INTRODUCTION Every year we run elections to find our next P r e s i d e n t s a n d S t u d e n t G o v e r n o r. T h i s y e a r , f o r the first time, we’re electing two new President p o s i t i o n s : P r e s i d e n t K e n t a n d P r e s i d e n t S u r r e y. T h e y replace the previous structure of President, VP Kent a n d V P S u r r e y. Learn more about what makes these roles so exciting in the job descriptions a few pages ahead in this handbook. We w a n t y o u t o # G r o w W i t h U s . A s a P r e s i d e n t o r a S t u d e n t G o v e r n o r, y o u r s k i l l s a n d e x p e r i e n c e w i l l grow over the course of your one year term, and you’ll have the opportunity to support growth in communities on campus and foster more positive student life at UCA. This election is a chance for you to flourish with the Students’ Union.
K E Y D AT E S Mon 18 Mar 10am:
Nominations open at ucasu.com/elections
Fri 22 Mar
12-2pm:
Candidate drop-in*
Fri 29 Mar
12-2pm:
Candidate drop-in*
Fri 29 Mar
3pm:
Nominations close
Fri 29 Mar
5pm:
Candidates announced at ucasu.com/elections
K E Y D AT E S Fri 29 Mar
5pm
Campaigning officially opens Question submission box opens for students to ask candidates questions
Tu e 2 A p r
3pm:
Submission box questions sent out to candidates
We d 3 A p r
3pm:
Candidates must have returned all question responses to elections.su@uca.ac.uk
Thur 4 Apr
10am:
Vo t i n g o p e n s ! Vo t i n g i s c o n d u c t e d b y paper ballot, so students must visit their campus ballot box to cast their vote
Fri 5 Apr
3pm:
Vo t i n g c l o s e s . A l l c o m p l a i n t s o r c o n c e r n s about elections must have been submitted to the Deputy Returning Officer on elections.su@uca.ac.uk The vote count begins
Fri 5 Apr
8pm:
Results announced at ucasu.com/elections *If you’re considering running, this is your chance to speak directly to Sophie o r Ta y l o r , t h e t w o e l e c t i o n s e x p e r t s i n t h e S t u d e n t s ’ U n i o n ! Yo u c a n c o n t a c t t h e m any time through elections.su@uca.ac.uk, but the drop-ins will allow you to chat face-to-face, or through video call. Just pop by your SU office with any questions.
PRESIDENT JOB DESCRIPTION Te r m : 1 5 t h J une 2 0 1 9 - 1 5 t h J u n e 2 0 2 0 Sa l a r y : £ 1 8 , 0 2 3 pe r y e a r J ob Overview: Yo u r e p r e s e n t s t u d e n t s wi t h i n t h e u n i v er si t y an d t h e community, camp a i g n o n s t u d e n t i s s u e s , a n d wo r k o n p r o j ect s t h at will improve s tu d e n t s ’ l i v e s a t UCA. Co l l a b o r a t in g w i t h p ar t - t i m e repres entatives li k e t h e Ca m p u s Ex e c u t i v e Off i c er s, L i b er at i o n L ead er s and Academic Re p s , a n d wi t h t h e s u p p o r t o f UCA S U ’s ei g h t f u l l - t i m e s taff, you’ll be vi t a l t o t h e s u c c e s s o f t h e St u d e nt s’ U n i o n ’s st r at eg y, an d the development o f o u r f u t u r e p l a n s , a l l t o d o b ig g er an d b et t er t h i n g s for UCA s tudents . Reports to: Each o t h e r, t h e Bo a r d o f Tr u s t e e s , a nd m o st i m p o r t an t l y t o UCA s tudents . A s e l e c t e d o ff i c e r s , y o u d o n ’t h a v e a l i n e m an ag er i n the way that mos t e m p l o y e e s d o . Yo u a r e h e l d a c co u n t ab l e b y U C A S U ’s Board of Trus tee s a n d b y UCA