The Understanding of Student Life Fox’s Guide to getting elected
#LeadUCASU UCASU.COM/ELECTIONS
Introduction
DO YOU HAVE... Empathy? Focus? Passion? Understanding of Student life? Are you open to new ideas? If you answer yes to these then you may be the right kind of person to positively benefit students here at UCA! Each year UCA Students’ Union holds elections so students can shape Union activities, making positive changes for all UCA students. Currently, we are advertising for a Campus Officer at each campus, which is a full-time, paid position for one year. You can hold this position either as a graduate or during a break in your studies. Student Council and Student Trustee positions are part-time, volunteer positions undertaken while you continue your studies. You can find further details of each of the positions in this booklet. It is a great idea to get involved in the Union; you will be given full training and support to enable you to carry out your role effectively and knowing that you are positively impacting UCA students’ lives will give you a great sense of fulfilment. The skills you learn in these positions look fantastic on your CV and increase your employability.
Mon 3 Feb
Nominations open
Wed 26 Feb
Nominations close 5pm
Fri 28 Feb
Manifestos published online 5pm
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Candidates Briefings: Mon 3 Mar Canterbury Board Room, 12.30-2pm Tue 4 Mar Epsom Board Room, 12.30-2pm Wed 5 Mar Rochester Lower Seminar Room, 12.30-2pm Thu 6 Mar Farnham Committee Room B, 12.30-2pm
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Fri 7 Mar
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Voting Mon 10 Mar Ballot open 10am-2pm Tue 11 Mar Ballot open 10am-2pm Wed 12 Mar Ballot open 10am-2pm Thu 13 Mar Ballot open 10am-2pm
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Campaigning begins 9am
Fri 14 Mar Count begins at 11am: Farnham Committee Room A Results announced online at ucasu.com/elections and at Glasshouse, Farnham.
Information for Maidstone students: Due to UCA withdrawing from Oakwood Park from July 2014, UCASU will no longer have a Maidstone Campus Officer. Beyond July 2014 the Rochester Campus Officer will represent students based at Maidstone Studios. Students currently studying in Maidstone campus are eligible to run for the positions of Rochester Campus Officer and NUS Delegate. UCASU will reimburse the cost of travel for any candidate from Maidstone to Rochester for Candidates Briefing and campaigning on voting days (10-13 March). More information can be found at ucasu. com/elections or by contacting the Deputy Returning Officer.
Dates and times
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Campus Officers
The Creative Giraffe says... “Read this info carefully, as it could help you decide what to put in your manifesto!”
Campus Officers are full time paid positions in the Union, running from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015. Each campus elects one Officer to represent their campus. You can take a year out of your studies or start after you graduate. As a team, the Union Officers make day-to-day decisions about all levels of your Union’s activities, focusing on making changes to positively affect student’s lives. BENEFITS OF OFFICE • You will receive a salary of £16,500. • You will receive comprehensive training for your role and responsibilities. • Have job satisfaction knowing you are making a positive difference to students’ lives. • You will develop advanced skills in: o Leadership o Communication o Teamwork o Planning o Problem Solving o Presentation o Motivating others THE CAMPUS OFFICER WILL: • Be the figurehead of the campus they represent
COURSE REPRESENTATIVES • Meet with University staff and advise on the system for the election of course representatives • Ensure training for Course Representatives at their campus is arranged • Maintain contact with course reps over the year and represent their views and concerns to the University ACADEMIC REPRESENTATION • Represent students in disciplinary or academic appeals cases • Assist with students’ concerns, aspirations and problems in relation to their courses ADVICE AND AWARENESS • Establish and maintain contact with and provide information from groups and organisations which work on welfare issues; maintain and order stocks of information as required • Accommodate, but not counsel, students with welfare problems, always respecting confidentiality • Campaign on, and raise awareness of, welfare issues as agreed by the Executive Committee e.g. debt, safe sex, drug/alcohol abuse, etc; distribute general welfare information • Meet with the University’s management to assure the quality of services provided by UCA to students. This list is just an idea of projects you might undertake
Campus Officers
• Actively Chair an allocated committee • Arrange campus Fresher’s events • Attend induction meetings • Liaise with the University on the development of the student experience, complaints, equal opportunities and disciplinary procedures • Be a member of relevant committees established by the University
Student Council
if elected, but what you choose to prioritise is down to you and the other campus officers. Each campus has its own Student Council. Student Councillors are current students who volunteer to represent students on their campus from 1 July 2014 - 30 June 2015. The Student Council discusses issues affecting students on their campus and in general, helping to determine Union policy, which if the policy is passed set the agenda for the Union to act on. Student Council directs everything the Union does and underpins Campus Officers’ representation duties. Student Experience Officers (3 positions per campus) • These help the Union with promoting the aims of the organisation and its events and activities. • They will liaise with the campus officer to ensure student feedback is carried out where possible. • Will be involved in all areas of the Union. • Will assist the campus officer with Student Activity, Entertainments, Freshers’ Fayres and inductions. • Will cover areas that don’t form part of other officer’s remits. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Students Officer (LGBT) • Ensure that LGBT student views and opinions are reflected throughout the whole of the Students’ Union’s work. • Provide a LGBT perspective on all matters concerning the Union and the university, and a regular forum/group for LGBT students to meet. • Raise awareness of LGBT issues through workshops, events and campaigns. Environmental Officer • To promote environmental issues within the University and Union.
