The Common Room Committee specifically had a 'chairman/woman' indicating equal status (unusual for the time) with a woman student winning the earliest known election in 1896.

[4] The building for the new university, now called Firth Court, had two common rooms for students, one for men and one for women in which events could be organized.

A major development project was completed in 2013, integrating University House into the Union building and providing an enclosed bridge to the Octagon Centre.

[8] The Students' Union maintains an environmental policy, undertaking the Students' Union to: educate its members on the issue of climate change, implement an Environment Code of Best Practice, call on the university to reduce its environmental footprint, lobby local authorities to work towards a sustainable Sheffield.

The Students' Union council gave its support to the Go Fossil Free campaign by passing a motion in spring 2014.

It further commits the Students' Union to "raise awareness of the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement", although does not explicitly endorse it as was the case prior to March 2019.

[15] On 16 January 2018, the Students' Union released a statement condemning the decision of US President Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

In the statement, on behalf of the Students' Union Council, now former President Kieran Maxwell condemned the move as resulting in "the human rights of Palestinians [being] undermined and violated" and called for "an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, and for East Jerusalem to be recognised as the Capital of Palestine".

These elected officers are supported by a number permanent staff led by the Chief Executive Daryl Ormerod who took over the reins from Chris Aucott (who, in turn, succeeded Jaki Booth).

Paul Blomfield, ex-MP for Sheffield Central constituency, was in the role for a number of years before stepping down in 2010.

The Technical Services Committee (TSC) Archived 19 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine are volunteers responsible for the setting up and running of equipment at the aforementioned club nights and live events at the Union.

As of September 2010, former Radio 1 DJ Mary Anne Hobbs joined the Forge Media team.

[citation needed] The union supports a large number of sports teams, which compete in the BUCS championships.