s t u d e n t s . Th i s i s n ’t as scar y as i t so u n d s! By working with y o u r f e l l o w Pr e s i d e n t a n d s u p po r t i n g o n e an o t h er, y o u will be able to ac h i e v e g r e a t t h i n g s f o r s t u d e n t s , w h i ch i s r eal l y w h at we’re all working f o r. Re s po ns i bi l i t i e s a nd Dut ies: Developing and l e a d i n g o n p r o j e c t s t h a t y o u b e l iev e w i l l p o si t i v el y affect s tudents ’ e x p e r i e n c e s a t UCA - y o u d e c i d e t h ese p r o j ect s w h en you write your c a m p a i g n m a n i f e s t o d u r i n g e l e c t io n s! Creating or taking p a r t i n c a m p a i g n s , b a s e d o n s t u d en t f eed b ack ab o u t the is s ues they c a r e a b o u t Gathering and ac t i n g o n s t u d e n t f e e d b a c k b y l e ad i n g o u r r eg u l ar S tudent Forums a n d h a v i n g p r o a c t i v e c o n v e r s a t i on s w i t h st u d en t s o n t h e campus es you ar e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r S upporting liber a t i o n g r o u p s b y l i s t e n i n g t o a n d w o r k i n g w i t h L i b er at i o n Leaders P articipating in Ca m p u s Ex e c u t i v e Co m m i t t e e w i t h C am p u s E x ecu t i v e Officers , where y o u p r e s e n t m o t i o n s a b o u t s t u d e n t i ssu es an d d i scu ss t h e progres s of each o t h e r ’s wo r k Repres enting s tu d e n t s o n c o m m i t t e e s wi t h i n t h e u n i v er si t y an d l o cal l y - this might mean s i t t i n g o n t h e Bo a r d o f Go v e r n o r s, o r at t en d i n g a meeting with the l o c a l c o u n c i l
W hy s ho ul d I r un f o r Pre s i d en t ? As a P res ident, y o u r r o l e i s u n i q u e - v e r y f e w r o l es o u t t h er e w i l l o ff er you s uch a wide r a n g e o f p r o f e s s i o n a l e x p e r i e n ces, al l w h i l e w o r k i n g on projects that y o u y o u r s e l f g e t t o c o m e u p wi t h w h en y o u w r i t e y o u r manifes to. Your p a s s i o n s c o m b i n e d wi t h y o u r e xp er i en ces as a U C A s tudent can empo we r y o u t o a c h i e v e g r e a t t h i n g s f o r t h e n ex t g en er at i o n of s tudents . To g i v e y o u a n i d e a o f wh a t we c a n ach i ev e, h er e ar e so m e of the s ucces s es o u r c u r r e n t Pr e s i d e n t s h a v e e a r ned : 2017-19 Vice-P r e s i d e n t Ke n t , Ri l e y, l o b b i e d a n d w o r k ed w i t h Med w ay Council until they a g r e e d t o b u i l d a n e w, s a f e r pat h f o r st u d en t s acr o ss the field next to Ro c h e s t e r c a m p u s . 2018-19 Vice-P r e s i d e n t Su r r e y, Si m o n e , h a s c o l lab o r at ed w i t h acad em i c s taff over two ye a r s t o m a k e UCA’s c u r r i c u l u m s m o r e d i v er se an d inclus ive. As a P res ident, y o u g a i n a f u l l y e a r o f e x p e r i e n c e w o r k i n g f o r a charity, making p o s i t i v e c h a n g e f o r s t u d e n t s l i k e y o u r sel f . I n o n e year you will be p a r t o f a Bo a r d o f Tr u s t e e s , r e p r esen t st u d en t s o n a variety of com m i t t e e s , l e a d d y n a m i c c a m p a i g ns, su p p o r t ex ci t i n g events and activi t i e s o n c a m p u s , l e a r n t o wr i t e r ep o r t s an d p o l i ci es, attend conference s , c r e a t e r e l a t i o n s h i p s wi t h s t ud en