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• Campaigns on environmental and ethical issues and form groups. • Raise awareness of environmental issues through workshops, events and campaigns. Multicultural Officer • Ensure that Multicultural student views and opinions are reflected throughout the whole of the Students’ Union’s work. • Provide a Multicultural perspective on all matters concerning the Union and the UCA, and a regular forum/group for Multicultural students to meet. • Raise awareness of Multicultural issues through workshops, events and campaigns. Post-Grad Students Officer • Represent the views of all Post Grad students within the Union. • Organise meetings with these groups. • Promote activities for these students. • Be a Post-Grad student. FE Students Officer • Represent views of FE students within the Union. • Organise meetings with these groups. • Be an FE student. International Students Officer • Representing International Students’ issues. • Contact with other organisations and the persons of the University with responsibility for International students. Students with Disabilities Officer • Ensure that disabled students views and opinions are reflected throughout the whole of the Students’ Union’s work.
Student Council
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Student Council and NUS Delegates
• Provide a disabled students perspective on all matters and provide a regular forum/group for disabled students to meet. • Liaise with the NUS Students With Disabilities Campaign and SKILL. Clubs and Societies Officer • Reflect the individual requirements of the students on their campus. • To unlock the greatest potential for clubs and societies on campus. • Liase with club leaders and bring their feedback to council. Womens’ Officer • Aim to increase the participation of women in Union structures. • Explore the role of women in the creative industries NUS DELEGATE UCA Students’ Union as a member of NUS (National Union of Students) is able to elect two delegates to attend NUS National Conference. This year conference will be held in Liverpool from 8-10 April. NUS National Conference sets the agenda and actions for NUS for the following year. The elected officers of NUS are also elected at National Conference. Any student can nominate themselves to run in the NUS Delegate election, and if elected the Union will pay for any charges incurred i.e. travel and hotel costs.
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Trustees are elected for two years. However, any current student who intends to study at UCA next year can run for this position. In addition, students planning on running for a student council position can also put themselves forward to be a Student Trustee. Student Trustees take office on 1 July 2014. Currently there are five Student Trustee positions open to students on any UCA campus. STUDENT GOVERNOR The Board of Governors is responsible for all the university’s activities, but specifically its education and mission, its senior management and its financial position. Following encouragement from the Union, UCA has for the first time ever opened a position for a student to sit on the Board and be part of decisions that the Board makes. This role has been created exclusively for a student to hold. You will be accompanied to every meeting by a Campus Officer so you won’t be alone. This is a rare opportunity, and if you believe it is important for students to be at the heart of major decision making, you should run for Student Governor.
Student Trustee and Student Governor
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STUDENT TRUSTEES The Trustee Board is the highest decision making body of the Students’ Union; it has the ultimate responsibility for directing the business of the Union, assessing its effectiveness and setting it’s priorities. It consists of all four campus officers, five student trustees and three external trustees who are experts in their field.
Running for Election
The Open To New Ideas Penguin says... “There’s some good advice here, so read all of it. The best thing you can do to get votes is to talk to as many students as possible and tell them what you want to achieve if elected.” NOMINATION Fill in the Nomination form at ucasu.com/elections. Ask other students to be your proposer and seconder. Students cannot nominate more than one person for the same post, if this occurs your form will be invalid. So do check with your planned proposer/seconder that they haven’t done it for another candidate for the same position. You must submit a copy of your manifesto and declaration form (for Campus Officer and Student Trustee positions) with your nomination form. Your nomination form will not be accepted without these. MANIFESTO The manifesto is the document that says who you are, what you intend to do should you get elected and why people should vote for you. Candidates must submit a manifesto in plain text no longer than one side of A4 (minumum 10pt text) with your nomination form. This can be done via ucasu.com/elections failure to do so will result in your nomination not being accepted. If a candidate wishes to also submit a designed manifesto it can be submitted via email to union@ucreative.ac.uk by 5pm Wednesday 26 February 2014.
