SABBATICAL OFFICERS
February 2025
SABBATICAL OFFICERS
Sabbatical Officer Portfolios
1. The President shall;
1.1. Be the principle officer of the Union and member of University Council.
1.2. Be responsible for setting the direction of the Union and communication with all stakeholders.
1.3. To be a primary representative of all students at BNU on issues within the University, the local community and the national stage.
1.4. Have responsibility for engaging with the national student movement and the future direction of Higher Education and enabling others to do so as well, in order to strengthen the Union’s sphere of influence.
1.5. Be responsible for commercial oversight of the Union’s trading and licensed operations.
1.6. Engage with students over issues impacting their student experience, working to resolve these with the University where possible.
1.7. Direct and oversee the Union’s lobbying work to secure meangingful and positive change for students.
1.8. Chair a range of Union committees including Trustee Board and Strategy and Planning.
1.9. Hold the University accountable for its promises and delivery of the student experience.
1.10. Be a trustee of the Union and a part of the Executive Team.
1.11. Participate in enhancing the welfare of all students at BNU.
2. The Vice Presidents Education and Welfare shall;
2.1. Be responsible for improving the educational experience of all students at BNU.
2.2. Lead on enhancing the welfare of all students at BNU.
2.3. Be the principle course representatives and assume responsibility for the Union’s input into the University’s system of student representation.
2.4. Hold the University accountable for its promises and delivery of the student experience.
2.5. Be trustees of the Union and a part of the Executive Team.
2.6. Work with the Advice Centre on welfare campaigns and other campaigns with Union staff.
2.7. Be primary representatives of all students at BNU on issues within the University, the local community.
2.8. Principle representatives for the Union’s Mental Health Framework.
3. The Vice President Achievement and Belonging shall;
3.1. Be responsible for improving and developing the co-curricular experience of all students at BNU.
3.2. Be responsible for the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion work of the Students’ Union.
3.3. Be responsible for sustainability and green initiatives produced by the Students’ Union.
3.4. Be responsible for increasing and developing our portfolio of opportunities and growing participation across the breadth of the Students’ Union’s offer, including Personal Development, Leadership and Employability.
3.5. Be a trustee of the Union and a part of the Executive Team.
3.6. Be a primary representative of all students at BNU on issues within the University, the local community and the national stage.
3.7. Participate in enhancing the welfare of all students at BNU.
3.8. Hold the University accountable for its promises and delivery of the student experience.
Terms of Office
4. The Sabbatical Officer Contract of Employment will be issued at the start of each term in office. Terms and conditions of employment shall apply for the entire term in office.
5. The Sabbatical Officer will be on a twelve month fixed term contract which can be renewed once only through election as specified in the Union’s Constitution and the Education Act 1994.
6. Employment will be from the 1 July after election to 30 June of the following year.
7. Where an officer is re-elected for a second consecutive year continuous employment applies from the commencement of their first term of office.
8. The Sabbatical Officer who starts their term of office later than 1 July shall serve from the declaration of their election until 30 June in that academic year.
9. It is a condition of the fixed term contract that Sabbatical automatically waive all rights relating to unfair dismissal and/or redundancy arising from the cessation of employment on the expiry of this contract at the end of its fixed term.
10. The Sabbatical Officer Contract of Employment will be issued at the start of each term in office. Terms and conditions of employment shall apply for the entire term in office
Accountability
11. Sabbatical Officers are accountable to the Students’ Union membership through the Board of Trustees and Union Council. They will report to Union Council and the Board of Trustees.
12. Sabbatical Officers shall produce regular reports to committees and for publication in the Union newspaper and on its website.
13. Sabbatical Officers will contribute to the reports that demonstrate our impact on an annual basis.
14. The Sabbatical Officers will also be required to report to other meetings held within the Union, as requested.
Termination of Employment
15. Sabbatical Officers can resign by giving one month’s notice in writing to Union Council through the CEO or Head of People and Development.
16. They can be removed by a vote of no confidence by referendum as outlined in Bye-Law 5: Referenda. In the event of this, the Officer will leave office immediately, will receive one month’s pay in lieu of notice, and will not thereafter be eligible to hold office in this Students’ Union.
17. The Sabbatical Officer is subject to Staff Disciplinary Procedures and may be removed through this procedure for issues relating to misconduct.
Exclusivity of employment/service to others
18. Sabbatical Officers may not continue or enter into any other paid employment during their year of Office without the prior approval in writing of the Board of Trustees.
19. Sabbatical Officers will be required to devote their full attention and abilities to their duties during working hours and to act in the best interests of the Students’ Union at all times.
20. Sabbatical Officers shall not use for their own benefit or divulge to any person(s), firm, company or other organisation whatsoever any confidential information belonging to the Students’ Union or relating to its affairs or dealings which may come to their knowledge during your employment.
Working conditions
21. Hours will be based around Monday – Thursday 9.00am to 5.00pm and Friday 9.00am to 4.30pm with half an hour for lunch, totalling 37 hours per week.
22. The Sabbatical Officer will be expected to attend meetings outside of these hours as appropriate and is expected to work whatever overtime is necessary. Sabbatical Officers will be expected to work weekends and evenings as necessary.
23. Overtime will not be paid but some flexibility of hours is permissible.
24. Sabbatical Officers shall be employed to work at all University campuses, as well as visiting partner college sites as appropriate, and shall split their time accordingly as agreed by Union committees.
25. Sabbatical Officers will be expected to take part in an appraisal scheme known as the PDR 360 Review.
Remuneration
26. Whilst Sabbatical Officers are also elected Elected Trustees of Bucks Students’ Union, this does not form part of the contract of employment which is in respect of the operational and representative duties outlined below.
27. The Unions regulations regarding the acceptance of business gifts and anti-bribery policies are contained in the Financial Procedures.
Complaints
28. Sabbatical Officers shall be subject to the Students’ Union complaints procedures as specified in Bye-Law 9: Complaints and Appeals.
29. Sabbatical Officers who have a grievance should take these up with the Board of Trustees having first declared a conflict of interest or via the Staff Grievance Procedures.
Disciplinary
30. Sabbatical Officers shall be subject to the Disciplinary Procedures in accordance with the Staff Disciplinary Procedures.
31. Any substantial breach of Employment Agreement or this Bye-Law may constitute a disciplinary offence and may result in termination of a sabbatical officer’s employment. Bucks Students’ Union has the right to terminate any or all entitlements of this Employment Agreement, as a result of such breach, as well as the use of Union facilities and equipment, following the due process procedures and codes for the time being in force.
32. Such disciplinary action will not affect your elected office unless you are democratically removed from office, in line with Section 58 of the Constitution.