Promise made, promise kept?

With the frantic chase for votes of last May’s student elections a distant memory, and the long summer separating campaigning from the new term, when elected representatives take up their roles and begin working to deliver their manifesto promises, it would be forgivable to have forgotten the reasons why you voted for - or against - your new student president. Indeed, freshers will have missed all the pledges and promises of spring altogether.

Trustworthiness and accountability are routinely listed as the qualities voters look for most in their elected officials. Likewise, the main complaint about student politics is that 'nothing ever changes', suggesting that somewhere along the line sabbatical officers failed to honour their promises. Therefore, in the interest of holding student union representatives to account, here is a reminder of what your president said they would accomplish, and how their plans have progressed so far. Later on in the year, The Journal will return to measure their success in delivering on their promises.

QMUSA: Rio Floreza

Election promises in action:

Representation: Promised to introduce student school captains.

One central objective will be active consultation with our student members through Student Parliament, union staff, the university and other important stakeholders as part of a governance review.

Student Finance: Promised to lobby for more flexible QMU leases.

We will continue to work with NUS on providing a clear consensus on the governments’ Supporting a Smarter Scotland consultation, HMO licensing and the introduction of a third party tenants deposit scheme.

Volunteer Recognition Programme (VPR): Promised to enhance the scheme he piloted in his first term.

Students in the programme will continue to enjoy concessions for university and union commercial services, in addition to improved training and accreditation opportunities. Team Malawi will, again, see another 15 QM students selected to participate in drama, first aid, sports activities and stigma reduction with Ekwendeni HIV/AIDS Resource Centre.

Improved Participation: Promised to work with Jewel & Esk college to share facilities.

We are delighted to welcome Jewel and Esk college students to use our Bar and Catering facilities and we hope that a new menu and more student friendly décor and facilities will be rewarded with more custom and increased customer satisfaction.

EUSA: Thomas Graham

Election promises in action:

King's Building bus services: Promised 25 per cent increase in capacity at peak times

Both the students' association and the CSE agreed on an improved timetable in time for the new academic year start with more capacity in the mornings and more convenient buses on the way back so students didn't have to miss any classes. Sadly the Estates and Buildings department have refused to fund the changes that would have taken place for the start of September despite the cost of the extra bus in the mornings being only £6995.80.

Feedback and Tutor contact: Promised to create feedback league table

Every school in the university is going to be putting together an action plan that will outline how they'll get to be in the top quartile for assessment and feedback and student satisfaction in the National Student Survey. Currently only one school is anywhere near there.

Libraries: Promised to gradually extend the opening hours of the central library to 24 hours.

So far we've secured a trial for 24 hour libraries this semester though the details are still to be finalised. Opening hours have gone up from three hours open on a Saturday to 10-8pm and 12-8pm on Sunday during the holidays.

Minibuses: Promised to deliver minibus access for all societies at £200 per month

An agreement to secure cut-prices has been put in place – we've got a really good deal that will let you hire a people carrier through our offices for your society, and also arranged with the CSE for societies to use their buses when not booked out by a sports team.

Dial-a-drink: Promised to introduce a cut-price alcohol home delivery scheme complete with recycling pick-up service

[Mr Graham highlighted other pledges that would take precedence] Sadly you won't be seeing it introduced this year.

Living: Promised to address HMO quota issues and to clamp down on unscrupulous landlords

We're going on the offensive: trying to show that most of the views put forward by the HMO Quota lobby are misguided and highlighting the positive contribution that students make to their communities.

We've been working with NUS Scotland to secure a national rent deposit scheme to make sure your deposit is protected from dodgy landlords and I'm confident that we're going to see a scheme introduced in Scotland in the next year or so. We will also be launching a website in the new year that will allow you to report a dodgy landlord who isn't doing their job properly.

Safety & Security: Promised to reduce bike crime by 50 per cent through increased CCTV, storage and patrols

I've met with the head of the university's security to discuss the provision of CCTV and lighting in key campus areas – there should be improvements to the coverage and quality in the coming months. We've got an agreement for improved bike storage facilities in the main areas. We'll also be stocking secure bike locks in the shops for the start of term.

HWUSA: Simon Eltringham

Election promises in action:

Funding and Feedback: Promised to campaign for more university funding for the student association and greater student feedback.

We will be undertaking a student survey in October, the first in the last six years, to establish what students think about the association and university life in general. We are working together with the university to ensure the association receives sufficient funding to deliver the service students deserve. We are in the process of changing our student representation structures after a governance review and this will introduce an open platform for student discussion, through ‘Student Voice’ which will be held twice a semester, in addition the current officer structure.

Commercial: Promised to improve the services on offer at the union

The year ahead will be exciting with a range of new events, a smoothie and juice bar and new menus in all our catering outlets. We’ve improved our student feedback system so that students can tell us about their experiences using our service from the advice and support centre to 'The Big F' and we can respond to them through our website so it is clear what we are doing about their suggestions.

Scottish Border Campus: Promised to maximise Heriot-Watt experience for students at the new campus.

We have invested in the new union building at SBC to make it the hub of student activity. In supporting these activities and representation and SBC we will aim to deliver a true Heriot-Watt experience for our students at that campus.

Education and Welfare: Promised to ensure that feedback was put into action through Restructuring the Academic Year (RAY) and that the advice services were enhanced.

Our network of School Officers and Class reps have identified NSS results in a bid to work in partnership with their schools to create workable action plans for dealing with RAY (Restructuring of the Academic Year) related issues. A focus for the year will be developing our ‘Best Teacher’ award and encouraging students to use module feedback surveys.

Environment: Promised to implement greener iniatives and to remove disposable mugs and plates at food halls.

We have now removed disposable mugs and plates from our catering outlets and every hall will enter into ‘Battle of the Halls Extreme’ an energy battle pushing for energy savings on last year.

On Campus Living: Promised to establish hall committees, to deal with students issues as they arise.

Every new student joining us in September will be a member of a hall regardless of whether they live on or off campus. We are supporting hall committees to develop a community, engage members, deal with grass roots representation and organize activities and events with a focus on sports, enterprise, the environment and raising and giving.

Campus: Promised to campaign for better facilities and to lenghten lab and library hours.

We have commitment from the university to address issues with facilities, learning space and facility opening hours.