t s an d st aff , r ecei v e extens ive trainin g o n p o l i t i c s , f i n a n c e , p r o j e c t m an ag em en t an d m u ch more. Whatever you bel i e v e c o u l d m a k e l i f e a t UCA b e t t er f o r st u d en t s, y o u have the chance t o m a k e r e a l i t y b y r u n n i n g t o b e P r esi d en t K en t o r P res ident S urrey f o r 2 0 1 9 / 2 0 2 0 . Am I e l i g i bl e ? To be one of UC ASU’s n e x t Pr e s i d e n t s , y o u h a v e t o b e a cu r r en t U C A s tudent (and UCASU m e m b e r, wh i c h y o u a u t o m at i cal l y b eco m e w h en you regis ter as a s t u d e n t ) . Yo u n e e d t o h a v e i d e a s ab o u t w h at y o u w o u l d change about the c a m p u s o r a c a d e m i c e x p e r i e n c e at U C A . I f y o u w r i t e a manifes to that r e s o n a t e s wi t h s t u d e n t s a n d c a mp ai g n en t h u si ast i cal l y, you’re already o n t r a c k t o b e e l e c t e d o n e o f t h e n ex t P r esi d en t s. If you are a Can t e r b u r y o r Ro c h e s t e r s t u d e n t y o u can r u n f o r t h e r o l e o f P res ident Kent on l y, a n d i f y o u a r e a Fa r n h a m o r E p so m st u d en t y o u can run for the role o f Pr e s i d e n t Su r r e y o n l y. Th i s m ean s y o u ar e p r i m ar i l y accountable only t o t h e s t u d e n t s f r o m y o u r c o u nt y, b u t w i l l st i l l w o r k o n all-campus is s ues f r o m t i m e t o t i m e . Vo t e s a r e c ast b y st u d en t s f r o m al l campus es for bot h r o l e s , n o t j u s t t h e s t u d e n t s f r o m y o u r co u n t y.
STUDENT GOVERNOR JOB DESCRIPTION Te r m : Aug us t 2 0 1 9 - J ul y 20 2 0 W ha t i s t he Bo a r d o f G o v e rn o rs? The Board of Gov e r n o r s ( BOG) i s t h e m o s t s e n i or b o ar d w i t h i n the univers ity. Th e y ’ r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r c r e a t i n g an d l ead i n g o n t h e univers ity’s mis s i o n , a s we l l a s e n c o u r a g i n g a p osi t i v e l ear n i n g environment for UCA s t u d e n t s . The Bo a r d: Approves UCA’s s t r a t e g i c p l a n a n d b u s i n e s s p l a n s Is “employing au t h o r i t y ” f o r UCA s t a ff , m e a n i n g t h ey en su r e employment law i s f o l l o we d a n d m a k e t o p - l e v e l d eci si o n s ab o u t st aff i n g Appoints Vice-C h a n c e l l o r, De p u t y Vi c e - Ch a n c e ll o r, an d o t h er k ey Univers ity roles Has res pons ibilit y f o r t h e Un i v e r s i t y ’s a s s e t s a n d p r o p er t i es Ens ures that the Un i v e r s i t y o p e r a t e s l e g a l l y. There are 22 Boar d m e m b e r s , i n c l u d i n g t wo s t u d en t r ep r esen t at i v es: o n e of thos e is a UCASU Pr e s i d e n t a n d t h e o t h e r i s S t u d en t G o v er n o r - t h at could be you! The Clerk to the Bo a r d wi l l o ff e r y o u s u p p o r t i n t h e r o l e, as w el l as UCAS U’s Chief Ex e c u t i v e a n d Ch a i r o f Tr u s t e e s . Re s po ns i bi l i t i e s a nd Dut ies: Your role is to re p r e s e n t s t u d e n t s ’ p e r s p e c t i v e s du r i n g t h e d i scu ssi o n s take place at Bo a r d m e e t i n g s . Th i s c o u l d b e o n to p i cs su ch as U C A’s financial prioriti e s , i t s v a l u e s o r m i s s i o n , h o w U C A sh o u l d d ev el o p , an d academic and s u p p o r t s t a n d a r d s .
