The annual report summarizes statistics from student elections and initiatives at the university for the 2015-2016 year. It shows that voter turnout for student elections was 49.5% of eligible students, totaling over 8,000 voters. Through the student ideas system, 390 ideas were proposed by students, receiving over 23,000 votes from 1,781 voters. The report also provides comparisons to previous years and other universities, and outlines developments to further improve student representation and participation.

1. ANNUAL REPORT
2015-16VOTED
DID NOTVOTE
1,986
1,054
POTENTIALVOTERS
VOTER TURNOUT
3,099
1,483
679
279
CEMPS CLES EMS BS
3,706
1,728
3,713
2,057
3,751
1,476
763
470
HUMS FCH INTOCSSISCOLLEGE
556
140
KEY ELECTION NUMBERS
TOTAL STUDENTS 18,418
TOTAL FTE STUDENTS 17,635
OVERALL TURNOUT 49.5%
CHANGE POLICY AND RESEARCH

2. ANNUAL REPORT 2015-16
VOTED
DID NOTVOTE
1,986
1,054
POTENTIALVOTERS
VOTER TURNOUT
3,099
1,483
679
279
CEMPS CLES EMS BS
3,706
1,728
3,713
2,057
3,751
1,476
763
470
HUMS FCH INTOCSSISCOLLEGE
556
140
KEY ELECTION NUMBERS
TOTAL STUDENTS 18,418
TOTAL FTE STUDENTS 17,635
OVERALL TURNOUT 49.5%
CHANGE POLICY AND RESEARCH
2
STUDENT ELECTIONS
STUDENT ELECTION 2015: 588 3.37%
SABBATICAL ELECTION: 7,072 40.61%
SOCIETIES ELECTIONS: 1,072 6.16%
STUDENT ELECTION 2016: 1,608 9.23%
TOTAL STUDENTS 19,825
STUDENT FTE 17,314
TOTAL TURNOUT # 8,088
TOTAL TURNOUT % 46.45
OUR STRATEGIC TARGET TURN-
OUT IN THE THREE YEAR PLAN
FROM 2012-2015 WAS 40%
WE EXCEEDED IT IN 2014-15,
AND AGAIN IN 2015-16.
SECTOR COMPARISON:
THE GUILD IS THIRD, BEHIND
LOUGHBOROUGH SU AND IMPERIAL
COLLEGE LONDON SU.
THE SECTOR AVERAGE IS NOW
DROPPING AT 1% PERYEAR.
SABBATICAL ELECTION 2016
STUDENT ELECTION 2016
STUDENT ELECTION 2015
UNIQUE
VOTERS
NON-
VOTERS
REPEAT
VOTERS

3. 3
VOTED
DID NOTVOTE
1,986
1,054
POTENTIALVOTERS
VOTER TURNOUT
3,099
1,483
679
279
CEMPS CLES EMS BS
3,706
1,728
3,713
2,057
3,751
1,476
763
470
HUMS FCH INTOCSSISCOLLEGE
556
140
KEY ELECTION NUMBERS
TOTAL STUDENTS 18,418
TOTAL FTE STUDENTS 17,635
OVERALL TURNOUT 49.5%
CHANGE POLICY AND RESEARCH
ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016
100 STUDENTS: COLLEGE DISTRIBUTION
CEMPS
CLES
EMS
BS
HUMS
CSSIS
FCH
INTO
2,352 STUDENTS
3,255 STUDENTS
953 STUDENTS
3,861 STUDENTS
4,027 STUDENTS
4,044 STUDENTS
724 STUDENTS
609 STUDENTS
+1
-1
- 1
- 1
=
- 2
=
- 1
=
=

4. ANNUAL REPORT 2015-16
VOTED
DID NOTVOTE
1,986
1,054
POTENTIALVOTERS
VOTER TURNOUT
3,099
1,483
679
279
CEMPS CLES EMS BS
3,706
1,728
3,713
2,057
3,751
1,476
763
470
HUMS FCH INTOCSSISCOLLEGE
556
140
KEY ELECTION NUMBERS
TOTAL STUDENTS 18,418
TOTAL FTE STUDENTS 17,635
OVERALL TURNOUT 49.5%
CHANGE POLICY AND RESEARCH
4
100 STUDENTS: DEMOGRAPHICS
FEMALE
MALE
UG
PGT
PGR
HOME/EU
INT.
10,905
8,879
15,637
2,512
1,640
15,186
4,283
-3
-3
-3
-1
-1
-4
-2
COMPARISON:
THE FALL IN TURNOUT IS
CONSISTENT ACROSS MOST
DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS.
HOME/EU STUDENTS HAVE
FALLEN SLIGHTLY FASTER
AGAINST INTERNATIONAL FEE
PAYING STUDENTS.

