Union Council report
The third Union Council meeting of the academic year took place on February 10th. Here are some major takeaways from the Council papers and meeting discussions.
New menus at ICU eateries
Fusion, a cafeteria located in FiveSixEight bar, has been taken over by an ICU-affiliated catering team since January, having previously been run privately. A new menu “focused on affordability, quality, and sustainability” should be introduced by March 2nd. Additionally, from March, half of all items on ICU-run outlets should be vegetarian or vegan.
ICU Orders is here to stay
The Union recognised that the performance of the new ICU Orders app had “not met expectations”, and announced a bid for a new electronic point of sale system over the summer. The current system does not allow College cards to be scanned for an automatic validation of discounts. When a council member asked whether students should simply be able to show their cards to bartenders to obtain discounts, an evasive response from ICU implied the negative.
Temp agency in the works
ICU is planning to set up a Student Temp Agency from September 2026 to provide students with casual work both on and off campus. Up to 500 students could be hired via the scheme, which Union President Nico Henry said could help international students work around the self-employment prohibition set out by the terms of their visa.
UKRI snubs stipend increase proposal
A joint proposal from London Russel Groups Students’ Unions to increase London-based PhD stipends, led by ICU and championed by Nico Henry, was met unenthusiastically by UKRI. The research and innovation funding body declined to investigate further, saying data compiled in the proposal was invalidated by a recent stipend increase, and reportedly cited a lack of funds. Henry is now preparing a “nationwide research project” to obtain up-to-date data.
Chaplaincy updates
Imperial recently announced that it would soon lease the 14-15 Prince’s Garden buildings, which notably host faith services and student-run gardens. Nico Henry and Deputy President for Welfare Anson To have visited “several potential new locations” for the chaplaincy spaces, and Henry said he was “advocating” for the gardens to remain accessible to students. A Council member expressed their discontent at the lease, denouncing a lack of transparency in the process. The idea was raised that student societies should obtain reimbursement for any prior investment of their budget into the facilities.
SEF expansion limited by timid spend
22% of the Student Experience Fund (SEF), which provides students on an Imperial Bursary with an allowance for Union Shop payment, has been spent so far, with 38% of eligible students accessing the pot. The ambition of Deputy President for Activities Tom Gordon to expand the fund to international postgraduate students remains frustrated, with donors apparently unconvinced by the relatively slow uptake. On the bright side, students will soon be able to make partial payments with their SEF grant.
Perks for new societies
All new societies will now receive an initial budget of £100 upon creation, as part of an update to the Activities Development Fund Policy. The Deputy President for Activities is also working on a “starter pack” which will provide new committees with essential information.
