elections nomination pack

Bath Spa Students’ Union is a charity (registered number 1139037) led by its members – that’s you, the

students! We work hard to offer the best student experience possible – whether that’s by providing

cheap food in the bar, campaigning against tuition fees or organising trips abroad.

The Students’ Union represents students on national and local levels. Our representatives and officers

voice student opinions to the University, local council and MPs, the National Union of Students and the

press.

We are also a democracy; each year students elect the leaders they think will best represent them. Most

of our representatives are volunteers but there are 3 full-time paid positions…

WANT THE BEST GRADUATE JOB EVER? The Sabbatical Officers are three full-time paid positions contracted for one year. They are paid £15,151

per annum and work 35 hours each week. Any student in any year can stand to be a sabbatical officer.

The positions are:

All Sabbaticals are trustees of the Students’ Union; they are responsible for

the financial and legal health of the charity, as well as its strategic plan.

STUDENTS’ UNION PRESIDENT The Students’ Union President is the lead Officer on issues relating to education as well as being the

primary spokesperson for the Union.

VICE-PRESIDENT WELFARE The VP Welfare is the lead Officer on issues relating to money, housing, the community, student health and

wellbeing.

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VICE-PRESIDENT ACTIVITIES The VP Activities is the lead Officer for clubs and societies, SpaLife, RAG, volunteering and trips.

… The elections are not just about the Sabbatical Officers. Without our volunteer representatives, the Union couldn’t

function. Any student who is not in their final year is eligible to run for the following positions…

WANT TO MANAGE £1MILLION TURNOVER? Student Officers are trustees of the Union; they are financially and legally responsible for the charity and they oversee

its strategic development.

Each officer also has their own responsibilities linked to different areas of the Union’s work. The Officers are:

Equal Opportunities Officer, Bath School of Art & Design Officer, Media Officer, Environment and Ethics Officer, and

Clubs and Societies Officer.

WANT TO BE THE VOICE OF YOUR SCHOOL? There are five School Reps – one for each School in the University. They are the most senior academic reps; they attend

high level university meetings, organise Student Led Teaching Awards and campaign for the best academic experience

possible.

WANT TO CAMPAIGN FOR EQUALITY? Liberation Reps are the voice of under-represented groups at Bath Spa. They campaign for equality and celebrate

diversity. Positions available are:

Women’s Rep, LGBT Rep, Racial Equality Rep, Disability and Mental Health Rep, International Rep, Mature Rep, Part-

Time Rep, Postgraduate Rep, Religions and Beliefs Rep

WANT TO RUN A MEDIA BRAND? Positions are available for Head of SpaLife TV, Radio, Magazine and Marketing. These media moguls lead SpaLife

volunteers to produce quality content and keep you entertained.

WANT TO REPRESENT BATH SPA NATIONALLY? All students can run for NUS Delegate. This is a job that lasts only 3 days. You will go to the National Union of Students’

annual conference and vote for and against policy on behalf of Bath Spa students.

Full job descriptions can be found online here.

http://bathspasu.co.uk/representation/content/901133/elections_2013/full_job_descriptions/

STAND OUT TO FUTURE

EMPLOYERS

These roles can significantly enhance your CV. You will get

full training, develop new skills, and be acknowledged on

your university transcript. Any hours of volunteering can be

certified by the Students’ Union’s JustV scheme.

THE STUDENTS’ UNION PRESIDENT IS

THE LEAD OFFICER ON ISSUES

RELATING TO EDUCATION AND THE

PRIMARY SPOKESPERSON FOR THE

UNION.

You should run for this role if you:

Want to ensure the Union remains

relevant and beneficial to students

Feel confident communicating with a

range of people – from students to the

vice chancellor, from the press to

Members of Parliament

Want to take action to make Bath Spa

courses the best they can be

Have an interest in leadership

The Students’ Union President is both a Trustee of the Union and an elected student representative. Any student taking up this role will receive full training on how to fulfil your new responsibilities and be supported by staff throughout your time in office.

