Everything you need to know about the UCSU Officer Elections
It’s getting round to that time of year again… UCSU Officer Elections will soon be upon us! But what are the elections and why should I care? This is a quick guide to officers, the elections and anything else you may need to know. If your question isn’t covered then feel free to drop into one of our offices, or send us an email at students.union@cumbria.ac.uk
What are the UCSU Elections?
The elections are held annually in order to vote in officers for the next academic year. All students are eligible to vote.
What is a UCSU officer?
A UCSU Officer is a paid, full-time position in the Students’ Union. There are three officer roles; Academic Officer, Welfare & Support Officer and Community & Partnership Officer.
What does an officer do?
Officers represent the views and interests of all University of Cumbria students, and it’s their job to provide students with all the opportunities and platforms you need to make the most of your student experience.
You can find more about what each role does by reading the job descriptions.
What is a Student Trustee?
A student trustee is a part-time, voluntary position. A student trustee sits on the trustee board of UCSU and helps to make executive decisions, as well as making sure that UCSU continues to operate efficiently.
How do I apply for one of the positions?
If you are interested in any of the positions, you will need to nominate yourself. Nominations open on Monday 30th January and the form will be available at www.ucsu.me/elections. Once you have nominated yourself, you will be invited to candidate training. Following the training will be the election and campaigns period where you will encourage students to vote for you.
Why should I apply for one of the positions?
You might be interested for a range of reasons. You can develop valuable skills in any of these positions which would look good on your CV and help when applying for future jobs. Being an officer gives you the security of having a job for a year, but also gives you time to think about what you want from your future. You might be really passionate about all students having the best experience possible at the university.
Am I eligible to apply?
Yes. Any student at the University of Cumbria is eligible to be an officer. You can complete this role after you graduate or as a sabbatical year from your studies. Student Trustees will need to be a current student for the academic year 2017/18.
Can I really fix what I hate?
We can’t make any promises… but you can make your voice heard by the university and have your say on some big decisions. If there is something you are passionate about then you can make it known.
What happens next?
If you want any further information then let us know! You can contact us at students.union@cumbria.ac.uk Nominations will open on Monday 30th January. Follow us on Facebook for all the latest updates!