Yo u wo ul d: Attend an initial i n d u c t i o n a n d r e g u l a r b r i e f i n g m eet i n g s, t o en su r e you’re prepared f o r Bo a r d m e e t i n g s Attend Board mee t i n g s - t h e r e a r e o n l y f o u r p e r y ear, u su al l y b o o k ed i n for 2pm with a lu n c h p r o v i d e d b e f o r e h a n d Take part in a S t r a t e g i c Awa y Da y ( t h i s i s u s u a l l y an ev en i n g an d 9am-5pm the fol l o wi n g d a y ) Read papers ahea d o f t h e m e e t i n g a n d p r e p a r e a n y p o i n t s y o u ’ d l i k e to rais e When appropriat e , l o o k f o r f e e d b a c k f r o m f e l l o w st u d en t s ab o u t particularly com p l e x o r p o t e n t i a l l y c o n t r o v e r s i a l p ap er s Be cons tructive wi t h y o u r f e e d b a c k Res pect the conf i d e n t i a l i t y o f c o n f i d e n t i a l i t e m s Dis clos e conflict s o f i n t e r e s t , s h o u l d t h e y a r i s e Adhere to Nolan Co m m i t t e e s t a n d a r d s o f b e h a v i ou r : sel f l essn ess, integrity, objectiv i t y, a c c o u n t a b i l i t y, o p e n n e s s , h o n est y an d l ead er sh i p W hy s ho ul d I r un f o r G o v e rn o r? If you want to m a k e c h a n g e f o r s t u d e n t s a t UCA, t h i s i s t h e m o st direct and active wa y y o u c a n d o i t - y o u g e t t o h el p m ak e d eci si o n s about finances a n d Un i v e r s i t y wo r k a n d y o u g e t t o r ep r esen t st u d en t s’ pers pectives . It only takes up a b o u t 5 - 7 d a y s o f y o u r t i m e t h r o u g h o u t t h e y ear, an d offers you an exc e l l e n t o p p o r t u n i t y t o d e v e l o p y o u r co m m u n i cat i o n s kills and experi e n c e o f wo r k i n g i n a p r o f e s s i o n al set t i n g . Am I e l i g i bl e ? If you’re a contin u i n g UCA s t u d e n t - m e a n i n g y o u ’ l l st i l l b e st u d y i n g at UCA next acad e m i c y e a r - y o u ’ r e e l i g i b l e f o r t h e r o l e o f S t u d en t Governor.
HOW TO WIN YOUR ELECTION W ha t y o u’ l l ne e d:
Ideas that grab inter e st S ome friends to help you C reativity E nthusiasm W ha t t o do : Create a manifes t o - wh a t wo u l d y o u c h a n g e a b o u t y o u r cam p u s o r academic experie n c e ? Pu t t o g e t h e r a m a n i f e s t o th at l et s p eo p l e k n o w why they s hould v o t e f o r y o u . S ubmit your nomi n a t i o n - g o t o u c a s u . c o m / e l e c t i o n s t o n o m i n at e yours elf now! If y o u d o n ’t h a v e a b i o o r m a n i f e st o j u st y et t h at ’s o k ay, you can s end it to e l e c t i o ns . s u@ uc a . a c . uk b y Fr i d ay 2 9 Mar ch , 3 p m at the lates t. P lan your campai g n - wh a t a r e y o u g o i n g t o d o to g et y o u r i d eas o u t there? You could m a k e b a n n e r s , g i v e o u t f l y e r s , o rg an i se a f l ash m o b … make yours elf kn o wn t o s t u d e n t s a n d t h e v o t e s w i l l r o l l i n ! Tip: You can s pe n d a m a x i m u m o f £ 2 0 o n y o u r cam p ai g n . K eep y o u r receipts for any s p e n d i n g y o u d o a n d s u b m i t i t t o elections .s u@uca . a c . uk wh e n e l e c t i o n s a r e o v e r t o g et r ei m b u r sed ! Gather a team - d o y o u h a v e f r i e n d s wh o c a n h e l p y o u t o cam p ai g n ? Get them to s prea d t h e wo r d i n l e c t u r e s , h e l p y o u m ak e p o st er s an d banners , whateve r y o u n e e d t o m a k e y o u r c a m p ai g n am azi n g . If your ideas are g o o d a n d y o u r c a m p a i g n g e t s p eo p l e’s at t en t i o n , y o u are in the bes t p l a c e t o wi n v o t e s a n d u l t i m a t e l y w i n y o u r el ect i o n . G o o d l uc k!