5. 5
VOTED
DID NOTVOTE
1,986
1,054
POTENTIALVOTERS
VOTER TURNOUT
3,099
1,483
679
279
CEMPS CLES EMS BS
3,706
1,728
3,713
2,057
3,751
1,476
763
470
HUMS FCH INTOCSSISCOLLEGE
556
140
KEY ELECTION NUMBERS
TOTAL STUDENTS 18,418
TOTAL FTE STUDENTS 17,635
OVERALL TURNOUT 49.5%
CHANGE POLICY AND RESEARCH
ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016
ELECTION COMPARISON
STUDENT ELECTIONS
SABBATICAL ELECTION
STUDENT ELECTIONS
2013-14 2014-15 2015-16
TERM ONE
TERM TWO
TERM TWO
WEEK TWO / THREE
WEEK FIVE
WEEK EIGHT
WEEK THREE
WEEK SIX
WEEK NINE
WEEK TWO
WEEK SIX
WEEK TEN
6
36
14
24
42
11
4
41
10

6. ANNUAL REPORT 2015-16
VOTED
DID NOTVOTE
1,986
1,054
POTENTIALVOTERS
VOTER TURNOUT
3,099
1,483
679
279
CEMPS CLES EMS BS
3,706
1,728
3,713
2,057
3,751
1,476
763
470
HUMS FCH INTOCSSISCOLLEGE
556
140
KEY ELECTION NUMBERS
TOTAL STUDENTS 18,418
TOTAL FTE STUDENTS 17,635
OVERALL TURNOUT 49.5%
CHANGE POLICY AND RESEARCH
6
STUDENT IDEAS
TOTAL IDEAS: 436
DUPLICATES: 27
UNLAWFUL: 6
IMPOSSIBLE: 3
PROBLEMATIC: 0
COMPLAINTS: 3
CHANGE AGENTS: 21
TOTAL 'LIVE' IDEAS: 390
TOTALVOTES: 23,854
TOTALVOTERS: 1,781
TURNOUT: 10.29%
326
>34
VOTERS
>100
VOTERS
41
PROPOSERS
227
13617237
AN AMAZINGYEAR FOR PARTICIPATIVE DEMOCRACY – WE DID BETTER THAN WE
COULD HAVE PREDICTED ON ALL KEY METRICS FOR STUDENT IDEAS.
THE FINAL CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE AND THE SYSTEM IS NOW FULLY
OPERATIONAL AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED,WITH CLEAR AND AUTOMATIC
GRADING AND PASSING.

7. 7
VOTED
DID NOTVOTE
1,986
1,054
POTENTIALVOTERS
VOTER TURNOUT
3,099
1,483
679
279
CEMPS CLES EMS BS
3,706
1,728
3,713
2,057
3,751
1,476
763
470
HUMS FCH INTOCSSISCOLLEGE
556
140
KEY ELECTION NUMBERS
TOTAL STUDENTS 18,418
TOTAL FTE STUDENTS 17,635
OVERALL TURNOUT 49.5%
CHANGE POLICY AND RESEARCH
ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016
STUDENT IDEAS: COMPARISON
ENTIRE SECTOR (EXCLUDING EXETER & PORTSMOUTH): 794
THE “ENTIRE SECTOR” IS THOSE UNIONS WHO DO NOT PUT AN IDEAS SYSTEM
BEHIND A LOGIN, AND THUS REPORT TOTALS IN PUBLIC OR HAVE ALL ITEMS ON
DISPLAY.
FOR MOST OF THOSE SYSTEMS, THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IN ANY
IDEA IS LOWER THAN OUR MEDIAN 2005-2014 ENGAGEMENT FIGURE OF 34; AND
MUCH LOWER THAN OUR MEAN AVERAGE OF 61
2005-14
308 MORE IDEAS
86 MOREVOTERS
2014-15
276 MORE IDEAS
136 MORE PROPOSERS
19 MOREVOTERS
SECTOR TOP 10 2015
1. EXETER: 436
2. PORTSMOUTH: 206
3. ANGLIA RUSKIN: 86
4. HUDDERSFIELD: 83
5. LEEDS BECKETT: 71
6. UCLAN: 70
7. NOTTINGHAM TRENT: 60
8. LIVERPOOL GUILD: 45
9. UEA: 41
10. SALFORD: 35

