newport students' union was the union representing all students at the university. from the moment students enrolled they were automatically a member of the students’ union. it was intended that for every year of every course there should have been at least one course representative. the union was run day-to-day by a team of sabbatical officers – students who were taking an extra year or year out from their studies to develop the union. alongside this sabbatical team full-time and part-time staff were employed to assist in the operation of the union and part-time officers, team captains, society presidents and student managers who all work alongside their studies to assist the union.