KCLSU Associate Memberships Policy
June 2013
1. Associate Memberships
Associate Memberships are a common feature at a number of UK Students’ Unions for a number of reasons:
 To ensure a reciprocal relationship with other universities
 To safeguard our students by keeping an accurate record of members of clubs and societies
 To maintain a positive relationship with our alumni body while ensuring the primary benefit is to our
students
A union defines the types of memberships available in it’s Articles or Constitution.
Fees are typically less than £30 per year or less than £50 for life memberships.
There are generally four motivations for unions offering a small, fee-bearing Associate Membership:
1. To increase links with alumni
2. To offer a reciprocal support to students at other Universities, e.g. if students wish to attend a Student
Activity Group or union facility closer to their home address during vacations etc.
3. To allow Student Activity Groups to benefit from invited external expertise
4. To raise funds, although this needs to be balanced against the use of University grant for sustaining
primary purpose activity for members (i.e. they do not use their block grant to subsidise non-student use
of facilities and services).
2. KCLSU Associate Members and Membership
Trustees reserve the right to admit and remove any Associate Members and all criteria is subject to
change. Associate Members shall not be entitled to vote on any matter.
(Refer to KCLSU Articles, Article 16)
Associate memberships are available to:
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Honorary Life Members
King’s alumni
KCLSU or King’s College Staff
Students at other UK Universities; these applications must be either recommended by a KCLSU Student
Activity Group or have an agreement with our KCLSU Student Life Team
Block Associate Memberships and Individual Associate Memberships for students of non UK publicly funded
Universities are only available to students of King’s College Partner Institutions as acknowledged by the Study
Abroad Office, King’s Worldwide Office and the Vice Principal for External Relations.
An Associate Member at KCLSU qualifies for:
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Use of KCLSU facilities
Student price entry where available
Ordinary membership of a Student Activity Group (although not permitted to compete in BUCS
competition)
Observer status at committee meetings
The majority of our applicants have a link with a Student Activity Group. Take up of KCLSU Associate Memberships
fluctuates but is traditionally low;
Associate Membership Type
£5 - Term 3 membership
£10 - Term 2 membership
£15 - Annual membership
£150 - Annual membership
TOTAL:
2011 - 2012
28
12
1
1
42
2012 – 2013 (June ’13)
17
20
2
2
41
A review of our criteria has been prompted with the aim of updating the Associate Memberships Policy (and
form), intergrating it into all other relevant policies and improving the operational procedures. We also aim to
maintain our core focus on current King’s students and support the work of the College in developing appropriate
overseas partnerships.
3. Recommendations
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Integrate the Associate Membership Policy into the Sports Club agreement, Safe Space
and Member Discipline Policies
Highlight the importance of Associate Memberships in President & Treasurers/Commitee training
Condense the Associate Memberships options into:
a) An annual membership - £15 OR b) A lifetime membership- £150
Continue to award Honorary Life Memberships as per the KCLSU Articles
Review the Associate Membership form
Create a clear Associate Membership page on the KCLSU website
Appendix: Examples of other Students’ Unions criteria:
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DMU
Nottingham
UCLU