Work as a Trustee of the Union is done on a voluntary basis and must be undertaken outside of the 37 hours paid per week. As a Trustee, you will be expected to attend and contribute to six Board of Trustee meetings and five sub-committee meetings per year. As a trustee, you will:

Chair the Board of Trustees in accordance with the Union Constitution

Work in partnership with other Trustees and the CEO to ensure that the Students’ Union has a clear strategic plan that meets the needs of its members

Ensure the Union uses its resources effectively to improve the student experience

Be responsible, along with the other Trustees, for monitoring the performance of the Students’ Union

Ensure that the Students’ Union complies with all legal and regulatory requirements, including its governing document, Charity Law and any other relevant legislation or regulations

Safeguard Students’ Union assets, taking due care over their security and usage

Maintain proper financial control and ensure that the Students’ Union applies its resources exclusively in pursuit of its objectives

Appoint and appraise the Chief Executive Officer

Be an ambassador for the Students’ Union, safeguarding its good name and values

Set and maintain the Union’s vision, mission and values and protect its autonomy

Oversee employment procedures and respect the roles of staff/volunteers

Support the operational management of the organisation

Once elected, you will meet with Union staff to discuss your manifesto and develop aims for the year. The outcome of this meeting along with the duties outlined below shall form the responsibilities of this post. As an Officer you will:

Chair Student Council

Act as the lead student representative on the University’s Board of Governors, Academic Board and relevant subcommittees

Work with fellow officers and Union Staff to ensure that the Constitution and By-Laws are implemented and

updated as required, ensuring that the information is disseminated to all parties concerned

Work with the CEO to co-ordinate the implementation, monitoring and updating of the Union’s Strategic Plan

Actively encourage participation in the democratic structure and processes

Be responsible for liaising with University authorities over student discipline

Liaise directly with the University Vice Chancellor and senior University staff, exchanging information that relates to the student experience

Have overall responsibility for external relations, including the University and local and national bodies

Liaise with the Representation & Welfare Assistant to ensure the smooth running and development of the Student Academic Representation System

Liaise with fellow officers and student reps to ensure that the concerns of the student body are made known to the University and lobby on behalf of students when necessary

Be responsible for the Union’s complaints and disciplinary procedures

The President’s start date is 21st June.

The salary for the President is £15,151 per annum.

THE VICE-PRESIDENT WELFARE IS

THE LEAD OFFICER ON ISSUES

RELATING TO MONEY, HOUSING,

THE COMMUNITY, STUDENT

HEALTH AND WELLBEING. You should run for this role if you:

Want to ensure the Union operates in a

way that is ethical, fair and inclusive

Can identify points of concern for

students and take action to resolve them

Have an interest in campaigning to

protect students’ rights and promote

students’ wellbeing

The Vice-President Welfare is both a Trustee of the Union and an elected student representative. Any student taking up this role will receive full training on how to fulfil your new responsibilities and be supported by staff throughout your time in office.

Work as a Trustee of the Union is done on a voluntary basis and must be undertaken outside of the 37 hours paid per week. As a Trustee, you will be expected to attend and contribute to six Board of Trustee meetings and five sub-committee meetings per year. As a trustee, you will:





Protect the Students’ Union assets, taking due care over their security and usage




Set and maintain the Union’s vision, mission and values and safeguard its autonomy




Oversee the Union’s welfare campaigns

Act as the lead student representative in the Student Community Partnership, Federation of Bath Residents’ Associations and other community groups

Be the Student Representative on the University’s Equality and Diversity Steering Group, Access to Learning Fund panel and other committees pertaining to student welfare

Liaise directly with the Student Support Services Manager and Accommodation Manager, exchanging information that relates to the student experience

Liaise with the Representation & Welfare Assistant to ensure the smooth running and development of the Housing Representatives and the Liberation Representatives

Liaise with fellow officers and student reps to ensure that the concerns of the student body are made known to the University and lobby on behalf of students when necessary

Be a first point of contact for students wishing to run campaigns and support the development of student campaigners through the Union’s ‘Campaigns’ Team’ or similar initiative

Take a lead role in the delivery and development of the Union’s support work

Be responsible for the Union’s distribution of welfare information (e.g. sexual health guidance). The Vice-President Welfare’s start date will be 21st June. The salary for the Vice-President Welfare is £15,151 per annum.

THE VICE-PRESIDENT ACTIVTIES IS

THE LEAD OFFICER FOR CLUBS

AND SOCIETIES, SPALIFE, RAG,

VOLUNTEERING AND TRIPS.

You should run for this role if you:

Are able to motivate and encourage

students to lead their own events and

groups

Are keen to support a wide range of

student extra-curricular activities – from

enterprise to Live Action Role Play, from

rugby to knitting!

Have an interest in developing students’

skills and enhancing their experiences

outside of their course

The Vice-President Activities is both a Trustee of the Union and an elected student representative. Any student taking up this role will receive full training on how to fulfil your new responsibilities and be supported by staff throughout your time in office.

