How to Stand

OFFICER ELECTIONS 2010

SO YOU’RE THINKING OF STANDING

What does all this entail?

Being an Officer is a fantastic way to get involved in Union life, have new experiences, meet new people and improve your transferable skills, knowledge and employability. Officers carry out a range of different roles to represent students and ensure that as a Union we are representing our student body as effectively as possible in all their academic needs, extra- curricular activities and their ideals.

This guide is intended to give you an introduction to the posts that are up for election and everything you need to know to help you decide whether or not to stand. Please be assured that you do not need any previous experience or Union participation to run for any of these posts, as full training will be given to those who are elected. All we ask is that you are enthusiastic and want to get involved- and that goes for any of the positions. So what are you waiting for?

BE PART OF IT!

So what positions are there?

Below is a brief summary of what positions are available. If you wish to know anymore about any of the positions available then email [email protected] or visit the Democratic Services Office in SU HQ or visit www.warwicksu.com/HaveYourSay. Or alternatively, pop into SU HQ and meet the people doing the jobs at the moment to find out first hand!

Full time - Sabbaticals

The most visible and well known of the Union Officers are the Sabbaticals, of which there are 7. The Sabbaticals either take a year out of their studies, or more traditionally apply at the end of their degrees, to work for the union full time as Directors of the Students’ Union’s trading company, and Trustees of the charity. You will get paid for being a Sabbatical Officer, you won’t have to study, and you will get to stay at Warwick for another year. However, you have to accept responsibility when things don’t go so well, and be prepared to work crazy hours at times - it’s hard work trying to run a company AND represent over 20,000 students!

Positions available: . President . Democracy and Communication Officer* . Education Officer . Finance Officer* . Societies Officer . Sports Officer *subject to approval at Union Council Wk3. If you require further information contact Andy Perkins. . Welfare Officer

Part time Officers

Part time Officer positions, though less time consuming, are still vital to the work of Warwick SU. Essentially part-time officers work behind the scenes organising campaigns, sitting on committees, representing groups with specific interests and create (and then implement) policy. Students fill these roles during their studies, the work is unpaid however is very rewarding and a great opportunity to gain a detailed understanding of the union. All part-time Officers have a voting seat on Union Council, and some part-time Officers even go on to run for Sabbatical positions in later years.

Part time – Executive Committee Officers

There are 7 part-time Officers who, alongside the Sabbs, make up the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is responsible for the implementation of all Union Policy, together with annually approving and amending, as necessary, elections regulations, referendum regulations, disciplinary procedures, Sabbatical Job Descriptions and Codes of Conduct for each media society. The “Exec” is essentially the government of the Union – when a decision is made in the Union through council, referenda or otherwise, it is their job to go and do it.

Positions available: . Executive Committee Chair . Academic Forum Coordinator . Campaigns Forum Coordinator . Democracy Committee Chair . Societies Committee Chair . Student Sport Committee Chair . Welfare Committee Chair

Part-time - Campaigns Officers

There are seven of these and they generally run campaigns and act as representatives for people on those issues. The job of a Campaigns Officer is quite flexible, and as such you can really get your teeth into what interests you. Campaigns Officers also sit on Campaigns Forum.

Positions available: . Anti Racism Campaigns Officer . Ethnic Minorities Campaigns Officer . Environment Campaigns Officer . Ethics and Social Justice Campaigns Officer . LGBTUA+ Campaigns Officer . Students With Disabilities Campaigns Officer . Women’s Campaigns Officer

Part-time – University Representatives

These make up the Academic Representation team, which works to improve the life of students both locally and nationally. They all sit on the Academic Forum, working closely with the Education Officer and with the SSLC system to help represent Warwick students.

Positions available: . Undergraduate Arts Faculty Representative . Undergraduate Science Faculty Representative . Undergraduate Social Studies Faculty Representative . Second University Senate Representative . Third University Senate Representative . Second University Council Representative

Part-time - International Forum Co-ordinator (x1) and Members (x 5)

We are also looking for people to become the Co-ordinator and members of the International Forum. The idea of the International Forum is to represent international students on all issues that affect them whilst at Warwick, and to ensure that the Union is providing for them to the best of its abilities.

HOW TO STAND CHECKLIST

Come to the candidate Q&A on: For Prospective Part-Time Officer Candidates Monday, Week 4, 12noon, Warwick SU Atrium or Tuesday, Week 4, 6.00pm, Warwick SU Atrium For Prospective Sabbatical Officer Candidates Monday, Week 4, 6.00pm, Warwick SU Atrium or Tuesday, Week 4, 12noon, Warwick SU Atrium where there will be Officers present to chat about what they do.

Nominate yourself online at www.warwicksu.com/vote, leave enough time for the next steps.

Print out your nomination form when nominating online, or you can go back later to the Nominations Admin part of the website

Hand in paper nomination form and £20 deposit to DSO before noon, Friday Week 5 (12th February)

For the manifesto booklets produce and submit your manifesto electronically to [email protected] before noon, Monday, Week 6, (15th February)

Upload a manifesto onto the Students’ Union website before 12 noon, Friday, Week 6 (19th February)

Come to SUHQ during week 6 to shoot a short video (which will be uploaded to YouTube) on why you should be elected. Further details to be confirmed by elections group.

