UCA Students' Union Elections 2013 Candidates' Handbook

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 fulfillment. The skills you learn in these positions look fantastic on your CV and increase your employability.

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Thu 31 Jan

Nominations open

Wed 20 Feb

Nominations close 3pm

Fri 22 Feb Candidates’ Briefing (Farnham, Rochester) Mon 25 Feb Candidates’ Briefing (Canterbury, Epsom) Tue 26 Feb Campaigning begins from 2pm Candidates’ Briefing (Maidstone)

Mon 4 Mar Voting begins - Ballot open 10am-2.30pm Tue 5 Mar

Voting - Ballot open 10am-2.30pm

Wed 6 Mar

Voting - Ballot open 10am-2.30pm

Thu 7 Mar

Voting - Ballot open 10am-2.30pm

Fri 8 Mar Voting ends - Ballot open 10am-1pm.

Results announced online

(ucasu.com/elections) and at Glasshouse, Farnham.

The Focussed Crane says...

“Remember to submit your nomination form on time and campaign throughout the whole voting period. You never know how many votes are in it!”

Dates and times

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TIMETABLE

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 2013 to the 30 June 2014. 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 • Actively Chair an allocated committee • Arrange campus Fresher’s events • Attend induction meetings

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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 if elected, but what you choose to prioritise is down to you and the other campus officers.

Campus Officers

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• 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 Councillors

Each campus has its own Student Council. Student Councillors are current students who volunteer to represent students on their campus from 1st July 2013 - 30th June 2014.

The Student Council discusses motions, which if passed set the agenda for the Union to act on.

Student Council directs everything that the Union does.

The following positions are available at each campus: Student Experience Officers (3 positions per campus) • These officers will 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 on RAG (Raise and Give), 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.

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Environmental Officer • To promote environmental issues within the University and Union.

• 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.

Student Councillors

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Student Councillors

Students with Disabilities Officer • Ensure that disabled students views and opinions are reflected throughout the whole of the Students’ Union’s work.

• 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 campuses student bodies.

• 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

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STUDENT TRUSTEES The Trustee Board is the highest body of the Students’ Union; it has the ultimate responsibility for directing the business of the Union and consists of all five campus officers, five student trustees (one from each campus) and external trustees who are experts in their field.

Trustee positions are a two-year position; 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 the 1st July 2013 and are elected by cross campus ballot.

Currently there is a Student Trustee position available at: Canterbury and Maidstone.

NUS DELEGATE UCA Students’ Union as a member of NUS (National Union of Students) is able to elect two delegates by cross campus ballot to attend NUS’ National Conference. This year conference will be held in Sheffield from the 24th April-26th 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.

NUS Delegate and Student Trustee

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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.

You need to get a nominator and seconder from other students.

They cannot nominate more than one person for the same post, or your form will become invalid.

You must submit a copy of your manifesto, a campaigns poster and declaration form (for Campus Officer and Student Trustee candidates) with your nomination form. Your nomination form will not be accepted without these items.

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.

You must submit a manifesto with your nomination form. You can write up to two sides of A4. Please upload an electronic version (Word (.doc), PDF or JPG format) via ucasu.com/elections.

If you’re not sure what to write, pop into your Union office on campus for assistance.

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CANDIDATES BRIEFING It is recommended that you attend the candidate briefing, this will be held on the 22nd, 25th or 26th February at each campus, it will give you information on how to campaign.

DO I HAVE TO HAVE EXPERIENCE TO STAND? NO! Full training is given; all you need is enthusiasm, commitment and a desire to want to positively affect student’s lives.

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

TIPS FOR WRITING YOUR MANIFESTO A manifesto is a document that sets out the views and opinions of a student standing for election. It doesn’t have to be long; two side of A4 maximum.

Follow these easy steps to writing your own manifesto: • Write a bit about yourself, your name, course, position you are standing for. You’re an art student; make it stand out!

• Why are you standing for this position?

• What strengths do you have that would make you good at the position?

• What do you intend to do in the next year if elected?

• Include any strong opinions that may interest students.

• Choosing a catchy slogan can often grab people’s attention.

• Ask people to vote for you!

How voting works

The ballot is run using the Single Transferrable 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, 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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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.

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.

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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.

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If you have the right message and voters hear it seven different ways, you are doing well!

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Just remember to stick to your budget of £30 and make sure everything you do is in line with election regulations and the law! Also remember not to start campaigning before Tuesday 26 February at 2pm.

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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Checklist

The Empathic frog says...

“Use the next few pages to get organised for submitting your nomination and manifesto.” o

Read this booklet

o 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 two sides of A4. Remember your nomination form will not be accepted without a manifesto, a copy of your campaigns poster and your declaration form. o

a completed nomination and declaration form

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copy of your manifesto

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a copy of your campaigns poster

o Everything uploaded to ucasu.com/elections

by Tuesday 20 February 2013 at 3pm.

Good Luck!

Think about some of the things you would like to achieve if elected. Speak to other students about what you should do - what will you put in your manifesto? Use the space below to plan.

Manifesto planning

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.