Governance, Policies & Procedures

A Referendum is the ultimate decision-making device within MISU and is how articles of The Constitution can be changed. If you want something big to change in the SU or how it works, this is how it’s done. 

A referendum can be called by any of the following:

• Bodies established under the Democracy and Student Voice Framework, at quorum
• The Advocacy Officer Team, at quorum
• A petition which has been signed by a threshold of the membership of MISU as determined in Schedule 2 (TBA) and submitted to the President

A Referendum took place on 12 February 2026 to 'Adopt a new democratic ecosystem for MISU to replace the current failing representative democracy structures'.

The current version of The Constitution was approved by this referendum and came into effect on 15 June 2026. 

1. Referendum

• A referendum is the supreme authority on all matters relating to the governance of MISU - the union structure can be determined only by a referendum.

• Articles of the Constitution can only be changed by a referendum.

•  The procedures for a referendum are set out in Schedule 2 (TBA) of the MISU Constitution.

2. Union General Meeting

• The Union General Meeting (UGM) is the forum that all MIC students can attend to engage with MISU governance.

• The UGM may discuss matters of Union business and make recommendations to the Advocacy Officer Team and relevant governance bodies.

• The procedures for Union General Meetings are set out in Schedule 5 (TBA) of the MISU Constitution.

3. Management Board

• The Management Board provide governance oversight and strategic direction for MISU.

• They support and advise the Advocacy Officer Team in fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities.

• They monitor compliance with legal, regulatory, and constitutional obligations.

• They oversee MISU's long-term sustainability through strategic planning, risk management, and resource stewardship.

• The Terms of Reference for the Management Board are set out in Schedule 6 (TBA) of the MISU Constitution.

4. Democracy and Student Voice Framework bodies

• The Democracy and Student Voice Framework is designed to ensure genuine democratic participation, effective representation, and meaningful accountability.

• The Democracy and Student Voice Framework is guided by Accessibility, Inclusivity, Responsiveness, Accountability, and Empowerment.

• The following bodies are established under the Democracy and Student Voice Framework:

  • Learning Representatives

  • Student Community Organisers

  • Union Facilitator

  • Student Confidence Conference

  • Democratic Procedures Committee

• The Operational Procedures for the Democratic and Student Voice Framework are set out in Schedule 7 of the MISU Constitution.

5. Advocacy Officer Team

• The Advocacy Officer Team is made up of one Full-Time Officer (MISU President) and two Part-time Officers (current students) who are elected to represent their peers. 

• The students of MIC are at the centre of everything the Advocacy Officer Team do.

• They are responsible for representing student interests, advocating on behalf of the student body, and implementing the decisions made by referendum and relevant governance bodies.

• They serve as the primary student voice representatives on institutional and external committees, policy forums and key representational spaces and ensure the student voice is to the forefront of college decisions.

• The roles and responsibilites of the Advocacy Officers are set out in Schedule 8 of the MISU Constitution.

Student Representation and Supports are the core of what we do, and the day-to-day representational activities are overseen by the elected Advocacy Officer Team. 

Along with this, MISU also provides a range of services for students to support and assist them during their time in MIC to ensure that they have a positive and fulfilling student experience.   

MISU co-ordinates the Clubs & Societies at Mary Immaculate College with MISU being an Unincorporated Club/Society and MISU also operates the on-campus shop – an Síopa - on the MIC Limerick Campus. 

The Commercial Services of the Union are incorporated as a Designated Activity Company (DAC) and the company MISU Commercial Services DAC is owned and operated by MISU.  

The Union’s Services, Operations, Finance and Administrative Functions are overseen by the General Manager who is supported by a team of dedicated staff members across the Union and our Commercial Service Activities.  

To support MISU in ensuring our service delivery is consistent and student-centered, we developed the MISU Service Delivery Principles.

This documents details the key principles to which all MISU Departments, Staff and elected Officers commit. Underpinning these principles is a commitment that all staff and elected officers will have a good knowledge of the services MISU provides and the systems and procedures in place in both MISU and MIC.  

Board Membership 

Board Documentation 

MISU Management Board Terms of Reference are set out in Schedule 6 (TBA) of the MISU Constitution.

Directors

A process to recruit a new Chair and additional Directors, external to MISU, is currently underway.

• MISU President (ex-officio) 
• MISU Vice-President Academic (ex-officio) 
• MISU Vice-President Student Experience & Wellbeing (ex-officio) 
• Dee Kennelly (Company Secretary) (ex-officio – Director) 

Board Documentation 

The Board's Terms of Reference are available to view here 

The Code of Conduct for the board is available to view here 

The Board's Conflicts of Interest Policy is available to view here 

The MISU Office and MISU Commercial Services DAC Data Protection Policy enables MISU to:

• Demonstrate its commitment to the proper handling of personal data. 
• Comply with Data Protection Acts. 
• Protect the organisation from the consequences of any breach of its statutory and common law responsibilities.  
• To encourage and support a culture of best practice in relation to data protection.  

Click here to view the MISU Office and MISU Commercial Services DAC Data Protection Policy.

We listen to your complaints, we treat them seriously, we deal with them in a fair and transparent way, and we respond to them in a timely manner. 

We will monitor complaints at meetings of the MISU Management Advisory Board and where required we will look at making any necessary changes to our services, operations, and supports. 

Please note that this procedure relates to MISU, for MIC's Complaints by a Student procedure click here. For any student who wishes to make a complaint under MIC's procedure, you can contact MISU for support and advice.  

Informal Complaint 

Informal complaints can be made by contacting MISU either in-person or by phone call.

You can also complete the online complaint form and your complaint will be directed to the relevant personnel for follow-up. Please ensure you leave your contact details so we can get back to you. 

MISU aims to resolve informal complaints at the earliest opportunity. If your complaint was in-person or over the phone, then we will try to resolve the issue there and then. If we cannot, we will give you a timeframe in which we will be back to you. 

Formal Complaint 

If the complaint has not been satisfactorily resolved at the informal stage or if the nature of the complaint is more serious, then a complaint can be lodged with us through the online complaint form or by e-mail. 

A formal complaint must include: 

• Name and contact details of the complainant 

• Details of the complaint along with date/s and any supporting documentation 

A formal complaint will be dealt with by either the MISU President (Representation & Advocacy services) or the General Manager (MISU Services, Communications, Operations or Clubs & Societies). 

Where a complaint relates to an elected MISU Officer or MISU Elections, the MISU Disciplinary Procedures should be followed. 

If your complaint was by email or through our online complaint form, we will acknowledge receipt of your complaint within 7 days, and where it was an informal complaint, we will aim to resolve your complaint within this time frame. 

For a formal complaint, we will aim to resolve it within 21 days. If this is not possible, we will outline the reasons why and will give you a new deadline. 

Resolution of Complaints  

If you are not happy with our response, you may get in touch again by writing to the MISU General Manager. 

If you are still not satisfied with the outcome, you can contact the Chair of the MISU Management Advisory Board who will ensure that your complaint is considered by the Board. S/he will respond within two weeks of the date of consideration by Board members. 

We aim to resolve all complaints to a satisfactory outcome and where required, we will review and update our procedures and/or our services.