Attend one of the meetings for candidates on: Part-Time Officer Candidates Monday, Week 6, 12noon, MR2/3 (SU HQ) or Tuesday, Week 6, 6.00pm, MR5, (SU HQ) For Sabbatical Officer Candidates Monday, Week 6, 6.00pm MR2/3 (SU HQ) or Tuesday, Week 6, 12noon, MR2/3, (SU HQ)

 DSO = Democratic Services Office, found on the second floor of SU HQ OFFICER ELECTIONS TIMELINE TERM 2, 2010 Notice of Elections Term 2, Week 3, Friday, 29th January Prospective Part-Time Officer Candidates Monday, Week 4, 12noon in the Atrium, or Tuesday, Week 4, 6.00pm in the Atrium. Prospective Candidate Briefings Prospective Sabbatical Officer Candidates Monday, Week 4, 6.00pm in the Atrium, or Tuesday, Week 4, 12noon Atrium. At which there will be Officers present to chat about what they do.

Nominations Open Term 2, Week 4, Friday, 5th February, 12 noon

Nominations Close Term 2, Week 5, Friday 12th February, 12 noon

Provisional Candidate List Term 2, Week 5, Saturday, 13th February, 12 noon Candidate List Complaint Deadline Term 2, Week 6, Monday, 15th February, 12 noon Final Candidate List Displayed Term 2, Week 6, Monday, 15th February, 17:00 Manifesto Deadline (Booklet) Term 2, Week 6, Monday, 15th February, 12 noon Manifesto Deadline Term 2, Week 6, Friday, 19th February, 12 noon (Website) Video Deadline Term 2, Week 6, Friday, 19th February, 12 noon Campaigning and Publicity Begins Term 2, Week 7, Monday, 22nd February, 9:00 Part-Time Officer Candidates Candidate Briefings Monday, Week 6, 12noon, MR2/3 or Tuesday, Week 6, 6.00pm, MR5 For Sabbatical Officer Candidates Monday, Week 6, 6.00pm, MR2/3 or Tuesday, Week 6, 12noon, MR2/3 Candidate Question Time Term 2, Week 7, Monday and Tuesday, 22nd – (Hustings) 23rd February, The Atrium Term 2, Week 7, Opens Wednesday 9:00 Polling Closes Friday 21:00 24th – 26th February Counting and Results Count: Term 2, Week 7, Saturday 27th February Results: Elections Party pm Removal of Candidate Publicity Term 2, Week 8, Wednesday, 3rd March, 12 noon Expense Forms and Term2, Week 8, Wednesday, 3rd March, 12 noon Complaints Deadline NOMINATIONS

 Visit the elections section of the Students’ Union website – http://www.warwicksu.com/elections/  Click “Stand for a post” and follow the instructions on screen  When you have completed the on-screen process you MUST print off a hard copy nomination form, have it signed by yourself and your proposer and seconder (two friends) and hand it to the Democratic Services Office by 12 noon, Friday, Week 6  You must also hand in a £20 deposit by this time, preferably a cheque  Nominate yourself promptly, late nominations cannot be accepted whatever the reason  If you have any problems contact the Chair of Elections Group immediately at [email protected]  As a candidate, you cannot have yourself as a proposer or seconder  You can withdraw your candidacy. If you change your mind and wish to withdraw your nomination, put this in writing to the Returning Officer of Elections Group, before the close of nominations (Friday Week 6 at noon). If you withdraw after the close of nominations, you may lose your deposit.

CANDIDATE BRIEFINGS

 When you stand you should receive a “What to do… and What Not to Do” guide which simply outlines what you need to know about campaigning.  This is not exhaustive and is no substitute for carefully reading the elections regulations. These can be found on the Union website at http://www.sunion.warwick.ac.uk/council/Union%20Constitution/Current %20Constitution/Election%20Regulations/  If you are thinking of standing and would like further information before submitting your nomination attend one of the Candidate Briefing Meetings: For Prospective Part-Time Officer Candidates Monday, Week 4, 12noon, Warwick SU Atrium or Tuesday, Week 4, 6.00pm, Warwick SU Atrium For Prospective Sabbatical Officer Candidates Monday, Week 4, 6.00pm, Warwick SU Atrium or Tuesday, Week 4, 12noon, Warwick SU Atrium There will be Officers present to chat about what they do.  You may have some questions about promoting your candidacy so it is essential you attend one of the candidate meetings: Part-Time Officer Candidates Monday, Week 6, 12noon, MR2/3 (SU HQ) or Tuesday, Week 6, 6.00pm, MR5, (SU HQ) For Sabbatical Officer Candidates Monday, Week 6, 6.00pm MR2/3 (SU HQ) or Tuesday, Week 6, 12noon, MR2/3, (SU HQ)  If you have any questions about the whole process email [email protected] or visit the Democratic Services Office in SUHQ.

FINAL TIPS

 Start planning! If you want to do well, you will need to have a really good, eye-catching, original and inventive campaign. Don’t leave it to the last minute.  If you are thinking about running for a Sabbatical position, make sure you make your department aware, especially if you will not have graduated by the end of the year.  Get in touch with the person currently in the job and get some tips from them. Officers can be found is SUHQ most days of the week and are happy to give impartial advice.  Subscribe to the Elections Group twitter feed at http://www.twitter.com/electionsgroup or join the group ‘Warwick SU Elections’ on facebook. These are regularly updated with information about deadlines, campaigning and Elections. It will help you keep track of everything!