• Write a bit about yourself, your name, course, position you are running for. • Why are you running for this position? • What strengths do you have that you believe make you good at the position? • What do you intend to do in the next year if elected? • Choose a catchy slogan can often grab people’s attention; try to keep it to less than eight words and be creative. • Ask people to vote for you! CANDIDATES BRIEFING It is recommended that you attend the candidate briefing, this will be held at each campus as per the timetable, it will give you information on how to campaign. The briefings are also a great opportunity to ask questions about your campaign ideas and any other aspect of the election process. DO I HAVE TO HAVE EXPERIENCE TO STAND? Absolutely not. Full training is given; all you need is enthusiasm, commitment and a desire to want to positively affect student’s lives.
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The Open To New Ideas Penguin says... This isn’t supposed to be intimidating. If you have any questions, your friendly SU office would love you help you!
Running for Election
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TIPS FOR WRITING YOUR MANIFESTO Drafting a manifesto needn’t be something to get stressed about. Essentially, it should state what you believe makes you a good candidate, what you plan to do, what changes you would make and why students should vote for you. Here are some easy steps to assist you in writing your own manifesto:
How voting works
SINGLE TRANSFERABLE VOTE The ballot is run using the Single Transferable Vote (STV) mode of voting. STV allows the voter to rank the candidates in order of preference. Voters mark their favourite candidate number 1, their second preferred candidate number 2 and so on. Voters do not have to rank all candidates, they can just choose their favourite and leave it at that. There is also the option to vote to Re-Open Nomination (R.O.N.), which a voter can use if there is no candidate they wish to vote for. If R.O.N. ‘wins’ the election, it will be run again. By allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference, STV creates a system whereby the ‘least unpopular’ candidate wins. In order to be elected the candidate must reach the ‘quota’ (over 50% of total valid votes cast). If after the first round of the count the quota is reached, that candidate is elected. However, if no candidate reaches the quota then the candidate with the lowest number of votes is eliminated and their surplus votes (the difference between their vote and the quota) are transferred amongst the remaining candidates. We then look to see if any candidate has met the quota, if not then the candidate with the next fewest votes is excluded and the process continues until a candidate reaches the quota and is therefore elected. Using STV, fewer votes are ‘wasted’ (i.e. cast for losing candidates or unnecessarily cast for the winner), and there is no need for tactical voting voters can choose their favourite.
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Voters don’t just want to know what is important to you; they want to know you are listening to them. Once you have worked out your message you should make it easy to understand and fun to hear. Studies show you need to make seven points of contact to get a message across. Don’t just use posters - mix it up! Entertain voters with the same message in as many different ways as possible. If you have the right message and voters hear it seven different ways, you are doing well! Just remember to stick to your budget of £30 and make sure everything you do is in line with election and campaigning regulations and the law! Also remember not to start campaigning before Friday 7th March at 9am. Full guidance on campaigning and rules can be found at ucasu.com/elections and will be provided at the candidates briefing.
The Open To New Ideas Penguin says... You can use the tried and tested methods: Posters, Banners, Badges, Social Media, Flyers, T-Shirts, Balloons, Lollipops But be open to new ideas! Consider: Cupcakes, Facepainting, Jingles, Hats
Your election campaign
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Being a creative arts university there are loads of ideas around for new and exciting ways to win votes and claim victory at the end of an exciting election week.
You and UCASU.COM
You will get your own space at ucasu.com/elections to promote your campaign. This will show your manifesto and have videos, social feeds, photos etc. To take advantage of this, you need to prepare the following in time for your Candidates Briefing: social media channels you intend to use, such C Any as Facebook pages, hashtags, Twitter accounts etc. We can’t embed feeds from Facebook profiles or Groups. Do not use these until campaigning begins.
will take your photograph and record a C We 45-second video for you to tell voters why you should
be elected. You have the opportunity to provide your own photograph and 45-second video if you wish.
will get your own uca.su short URL. Choose C You what you would like (examples: uca.su/joebloggs, uca.su/votebloggs, uca.su/joe4campusofficer).
can embed up to three YouTube videos (not C You including the 45-second clip) to your page. Email the address for the videos: asquire.su@ucreative.ac.uk
you give us a designed version of your manifeso, C Ifwe’ll put it on your webpage. you do must comply with the election C Everything campaigning regulations.
The Understanding of Student Life fox says... “Make full use of your ucasu web page - you never know how prepared your competition may be!
“Use the next few pages to get organised for submitting your nomination and manifesto.” o
Read this booklet
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Pop into your Union office to chat about the position.
o Think about why you are standing and plan your campaign. Get some good publicity designed. o
Complete the Nomination Form and write your manifesto – up to one side of A4 in minimum 10pt plain text. Remember your nomination form will not be accepted without a manifesto and your declaration form.
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Upload everything to ucasu.com/elections by 5pm Wednesday 26th February 2014 at the latest.
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Prepare everything mentioned on the previous page. Good Luck!
All candidates are strongly advised to attend the candidate briefings and the Deputy Returning Officer will be available to provide any further information about any aspect of the election/campaigning process.
Checklist
The Empathic frog says...
