ELECTIONS 2023/24 STUDENTS’UNION OFFICER AND NUS CONFERENCE GUIDE TO ELECTIONS
How to register as a candidate
THERE ARE THREE FULL TIME OFFICER POSITIONS AVAILABLE • President Education • President Wellbeing • President International Officers lead the Students’ Union, represent ALL students to the most senior figures at the University and run campaigns including on safety, welfare, health and academic issues. These posts are FULL TIME for 12 months and pay around £25k P.A. from early July 2024 plus a two week handover period during the end of June. You can only stand for one Officer position. Significant training will be provided to successful candidates over the summer. It is candidates’ responsibility to ensure that they are eligible both to stand in the elections and then take the role if successful. Important notes: General You will not be able to take office and study as a student at the same time. If you have any queries, please seek advice prior to completing your nomination. Undergraduate students The positions are open to current students who would be in between years of studies (e.g. after completing 1st or 2nd year of an undergraduate degree) or will be completing their course prior to mid-June 2024. Postgraduate students Postgraduate students who are completing in late summer 2024 can still take office from July 2024 but assurances must be given that this will not compromise their role as an Officer. International students International students are advised to confirm with the University any visa or course issues that may prevent them from standing. Information is available on the University website: UNIverse>International Students>International Advice: SU Sabbatical Officer The Students’ Union recommends that students stand for office at the end of their studies rather than between years.
October 2023
NATIONAL UNION OF STUDENTS (NUS) NATIONAL CONFERENCE This is an annual two day meeting where more than 2000 elected delegates from member SU have their say on the running of NUS, vote on key policy decisions and elect their leaders. The conference will take place in Blackpool from Wednesday 17th March 2024 to Thursday 18th March 2024. Teesside has a total of 7 delegate places. One of the Student Officers will be selected as delegation leader, the balance of the 6 delegate positions will be open to election. NUS Conference 2014 passed a policy that SU delegations must be made up of “at least 50% self-defining women rounded down” and that students’ unions are required to ask candidates to define their gender at the point of nomination. For this year’s election a minimum of three women must be elected. Please ask for more details.
WHO CAN STAND IN THE ELECTIONS? You must be a current student at Teesside University throughout the elections process and your student status will be checked by the University. You must be able to take office if elected. You can stand in either or both Officer and NUS National Conference elections. For the Officer elections you must meet the legal requirements of the Charities Act as Officers are automatically Trustees of the SU.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE ROLES Speak to Officers not re-standing in the elections who can tell you about the roles. Candidate mentors are also available to provide more detail on the areas in which the successful candidate will be working. They can also provide advice and support to candidates but are not able to help with campaigns or advise what should be in personal statements. Please contact them by phone or email. Position President Education President International President Wellbeing NUS Conference Candidates
Mentor Ellie Greco, Student Support Manager Nick Rodgers, SU Activities Manager Kristy Shaw, Academic Adviser Femi Abolade, President Wellbeing
Email e.greco@tees-su.org.uk
Phone Number 01642 342247
nick.rodgers@teessu.org.uk k.shaw@tees-su.org.uk
01642 384460
preswellbeing@teessu.org.uk
01642 342234
01642 342247
REGISTERING AS A CANDIDATE Registering as a candidate is by online self-nomination. The process (or any changes) will be confirmed by the Students’ Union prior to the opening of nominations and there will be sessions arranged for potential candidates where the process will be explained in detail. The deadline for nominations is 4pm on Friday 23rd February 2024. Late submissions will not be accepted. October 2023
NOMINATION Candidates are required to complete the online nomination form, upload their personal statement and a photograph which should be similar to a passport style photo. This MUST
be submitted digitally, and the process will be outlined prior to the opening of nominations. Paper copies will not be accepted. The Students’ Union will then check that candidates meet the
criteria to stand in the election. Your name, position, personal statement and photograph will appear on the online voting module for voters to see. PERSONAL STATEMENT Your personal statement must be on one page and sets out: • Who you are and the role you are standing for • The skills and experience you possess that make you the right person for the role • The ideas you have that you will pursue if you are elected Examples of previous years’ personal statements will be made available to view.
• All personal statements must include the official Students’ Union logo downloaded from www.tees-su.org.uk/elections which will go live prior to the opening of nominations. Personal Statements must include: “Campaigning pledges are the individual views of candidates and not necessarily those of the Students’ Union”. • Do not reference political parties or policies widely associated with political parties. • The Deputy Returning Officer may require amendments should any aspects of your nomination be deemed to be offensive, inaccurate, infringe copyright or damage the reputation of the SU. • NUS Conference candidates personal statement ideas are directed towards NUS and not the Students’ Union. Ensure that your campaign will not damage the reputation of the Students’ Union • Please note that the SU may be unable to implement your ideas due to legal, financial, reputational or other issues CHARITY TRUSTEE DECLARATION FORM (NOT REQUIRED FOR NUS CONFERENCE) This is your declaration that you meet the necessary legal requirements to be a Trustee and are therefore eligible to stand in the elections. You will need to separately complete this form and return it to elections@tees-su.org.uk Please request a meeting with the Deputy Returning Officer for a confidential discussion if you have any questions.
October 2023