HOW TO MAKE A MANIFESTO A manifes to is a s i m p l e a s : • a campaign s l o g a n • s ome key id e a s o f t h i n g s y o u ’ d l i k e t o wo r k o n i f y o u ar e el ect ed t o the role Tips : • M ake it bold a n d i n t e r e s t i n g t o l o o k a t • Include a ph o t o o f y o u r s e l f - p e o p l e a r e m o r e l i k el y t o r em em b er you! • M aintain a th e m e a c r o s s a l l y o u r c a m p a i g n m at er i al s
HOW TO C A M PA I G N You’re allowed t o s t a r t c a m p a i g n i n g a s s o o n a s can d i d at es ar e an n o u n ced on ucas u.com/ele c t i o n s , t h e e v e n i n g o f Fr i d a y 2 9 Mar ch . C am p ai g n i n g clos es when voti n g c l o s e s , a t 3 p m o n Fr i d a y 5 Ap r i l . You can s pend m a x i m um £ 2 0 o n y o u r c a m p a i g n . P l ease p r o v i d e r ecei p t s for your s pendin g t o e l e c t i o n s . s u @ u c a . a c . u k a f t er v o t i n g cl o ses an d y o u will be reimburs e d f o r t h e f u l l £ 2 0 ! To allow you to t r a v e l b e t we e n c a m p u s e s , we c o v er t h e co st o f t r av el ( b y car or public tran s p o r t ) f o r y o u . I f y o u a r e t r a v e l l i n g b y car, p l ease g i v e 24 hours ’ notice o f y o u r p l a n n e d j o u r n e y t o So p h i e Jack so n o n elections .s u@uca . a c . uk. I f y o u wo u l d l i k e t o t r av el b y p u b l i c t r an sp o r t , pleas e als o give So p h i e J a c k s o n a t l e a s t 2 4 h o u r s ’ n o t i ce an d sh e can book your travel f o r y o u . I f y o u f a i l t o g i v e n o t ice, y o u w i l l n o t b e compens ated for y o u r t r a v e l s p e n d i n g a n d m a y f a ce a co n seq u en ce i n your election. Campaigning can i n c l u d e : • Organis ing a f l a s h m o b o r m u s i c a l p e r f o r m a n ce • Giving a s pee c h i n t h e c a n t e e n • Organis ing t o d o l e c t u r e s h o u t - o u t s a b o u t y o u r cam p ai g n • S peaking to s t u d e n t s a r o u n d c a m p u s • M aking a vid e o a b o u t wh y s t u d e n t s s h o u l d vo t e f o r y o u • P utting info r m a t i o n o n s o c i a l m e d i a , i n c l u d in g t h e U C A F r esh er s groups and y o u r c a n d i d a t e p a g e o n t h e UCA S U w eb si t e • P utting up po s t e r s • Giving out f l y e r s • Giving out b a d g e s If pos s ible, get so m e f r i e n d s t o b a c k y o u u p a n d cam p ai g n o n y o u r behalf. The more p e o p l e h e l p i n g y o u o u t , t h e m o r e st u d en t s w i l l b e aware of you and y o u r c a m p a i g n ! Pa r t i c u l a r l y i f y o u can f i n d st u d en t s o n other campus es to s u p p o r t y o u . You mus t comply wi t h e l e c t i o n r u l e s , wh i c h c a n b e f o u n d at t h e bottom of the pa g e o n u c a s u . c o m / e l e c t i o n s . Yo u ar e r esp o n si b l e f o r t h e behaviour of any m e m b e r o f y o u r c a m p a i g n t e a m .
QUESTIONS This year we’re i n t r o d u c i n g a q u e s t i o n s u b m i s s i o n b o x , so st u d en t s can as k candidat e s a b o u t t h e i r m a n i f e s t o s a n d t h ei r p l an s i f t h ey ar e t o win their election . Th e s u b m i s s i o n b o x wi l l o p e n f o r q u est i o n s w h en candidates are an n o u n c e d o n Fr i d a y 2 9 M a r c h a nd r em ai n o p en u n t i l Tues day 2 April a t 3 p m . Al l q u e s t i o n s wi l l t h e n b e sen t t o can d i d at es, and you will hav e 2 4 h o u r s t o s u b m i t y o u r r e s p o n ses t o el ect i o n s. su @ u ca.ac.uk . Your r e s p o n s e s wi l l b e a d d e d t o y o u r can d i d at e p ag e i n t i m e for voting openin g o n Th u r s d a y 4 Ap r i l , 1 0 a m . You s hould encou r a g e p e o p l e y o u k n o w t o s u b m it q u est i o n s t o yours elf and othe r c a n d i d a t e s - t h e m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o n y o u r p ag e an d convers ation with s t u d e n t s t h a t y o u h a v e , t h e m or e y o u can en g ag e people with your c a m p a i g n !