8. ANNUAL REPORT 2015-16
VOTED
DID NOTVOTE
1,986
1,054
POTENTIALVOTERS
VOTER TURNOUT
3,099
1,483
679
279
CEMPS CLES EMS BS
3,706
1,728
3,713
2,057
3,751
1,476
763
470
HUMS FCH INTOCSSISCOLLEGE
556
140
KEY ELECTION NUMBERS
TOTAL STUDENTS 18,418
TOTAL FTE STUDENTS 17,635
OVERALL TURNOUT 49.5%
CHANGE POLICY AND RESEARCH
8
STUDENT IDEAS: DEVELOPMENT
LARGE IDEAS – REPLACES STUDENTVOTES WITHIN THE IDEAS SYSTEM; BRINGING IN A
QUALIFIED MAJORITY REQUIREMENT FOR 450-899 VOTERS AND A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF
900+ VOTERS, USING THE SAME SCORING METHOD AS STUDENT IDEAS TO GET FIRST
CLASS PASSING GRADES AS DEMOCRATIC ‘MUST DO’ VOTES.
FAST IDEAS – IN ADDITION TO STUDENT IDEAS, BUT FASTER – TAKES LESS THAN 7
DAYS FROM START TO FINISH AND MUST HAVE 25 MORE POSITIVE VOTES THAN
NEGATIVE IN ORDER TO PASS.
CHANGE AGENTS – SEPARATE FORM WHICH CAN ASK FOR AN IDEA FIRST
(DEMOCRATIC EVIDENCE) AND ALL THIRD-CLASS PASSES WILL BE CHANGE AGENT
PROJECTS. CHANGE AGENT PROJECTS WHICH ARE NON-ACADEMIC CAN ALSO BE
STARTED WITHOUT DEMOCRATIC EVIDENCE.
SCORING AND PASSAGE – AFTER 18 MONTHS TESTING GRADING AND COUNCIL
BEHAVIOUR IN THE FIELD, THE SCORING SYSTEM HAS UNDERGONE THREE FINAL
TWEAKS (5 POINTS DEDUCTED FROM PASSING GRADES ON THE LOWEST VOTERS,
AND MEAN AVERAGE SCORES) TO BETTER REFLECT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A
THIRD CLASS AND LOWER SECOND CLASS PASSING SCORE.
THE SYSTEM IS NOW FULLY AUTOMATIC ON SCORING, AND COUNCIL MOVES TO
SCRUTINY AND THE USE OF VETO POWER OVER PASSING IDEAS.
NEW
LARGE IDEAS
FAST IDEAS
CHANGE AGENTS
SCORING

9. 9
VOTED
DID NOTVOTE
1,986
1,054
POTENTIALVOTERS
VOTER TURNOUT
3,099
1,483
679
279
CEMPS CLES EMS BS
3,706
1,728
3,713
2,057
3,751
1,476
763
470
HUMS FCH INTOCSSISCOLLEGE
556
140
KEY ELECTION NUMBERS
TOTAL STUDENTS 18,418
TOTAL FTE STUDENTS 17,635
OVERALL TURNOUT 49.5%
CHANGE POLICY AND RESEARCH
ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016
GUILD COUNCIL: FINAL DEVELOPMENT
ROLES – APTITUDES, SKILLS AND PERFORMANCE
EXECUTIVE ROLES – SABBATICAL OFFICERS AND DEPUTYVICE PRESIDENTS. GUILD CHAIR
LEGISLATIVE ROLES – GUILD COUNCILLORS IN THE MINI COUNCILS
JUDICIAL ROLES – SHADOW COUNCILLORS, ELECTIONS AND IDEAS OFFICERS WHEN
INTERPRETING RULES, GUILD PRESIDENT WHEN INTERPRETING LEGAL MATTERS OF THE
CONSTITUTION.
HOW MEETINGS ARE HELD
CHAIRING AND PROCEDURE
SUPPORT FROM STAFF
ALWAYS OPEN MEETINGS
RECORDING OF MEETINGS - GOPRO CAMERA; AS PER STUDENT IDEA
RECORDING OF VOTES/ATTENDANCE AND ACTIONS
FOCUS FOR EACH COUNCIL GROUP
HOW DO YOU REPRESENT STUDENTS?
HOW DO YOU SUPPORT STUDENTS?
HOW DO YOU CAMPAIGN ON BEHALF OF STUDENTS?
WHAT CARE, RESPITE OR SOCIAL DUTIES DO YOU HAVE?
WWW.EXETERGUILD.COM/CHANGE/THEYREPRESENTYOU/
DUPLICATES THE MOST POPULAR FEATURES OF HANSARDS ONLINE (THEY WORK FOR
YOU.)
2014 REVIEW
UNCLEAR STRUCTURE
CONFUSING EXECUTIVE
NO OWNERSHIP
2015
WORKING GROUPS
SHADOW COUNCIL
2016
SEPARATION OF POWERS