Work as a Trustee of the Union is done on a voluntary basis and must be undertaken outside of the 37 paid hours per week. As a Trustee, you will be expected to attend and contribute to six Board of Trustee meetings and five sub-committee meetings per year. As a trustee, you will:





Guard Students’ Union assets, taking due care over their security and usage




Set and maintain the Union’s vision, mission and values and safeguard its autonomy




Oversee the promotion and development of the Union's clubs and societies and SpaLife

Assist with the promotion and development of the Union’s volunteering scheme and Raising and Giving Group

Liaise with the Student Development Co-Ordinator and the Student Development Assistant to ensure that the Union’s extra-curricular provisions

are led by the needs and interests of students

Oversee all Union excursions, trips and tours

Act as the figurehead of all Clubs & Societies

Oversee the formation of new clubs and societies

Have a clear financial overview of all Clubs & Societies spending and ensure they remain within their allocated budget

Oversee the organisation of major Club & Society events and activities e.g. awards ceremonies, varsities, etc.

Liaise with the Media Officer and Media Heads to ensure all publications comply with Union policy

Ensure the democratic appointment of all Media Representatives (Media Heads)

Liaise with fellow officers and student reps to ensure that the concerns of the student body are made known to the University and lobby on behalf of students when necessary The Vice-President Activities start date will be 21st June. They may be asked to be available for training prior to this date. The salary for the Vice-President Activities is £15,151 per annum.

NOMINATIONS CLOSE AT 4.30PM ON FRI 1ST MARCH.

ALL CANDIDATES MUST ATTEND A BRIEFING AT 4.45PM ON FRI 1ST MARCH IN ST.103.

YOU MUST NOT CAMPAIGN BEFORE 5.30PM ON FRI 1ST MARCH.

POSITION You must decide what position you are going to run for!

As well as reading the information in this pack, you can shadow a sabbatical officer or attend a drop-in about elections. Full details can be found here.

Apart from NUS Delegate, you can only run for one position. Pick carefully!

NOMINATION Every candidate must complete a nomination form and submit it to the Students’ Union by 4.30pm on 1st March.

You can either use the form at the back of this booklet or fill in the form online here.

On this form, you must name 2 Bath Spa students who are willing to say they agree you would be a good candidate. These are your ‘proposers’.

MANIFESTO Your manifesto is how you explain to voters who you are, what position you are running for and why. You should tell voters what your vision for the role is. If you don’t know, try considering what would make Bath Spa better or what you would like to change about Bath Spa.

Your manifesto must be A4 and include a photo of you. You should submit it with your nomination form.

You can see examples of previous manifestos here.

ELECTIONS There is one week between close of nominations and close of voting when you have your chance to campaign for votes.

The Students’ Union runs training sessions on how to campaign effectively – more details here.

You should also read the elections rules in this pack.

http://bathspasu.co.uk/representation/content/901123/elections_2013/training_and_information_sessions/


http://bathspasu.co.uk/representation/content/901143/elections_2013/nomination_form/



http://bathspasu.co.uk/files/minisites/57603/manifesto-guide2011.pdf


WHAT IS A MANIFESTO?

A manifesto is a statement about who you are,

what you want to achieve if you’re elected,

and why students should vote for you. Every

candidate must submit a manifesto that is no

more than one side of A4. Examples of

previous manifestos can be found here.

YOUR MANIFESTO SHOULD:

Include your name, the position you’re

running for and a photo

Give some details about you, why you

want to be elected and any experience

you have

Let people know your goals/what you

would do if elected

Be attention-grabbing

Be relevant

Be specific – try using SMART objectives

Use clear language that everyone will

understand

YOUR MANIFESTO COULD:

Include a slogan – something that boils

down your manifesto into a memorable

one-liner

Include details of where and how to

vote (this is only important if you plan

to distribute your manifesto on

Facebook or as a leaflet)

Include artwork or graphic design

Use bullet points

YOUR MANIFESTO SHOULD

NOT:

Make unrealistic promises

Tell lies

Discredit or disrespect your opponents

Be too long. 200-300 words is a good

guide. Your manifesto should not be

longer than A4 or be written in font

smaller than 12.

You can find examples of previous manifestos here.

Your manifesto should be submitted online or on a USB stick at the Students’ Union reception by 4.30pm on Fri 1st March.

Your manifesto is your promise to students of what you will do if elected. It may

determine the next year of your life so it’s worth finding out what students think are the

most important issues the Union needs to face before you write it.

http://bathspasu.co.uk/files/minisites/57603/manifesto-guide2011.pdf

Please note full Elections Regulations can be found online here.

ELECTION WEEK COMMITMENTS

All candidates must attend the Candidates’ Meeting at 4.45pm on Fri 1st March. Campaigns teams may attend.

Candidates must not campaign before the close of the Candidates’ Meeting at 5.30pm on Fri 1st March.

