Our History
Believe it or not we have not always been known as the Students' Union or even Coventry University Students'
Union.
Our history starts in the 1960's as the Students' Union at Lanchester College of Technology. In 1971, the
college merged with Coventry Art School and Rugby College of Higher Education and the respective students'
unions were also merged into one at the newly formed Lanchester Polytechnic.
In 1989, the government passed the Education Act which enabled Polytechnics to become Universities which led
to Lanchester Polytechnic becoming Coventry University in 1992 and the Students' Union became Coventry
University Students' Union.
Changes to the Charities Act in 2006 created conditions where students' unions could become registered
charities. In December 2010 we became a charity and company limited by guarantee meaning that all the money
we make goes back into services to enhance the experience of our members, you the students of the Coventry
University Group.