10. ANNUAL REPORT 2015-16
VOTED
DID NOTVOTE
1,986
1,054
POTENTIALVOTERS
VOTER TURNOUT
3,099
1,483
679
279
CEMPS CLES EMS BS
3,706
1,728
3,713
2,057
3,751
1,476
763
470
HUMS FCH INTOCSSISCOLLEGE
556
140
KEY ELECTION NUMBERS
TOTAL STUDENTS 18,418
TOTAL FTE STUDENTS 17,635
OVERALL TURNOUT 49.5%
CHANGE POLICY AND RESEARCH
10
OUTSTANDING CHANGES
TRAINING, HELP AND SUPPORT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED CONTINUOUSLY FROM THE
2014 DEMOCRATIC REVIEW...
THE EASE-OF-USE AND UTILITY OF THE ELECTION SYSTEM HAS FALLEN INTO
QUESTION AFTER 3 YEARS OF CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT ON THE PARTICIPATIVE
DEMOCRACY SYSTEMS.THE IMPROVEMENTS WE HAVE MADE HAVE BEEN BASED ON
BETTER TRAINING AND SUPPORT, ALONGSIDE CONSISTENT BRANDING AND
PUBLICITY.
WE NOW HAVE THE BEST STUDENT IDEAS SYSTEM IN THE SECTOR - WE OWE IT TO
OUR MEMBERS TO DEVELOP THE BEST REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY TOO.THIRD
PLACE IS NO LONGER GOOD ENOUGH.
AS STATED LAST YEAR, EVEN 60% DEMOCRATIC ENGAGEMENT IS NOT ENOUGH -
EVERY SINGLE STUDENT AT EXETER HAS A VOICE, AND AT LEAST ONE THING THAT
THEY WANT HEARD. OUR SYSTEMS MUST REFLECT ALL OUR STUDENTS, NOT JUST
SOME OF THEM.
2014 DEMOCRATIC REVIEW
HARD TO USE
HARD TO NAVIGATE
PROBLEMS
WITHDRAWALS
LACK OF MANIFESTO

11. 11
VOTED
DID NOTVOTE
1,986
1,054
POTENTIALVOTERS
VOTER TURNOUT
3,099
1,483
679
279
CEMPS CLES EMS BS
3,706
1,728
3,713
2,057
3,751
1,476
763
470
HUMS FCH INTOCSSISCOLLEGE
556
140
KEY ELECTION NUMBERS
TOTAL STUDENTS 18,418
TOTAL FTE STUDENTS 17,635
OVERALL TURNOUT 49.5%
CHANGE POLICY AND RESEARCH
ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016
WELCOME TEAM: STATISTICS
WELCOME TEAM 2015…
23 SENIORS.
47 INTERNATIONAL
WELCOME TEAM MEMBERS.
150 STUDENTS ON THE
GUILD WELCOME TEAM.
197 STUDENT MEMBERS OF
WELCOME TEAM.
TOTAL HOURSVOLUNTEERED: 4,580
AVERAGE HOURS/STUDENT: 30.5

12. ANNUAL REPORT 2015-16
VOTED
DID NOTVOTE
1,986
1,054
POTENTIALVOTERS
VOTER TURNOUT
3,099
1,483
679
279
CEMPS CLES EMS BS
3,706
1,728
3,713
2,057
3,751
1,476
763
470
HUMS FCH INTOCSSISCOLLEGE
556
140
KEY ELECTION NUMBERS
TOTAL STUDENTS 18,418
TOTAL FTE STUDENTS 17,635
OVERALL TURNOUT 49.5%
CHANGE POLICY AND RESEARCH
12
VERIFIED IMPACTS
WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO
IMPROVE,AND NOW HAVE GAME
DESIGN COUNCIL TO GET DIRECT
FUN ENGAGEMENT IDEAS DIRECT
FROM ELECTED STUDENTS.
MOST KEY METRICS ARE UP, WE'RE
LOOKING TO MAKE FURTHER
CHANGES TO INCREASE
PARTICIPATION.
@EXETERVOTE
MORE FOLLOWERS
MORE INTERACTION
NEW: @EXETERSHADOW
COUNCIL'S OWN TWITTER
SLIDESHAREVIEWS UP
NEW:VIDEO TO COME
BETTER TRAINING
IMPROVED CANDIDATE TO
VOTER RATIO