The university is considering plans that would strip the GU of its responsibilities and give them to CUSU, Varsity can reveal.

According to a document seen by Varsity, the University of Cambridge is to undertake a review focusing on “whether the University should continue to recognise the GU as the body representing the University’s graduate students and, if not, how graduate students can be best represented".

The Graduate Union website states that it "takes concerns" raised by its members to a "wide range of University committees", pursues campaigns and acts the graduate & mature undergraduate's "voice". 

The working group is chaired by Professor Graham Virgo, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education.  

At a meeting on 19th October, senior figures referenced problems with the organisation of the GU, noting in their minutes that “removal of the GU from the Charity Commission’s register of charities earlier in 2015 was one of the more recent examples of a series of problems that had beset the GU in recent years”.

The review, which is being put before the University Council, “focuses on the question of whether the GU or CUSU should be recognised as the body to represent graduate students in the future”, according to the document. . 

The final report of the review is due to be presented to the University Council on 15th February.

The review has been in conducted “with a view to making a recommendation to the Regent House” in Lent term.

The document noted the need to “consult with the graduate student community by inviting comments from JCRs and MCRs by email on the questions to be considered by the review group, by a deadline in December”.