There were separate students union offices in the Art School, the Lanchester and Rugby sites but were part of a single governance.

The students Union obtained independent legal status as a registered charity and a limited company by guarantee in 2009.

Lanchester Polytechnic Students Union became well known as a venue in the city for music in both its Main Hall and in the basement bar of its Priory Street building from the mid 1960s onwards.

This reputation grew considerably with the appointment of Ted Little, a mature student who had previously worked in the music business and knew many booking agents.

Significant events in the festival were advertised in the national press (including festival supplements in the music press) and included: the first live performance of Monty Python at the Belgrade Theatre;[7] Sir Adrian Boult conducting a symphony orchestra; Chuck Berry recorded live at Tiffany's of 'My Ding a Ling';[8] and the debut performance post-Cream of the Jack Bruce and Friends Band.

Further information on the extensive list of bands and other cultural performances at the students union can be found at the Coventry Music Museum.

This was begun in the Library and the Art School and involved the control of buildings by the students without the disruption of the normal teaching and learning practices.

In the 1980s the students union, with the support of Coventry City Council, created the Southern African Scholarship Fund.

This Fund was unique in limiting scholarships to black women from South Africa during the time of apartheid.

The then Polytechnic waived the tuition fees but the air fares and living costs were met by voluntary donations.

From its inception in 1988 there were over 20 black women scholars; the scheme continued post-apartheid to support the development of the republic of South Africa and closed in 2005.