Students’ Union Officer Positions

STUDENTS’ UNION CONSTITUTION

President

i. S/He shall act as Chairperson and shall have responsibility to uphold this Constitution and the terms of reference of all Union companies.

ii. S/He shall be responsible for liaising with the appropriate staff members of the Union, the Union’s companies and with University management.

iii. S/He shall have responsibility for the day to day finances of the Union in conjunction with the senior staff member and shall report to the Finance Committee on those issues.

iv. S/He shall also be responsible for ultimate coordination of Students’ Union campaigns v. S/He shall be required to act as a member of the Boards of Directors of companies owned by or related to the Union. vi. S/He will represent Union members on University committees. vii. S/He shall be the Chief Executive Officer and chief spokesperson of the Union. viii. S/He shall be the principal delegate to the National Council and Annual Congress of the Union of Students in Ireland. ix. S/He shall also be required to give a mandatory report on work carried out at each Executive meeting.

The President co-ordinates the activities of the Students’ Union and works with University Management to achieve the best academic environment and quality of life for NUI Galway students. The President is responsible for the Union’s finances, co-ordination of Union campaigns and acts as the chief spokesperson of the Union. The President sits on a wide range of university committees including Údarás na hOllscoile, Finance Resource Committee and Standing & Strategic Planning Committee.

The President is also appointed to the boards of the following companies for the duration of their term:

• Students’ Union Commercial Services Ltd: A company owned by the Students’ Union which manages Sult, Students’ Union Shop and Smokey’s Café.

• Students’ Union Publications and Promotions Ltd. A company owned by the Students’ Union responsible for producing Students’ Union publications.

• College Campus Radio Ltd: A company responsible for Flirt FM

• Cumann Céimithe na Gaillimhe Aonad Sláinte do Mhic Léinn Teo: A company responsible for managing the Student Health Unit.

• SCML Teoranta: A company owned by the Students’ Union to manage any commercial arrangements which may arise.

Vice President / Welfare and Equality Officer

1. Shall have responsibility for providing information and educating the general student body on welfare and equality issues and to this end shall initiate campaigns on relevant and pressing Welfare and Equality issues, in collaboration with relevant officers.

2. Shall also provide a confidential listening and referral service for members of the Union

3. Shall represent members on various University committees.

4. Shall also organise and chair the Welfare Forum.

5. Shall also be required to give a mandatory report on work carried out at each Executive meeting.

6. The Welfare and Equality Officer’s actions will be informed by the 9 Equality Grounds, being: i. Gender ii. Civil status iii. Family status iv. Sexual orientation v. Religion

Membership of the Traveller community

The Welfare and Equality Officer assists students with problems in areas of accommodation, childcare, study, health, finances and social welfare. They work closely with on-campus accommodation companies and residents associations.

They sit on a wide range of university committees including Safety Committee, Discipline Committee and the University Centre Planning & Management Group. The Welfare and Equality Officer also organises the Welfare Forum and a variety of high profile campaigns such as Mental Health Week and SHAG Week. Dealing with individual student queries is a large part of the Welfare Officer’s job.

The Vice President / Welfare and Equality Officer sits on the following committees:

• Discipline Committee

• Financial Aid Fund Allocation Committee

• Health Unit Board of Directors

• Crèche Committee