Get to know Umair
What made you decide to stand for election this year?
The desire to contribute something back to the place and the community that gave me so much exposure and memories to become the person that I am today.
What are your top three priorities from your manifesto?
1. Make guaranteed accommodation scheme more clear to freshers, structuring it by budget and location.
2. Expand the horizons of the disabilities support network by introducing more sports initiatives and getting more students and staff involved in decision-making.
3. Quarterly feedback from students on the performance of Sabbs and Union itself.
What do you hope to achieve in the coming year?
Apart from the aforementioned objectives, I would also want to get sleeping pods installed at the campus so that students that live far away can take rest and do not have to travel back which will definitely increase their efficiency. During my tenure here I’ve seen some people struggle with using toilet paper as back home they’ve been using water. So I would like to get jet sprays installed within the toilets.
What has been the best part of your UCL experience so far?
Although I have made so many great memories during my time here but the time during my election campaign truly stands out as one of the best.
Your advice to new students?
Nothing is impossible here if you set your heart to it.
Priorities and Projects
- 1. Mental Health and Wellbeing support
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Look into what apps are available to improve Mental Health and Wellbeing.
Work with UCL to diversify student support services.
Scope and develop a student check-in service to combat loneliness and isolation.
Improve communications and social media presence so students know about the student support services available.
Establish Welfare Wednesdays for students to talk through any issues they may be facing.
Look into how war-affected students are supported, especially through the Extenuating Circumstances Process.IN PROGRESS
- 14/11/22: Promoting Welfare Wednesdays with SSW during Wobble Week
- 16/11/22: Held first ever Welfare Wednesday on 16th November
- 21/11/22: Due to a lack of interest, paused student check-in service for a week to promote the initiative more. Will be continuing them from week starting 28th November
- 2. STS - Sleep and Toilet Strategy
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Revive the Sleep Strategy work.
Secure funding to pilot sleeping pods.
Improve toilet facilities on campus and in residences.
Improve toilet facilities in the Union spaces with bidet sprays.IN PROGRESS
- 21/11/22: Meeting with Professor Vincent, a known academic for his research in naps, in the week starting 28th November to discuss the Sleep Strategy.
- 23/11/22: Will be meeting Rohan and Faris in the week starting 28th November to come up with a business case for the toilet strategy.
- 3. Cultural Ball & Eid Celebrations
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Scope and develop a proposal for a Cultural Ball.
Establish and improve Eid celebrations.IN PROGRESS
- 26/10/22: Organised Diwali on 26th October.
- 14/11/22: Will be working with Carl on plans for the Cultural Ball till the end of the year.
- 4. Improving Accommodation
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Work with UCL to ensure all students are aware of the accommodation guarantee.
Work with UCL to partner up with more student accommodation providers to provide a broader range of accommodations.
Work with UCL to establish an accommodation helpline for prospective students.IN PROGRESS
- 21/11/22: Attended monthly meetings with the Accommodations team. Raised the issue of communication about guarantee.
- 5. HFS- Hardship Funds & Scholarships
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Improve and extend our provision of hardship funds for students in need.
Promote the range of student financial assistance and hardship funds available.
Lobby UCL to provide more scholarships for international students.IN PROGRESS
- 18/08/22: Working with the Advice Service on SDHF since the start of the term.
- 31/08/22: Attending regular Cost of Living Campaign meetings.
- 9/11/2022: Worked with the Alumni relations department and created a video with Hamza for promoting 1 UCL Fund.