President

RUSU President 2019/20 Molli Cleaver

President
Molli Cleaver

Hello everyone, I’m Molli, your RUSU President! I’ve just finished my degree in English Literature and over my time at Reading I’ve got involved with a lot on campus. I’ve been on RAG committee, St George’s JCR, School Rep, netball and worked on bars, just to name a few! I’m really excited to work on events spaces, employability and student engagement this year to make sure your uni experience is the best it can be!

Check out my manifesto

President Progress Tracker

Events Space

In progress

Give Mojos an identity with improved décor and environment to increase engagement and offer an attractive alternative to students.

Updates
01/20 The project funding was approved as part of the £1m capital fund. We have finished the first round of designs, with recommendations made. Once the updated designs have been approved we will present them to students for their feedback. We intend for the renovation to occur over Summer, opening in time for Welcome Week 2020.
10/19 I sat down with RUSU staff for an initial meeting. Since that point we have organised a consultant to come in to give us some ideas around the identity we want Mojos to have and have created a pintrest mood board!
In progress

Taking advantage of our gorgeous environment to increase available outdoor space to hold meetings, rehearsals, study and more.

Updates
01/20 The project funding was approved as part of the £1m capital fund. I am now working with the staff forum to complete this project and we are currently deciding locations.
10/19 This idea has been agreed to go into the £1 million Student Experience Fund report which will be submitted on the 4th December.
02/09/19 Presented as a potential idea for £1m student experience fund to relevant management at the university – requested to write a report with costings to go forward.
Complete

Improve the ease of room booking at the university by finding an easier, more efficient way of booking.

Updates
01/20 Societies attended an info session and can now access the system. We will now monitor use.
10/19 I sat down with Estates and the room booking team to discuss options. We have agreed to pilot societies booking rooms themselves in the Spring term. One society committee member will be given access and I will organise a meeting in January for an induction!
03/09/19 Met with Estates to discuss options; Estates have gone to room booking to look into possibility of self-service and I am waiting to hear back.

Employability and Graduation

Complete

Find a way to provide cheaper graduation options to those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend due to financial reasons.

Updates
12/19 We found that there is enough money already available for anyone in hardship that requires a bursary. Instead, communications have been improved to include finance information on the graduation invites to encourage people to make themselves known if they are struggling to afford graduation. This was added to the December invites.
10/19 I sat down with the graduation team again and we recognised that students weren’t always aware of the financial options available to them. We are trialling adding a message onto the December graduation invite informing of the financial services available. Depending on the number of people will decide a figure of money RUSU might be able to contribute.
02/09/19 Presented as a potential idea for £1m student experience fund – requested to write a report with costings to go forward.
25/07/19 Met with the graduation team and student hardship to discuss current and future options – sent across numbers in order to work out a calculation of cost.
In progress

Find a way to streamline all talks across the university under one brand, in one place, so staff and students can easily find out what’s going on.

Updates
01/20 I continue to be in conversation with the events team to work out how this can feasibly happen.
10/19 I sat down with the Head of Events at the University to discuss this idea. She is going to meet with IT to discuss feasibility and cost before getting back to me.
In progress

Find ways to engage students, particularly finalists, so that they are aware of the resources they can access and how they can be supported.

Updates
01/20 Two videos have now been released and social impact week was a success! I am finalising the artwork to promote careers opportunities a bit more and am now working with careers to create graduation gifts that remind you all what is available 18 months after you leave!
11/19 RUSU are going to collaborate with Careers Social Impact week in January. We had our first initial meeting so plans are now underway!
10/19
  • RUSU had a stall at Jobfest to showcase the rep roles and part time work we offer at RUSU. I’ve been working hard to demonstrate that RUSU is more than a nightclub and you might have spotted my posters explaining that around RUSU!
  • I filmed my first two videos which should be out before Christmas! The next two are due to be filmed in Spring term.
  • I met with a member of the careers team to discuss creating careers leavers packs and making students more aware of career services. We are currently producing resources that can go out to students.
04/09/19 Met specifically to talk about finalist support and creating some new media to present options and engage students.
14/08/19 Initial meeting to discuss ideas for a series of videos to help students understand what is available to them.
13/08/19 Met with careers to discuss options going forward.

Engagement

In progress

Update and increase merch available to students so we can proudly represent where we are from.

Updates
07/08/19 Met with RUSU staff to discuss potential to increase available merch – requested to go away and research other uni’s and suggest options.
In progress

Giving students a way to find out information on the spot, supporting your busy lives!

Updates
01/20 The project funding was approved as part of the £1m capital funding. I am meeting with the company who will install them and fingers crossed they are available for end of Spring term/ start of Summer term.
10/19 I met with a company who can produce these and the idea will go into the £1 million Student Experience Fund which will be submitted on the 4th December.
02/09/19 Presented as a potential idea for £1m student experience fund project – working with Business Development Manager to work out costings.
In progress

Providing a quicker way to vote on campus, giving you the best chance to have your voice heard.

Updates
01/20 The project funding was approved as part of the £1m capital funding. I am meeting with the company who will install them and fingers crossed they are available for end of Spring term/ start of Summer term.
10/19 I met with a company who can produce these and the idea will go into the £1 million Student Experience Fund which will be submitted on the 4th December.
07/19 Spoke with the marketing manager at RUSU about possibility of voting stations – requested to write up a report of costings and options.

Other campaigns and projects

An unsustainable campus compromises the university experience of current and future students at UoR. Students at Reading have a better experience and can feel proud as a result of improved sustainable awareness alongside the university investing ethically and sustainably.

Updates
01/20 Biggest win yet… we have got the University to divest from fossil fuels, check out our journey
10/19 See the campaign.
06-08/19 This is something I’ve been creating all Summer and will officially release to students during Green Fest 20th-22nd November.

This is now complete.

Since the announcement of a General Election I have been working really hard to promote voter registration.

Democracy is in my remit but we all share successful ideas. Check out our Change It ideas we're working on to find out what ideas I'm responsible for.

We have recently finished the recruitment for the new Chief Executive of RUSU. My role in this was Chair of Appointments committee which involved sitting on both interview panels, helping to create the assessments and being part of the final decision making!