Sunderland Students' Union is led by students for students and is an independent education charity, of which all students at the University of Sunderland are members. The Students’ Union is governed by a Board of Trustees, comprising 3 Officer Trustees (elected by students each year) and 5 External Trustees (recruited for their expertise and experience). The Chief Executive and staff work alongside the Officer Trustees and other elected Officers to run the Union. The Students’ Union’s mission is to “make our members’ University experience valuable for life.”