered seating/dugouts/performance analysis cameras and spectator stands.
  • But also, I aim to improve the experience of student parents, starting by increasing the visibility and quality of nursing rooms across all campuses.
  • I also aim to create more quiet spaces for students to study or simply to rest.

2) More Cost-of-Living Support

As a Union, University and Buxton & Leek College, I think we need to do more to support all of our students through the cost-of-living crisis. Students are struggling, and some are living in, or on the edge of poverty, I strongly believe that it is our duty and responsibility as a community to support them, and this is why I aim to...

  • Increase the reimbursement rate for transport costs for placement students and apprentices.
  • To get the university to remove the cost of graduation gown hire.
  • To push for Aramark & other vendors to join the "Too Good To Go" & “Olio” food wastage schemes on all campuses.
  • To get the university to offer all students free black & white printing.
  • Improve awareness of available support programs within the community as well as nationally.
  • Lobby for a “Living wage increase” for Apprentice students.
  • To get unexpected financial hardship as accepted grounds for RACs (formerly EEC).

3) Increased Accessibility & inclusion

My work this last year in accessibility and inclusion has been some of my proudest and most fulfilling, but there is still so much to do! Such as improving our international student communities’ presence!

  • To continue to develop and expand the Parasports offering
  • To continue to develop the Halls Sport program
  • To continue to develop Buxton & Leek College / FE student’s sports and societies offerings.
  • To grow the international student community’s presence, by working with international student groups, academic courses and the Union Voice team to deliver more social events and opportunities to socialise, as well as better represent international students within our democratic structures.

4) More Union presence at other campuses

Many students consistently comment that the Union is to Ked Road based… WELL… I couldn’t agree more!! Which is why I aim to;

  • Increase the presence of the Union at other campuses, by consulting student groups on what additional presence they want to see on their campus sites.
  • To have more Union staff allocated at other sites more often, with an emphasis on having The President and Vice Presidents located more often at Buxton and Leek College campuses for FE students.
  • To have social spaces at Buxton and Leek campuses open more often, utilising The President and Vice Presidents, to open the spaces and support the delivery of activities.
  • To have more presence at the Nuclear Skills Academy, hosting activity sessions for FE & HE Apprentices.

5) More Inclusive Examination and Assessment

These last few months many have said that they wish they could do an essay instead of an exam and that their reading material be more easily available, I AGREE!! So, I aim to…

  • Ensure all core texts are available digitally, if not, then get them digitised.
  • To move deadlines to 11:59 pm (Midnight hand in)
  • To continue to increase open-book exam options.
  • To work with the Provost for Learning & Teaching to scrutinise traditional examination methods currently in use and seek to find alternative and more inclusive ways of testing & assessing students.

 

Join me in building a better Union, University and Buxton & Leek College!

VOTE DOM FOR PRESIDENT!