All sabbatical and student officer candidates must take part in SpaLife interviews at the Candidates Meeting as well as filming a 1 minute video for the SU website.

All sabbatical and student officer candidates must take part in the Candidate Q&As on Monday and Tuesday of election week. Student Officers will see the questions beforehand. Sabbatical Officers will not. All other candidates are invited to participate but it is not compulsory.

All sabbatical candidates must attend a candidates’ tea each weekday of election week at 3pm (unless permission is granted otherwise). Campaigns teams and other candidates are invited to attend but it is not compulsory.

The following rules apply to all candidates and anybody campaigning on their behalf.

DEALING WITH VOTERS

Candidates must not lie or deliberately mislead voters.

Candidates must not stand or campaign within 20 feet of anyone casting a vote.

Candidates must not use portable computers, tablets or smart phones of any kind to cast votes in the election process other than their own.

Candidates must not harass voters.

PUBLICITY MATERIALS

Candidates must not interfere in any way with other candidates’ campaigns or campaign material.

Sabbatical candidates must not spend more than £50 on campaigning materials. All other candidates must not spend more than £25 on campaigning materials. Receipts should be submitted to the Representation and Welfare Assistant as soon as possible but no later than 4pm on Thursday 7th March.

Candidates may use free materials or materials they already own (e.g. bed sheets) in addition to their campaigns budget but all such materials must be logged with the Elections Committee who may chose not to permit use of some materials. (Materials can be logged by e-mailing [email protected]. All materials must be logged as soon as possible but no later than 4pm on Thursday 7th March.)

No candidate is permitted to use any SU materials, equipment or any SU paid man-hours. However, candidates are able to access the Students’ Union photocopying facilities via reception at the normal charge rate.

On campus, posters must only be placed on official University notice boards and banners must only be placed outside the Students’ Union.

Campaigning is not allowed within the Students’ Union building. If you would like posters put up inside the building, please submit them at reception.

STUDENTS’ UNION STAFF

No Students’ Union staff member is allowed to campaign on behalf of a candidate during working hours.

The Elections Committee will decide the outcome for any candidate who breaks the rules. Possible sanctions include being banned from campaigning for a period of time (online or on campus), a deduction of votes, or being disqualified from the elections.

If you are unsure about any of the elections rules, please contact the Clerk to the Elections Committee on [email protected] or 01225 876 527.

If you would like to complain about a violation of elections rules, please contact a member of the Elections Committee or fill in a complaints form, which can be found here.

http://bathspasu.co.uk/files/election-of-student-officers.pdf

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://bathspasu.co.uk/representation/content/901163/elections_2013/complaints_form/

YOUR NOMINATION FORM MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH YOUR MANIFESTO BY 4.30PM ON FRI 1ST MARCH. YOU

CAN SUBMIT A PAPER COPY TO THE STUDENTS’ UNION RECEPTION OR FILL IN THE FORM ON THE WEBSITE. IF

YOU SUBMIT A PAPER NOMINATION FORM, PLEASE ALSO SUBMIT YOUR MANIFESTO ON CD, USB OR VIA E-

MAIL.

First name: __________________________________ Last name: ________________________________

Student Number: _____________________________

The position I am running for is: _______________________________________________________________

Name for ballot paper if different from above: ____________________________________________________

E-mail: ______________________________________ Tel: ______________________________________

Year: ________________________________________ Subject of study: ___________________________

DETAILS OF THE PERSON WHO IS PROPOSING THE ABOVE CANDIDATE:


Student Number: _____________________________

E-mail: ______________________________________ Tel: ______________________________________

DETAILS OF THE PERSON WHO IS SECONDING THE ABOVE CANDIDATE:


Student Number: _____________________________

E-mail: ______________________________________ Tel: ______________________________________

CANDIDATE DECLARATION:

All the information provided above is correct to the best

of my knowledge

I have read and understood the election regulations and

shall abide by them

I have read the role description and understand the role

and responsibilities of the post

I agree to receive information relating to the election

process and subsequent elected position via SMS/e-mail

Signed: _______________________________________ Dated: __________________________________


Find details of elections

training and

opportunities to

shadow sabbaticals

online. You can also

suggest a friend for a

position!

1st March Nominations Close 4.30pm

1st March Candidates’ Meeting 4.45pm

4th March Candidate Q&A (Sion Hill) 12 midday

5th March Candidate Q&A (Newton Park) 12 midday

6th March Voting Opens 9am

8th March Voting Closes 11.59pm

11th March Results 11.00am

http://bathspasu.co.uk/elections

elections nomination pack

Documents

students union president

year students

lead officer

bath spa students union

media officer

societies officer

student officers

ethics officer