CHECK LIST • • • • • • •
P lan and des i g n y o u r m a n i f e s t o S ubmit your n o m i n a t i o n t o u c a s u . c o m / e l e c t i o n s Get together a c a m p a i g n i n g t e a m Attend one o f o u r Ca n d i d a t e d r o p - i n s t o a s k an y q u est i o n s y o u might have Keep all the r e c e i p t s f r o m y o u r c a m p a i g n s pen d i n g Campaign! S ubmit your r e c e i p t s t o e l e c t i o ns . s u@ uc a . ac. u k w h en v o t i n g cl o ses
GOOD LUCK!
W H AT I S S I N G L E TRANSFERABLE VOTE (STV)? The election is r u n u s i n g t h e Si n g l e Tr a n s f e r a b l e Vo t e ( S T V ) m et h o d . S TV allows the vo t e r t o r a n k t h e c a n d i d a t e s i n or d er o f p r ef er en ce. Voters mark their f a v o u r i t e c a n d i d a t e n u m b e r 1 , t h ei r seco n d p r ef er r ed candidate numbe r 2 a n d s o o n . Vo t e r s d o n o t h a v e t o r an k al l can d i d at es, they can jus t choo s e t h e i r f a v o u r i t e a n d l e a v e i t at t h at . There is als o the o p t i o n t o v o t e t o Re - Op e n No m i n at i o n ( R . O . N . ) , w h i ch a voter can us e if t h e r e i s n o c a n d i d a t e t h e y wi s h t o v o t e f o r. I f R . O . N . ‘wins ’ the electio n , i t wi l l b e r u n a g a i n , wi t h t h e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r n ew candidates to pu t t h e m s e l v e s f o r wa r d f o r t h e r o l e. By allowing voter s t o r a n k c a n d i d a t e s i n o r d e r o f p r ef er en ce, S T V creates a s ys tem wh e r e b y t h e ‘ l e a s t u n p o p u l a r ’ c an d i d at e w i n s. I n a s ys tem where yo u v o t e o n l y f o r y o u r t o p p r e f e r e n ce, i f t h at p er so n los es then you h a v e h a d n o s a y a b o u t y o u r n e x t c h o i ce - y o u r l east favourite choice c o u l d e q u a l l y wi n a s y o u r n e x t f av o u r i t e. B y al l o w i n g you to rank, ther e i s m o r e n u a n c e a b o u t wh o i s t r u l y t h e m o st p o p u l ar candidate. In order to be ele c t e d a c a n d i d a t e m u s t r e a c h t h e ‘ q u o t a’ ( o v er 5 0 % o f total valid votes c a s t ) . I f a f t e r t h e f i r s t r o u n d o f t h e co u n t t h e q u o t a i s reached, that can d i d a t e i s e l e c t e d . Ho we v e r, i f no can d i d at e r each es t h e quota then the ca n d i d a t e wi t h t h e l o we s t n u m b e r o f v o t es i s el i m i n at ed and their s urplus v o t e s ( t h e d i ff e r e n c e b e t we e n t h ei r v o t e an d t h e q u o t a) are trans ferred am o n g s t t h e r e m a i n i n g c a n d i d a t es. We t h en l o o k t o see if any candidate h a s m e t t h e q u o t a , i f n o t t h e n t h e can d i d at e w i t h t h e next fewes t votes i s e x c l u d e d a n d t h e p r o c e s s c o n t i n u es u n t i l a can d i d at e reaches the quot a a n d i s t h e r e f o r e e l e c t e d . Us i n g S T V, f ew er v o t es ar e ‘was ted’ (i.e. cas t f o r l o s i n g c a n d i d a t e s o r u n n e cessar i l y cast f o r t h e winner), and ther e i s n o n e e d f o r t a c t i c a l v o t i n g - v o t er s can ch o o se t h ei r favourite.
C O N TA C T S S op hie Jacks on Head of M ember s h i p En g a g e m e n t Deputy Returning Off i c e r f o r t h i s e l e c t i o n Taylor Kane S tudent Voice Coo r d i n a t o r elections .s u@ uca . a c . u k 01227 81 7412