HANDBOOK
WHO WILL YOU VOTE FOR?
TAKE CONTROL AND CHANGE YOUR UNION www.yusu.org/elections
#YUSUelections
YUSU ELECTIONS 2015
YUSU ELECTIONS 2015 CONTENTS TAKE CONTROL AND CHANGE YOUR UNION
page 04
KEY DATES
page 05
WHAT POSITIONS CAN I RUN FOR?
page 06
WHY RUN IN THE YUSU ELECTIONS 2015?
page 10
WHO CAN RUN?
page 12
WHAT HELP CAN I GET?
page 13
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TAKE CONTROL AND CHANGE YOUR UNION
WELCOME TO #YUSUELECTIONS You could be a Chemistry student with fantastic ideas about how we improve representation. You might be studying Accounting and think access to sports clubs should be much better. You may be reading English & Related Literature and want YUSU to have stronger community links.
YOU CAN MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN The YUSU Elections are your chance to get your voice heard, and make real changes to students’ lives here in York. Whatever your ideas, YUSU is here to help you if you’re interested in turning them into action. In this handbook you will find information on when the elections are, why you should run, where to go if you have any questions - whether you’ve never thought about running before or whether you decided the second you got to York - and how you can run an effective and meaningful campaign. Whatever you do, all current students at the University of York can stand, even if you’re away on a leave of absence or placement.
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KEY DATES NOMINATIONS OPEN
9am, Monday 5th January (Week 1) at yusu.org/elections
NOMINATIONS CLOSE
5pm, Friday 30th January (Week 4)
CANDIDATE WORKSHOP & BRIEFING 2pm, Wednesday 4th February (Week 5) in Yourspace
MANIFESTO DEADLINE
5pm, Friday 6th February (Week 5)
CAMPAIGNING OPENS
9am, Tuesday 17th February (Week 7)
FULL-TIME OFFICER’S DEBATE 8pm, Tuesday 17th February (Week 7)
PART-TIME OFFICER’S HUSTINGS 7.30pm, Friday 20th February (Week 7) in URY Studios
VOTING OPENS
9am, Monday 23rd February (Week 8)
VOTING CLOSES
12pm, Thursday 26th February (Week 8)
BUDGETS & COMPLAINTS DEADLINE 5pm, Thursday 26th February (Week 8)
RESULTS NIGHT PARTY
8pm, Friday 27th February (Week 8) in The Lounge
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WHAT POSITIONS CAN I RUN FOR? FULL-TIME OFFICERS
PART-TIME OFFICERS
The Full-Time Officers make up the core leadership team of the Students’ Union, and the positions are undertaken as a sabbatical year during or immediately after your studies.. Something always worth remembering: being a Full-Time Officer is a full-time job. As well as gaining vital new experience and skills, Full-Time Officers get paid over £18k to spend a year working directly with students on the issues they care about.
Part-Time Officers play a major role in expanding the work that YUSU does and in engaging a wider and more diverse number of students. Although not paid, being a PartTime Officer enables you to play a vital role in the work that YUSU does, and if elected you will be given resources and opportunities unavailable elsewhere in order to do this.
When do I start? - Full Time Officer terms begin their term on the last day of the academic year. NOTE: All Full-Time Officers also act as trustees of the Union, so remember to check www.yusu.org/elections if you’re eligible to be a trustee or have concerns about your right to hold down full-time work because of your Visa.
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There are nine Part-time Officer positions which are voluntary and are undertaken alongside your studies. Each officer has a specific area of responsibility and they take the lead in organising and promoting that area of the Union’s activity. NOTE: All Part Time Officer roles may be held by up to two people, running together (please only submit one nomination form online but include details of both people running). When do I start? - All Part-Time Officers begin their term on the last day of Spring Term.
FULL-TIME OFFICERS YUSU
P
UNION PRESIDENT
RE
SIDEN
AC
ADEMIC
T
ACADEMIC OFFICER
Represents students on issues relating to their course, teaching and learning facilities.
O
FF
T ACTI
TIES
STU
D
EN
ICER
VI
O
RE & C MUNITY
WE
FA
ICER
OM
L
FF
ICER
OR
RE
K SPOR T
Y
O
FF
P
Acts as the main spokesperson for YUSU and is responsible for the reputation, leadership and direction of YUSU as a democratic organisation.
SIDEN
T
STUDENT ACTIVITIES OFFICER
Supports and develops extra-curricular activities amongst students, including societies, events and volunteering.
WELFARE & COMMUNITY OFFICER
Represents students on issues affecting their wellbeing, such as health, finance, accommodation and security, as well as wider community issues.
YORK SPORT PRESIDENT
Coordinates and develops sport within YUSU and works to increase opportunities and participation.
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CER
OTH
E
R
BME OFFICER
TIME OF
NS
T
FI
PAR
PART-TIME OFFICERS
POSITIO
Represents black and minority ethnic students, promoting equality between students of different races and ethnicities. Candidates for this position must not self-define as White British.
DISABLED STUDENTS’ OFFICER
Represents disabled students and promotes awareness of accessibility issues on campus and around York. Candidates for this position must self-define as having a disability, or be considered to have one by the University or law.
ENVIRONMENT & ETHICS OFFICER
Encourages the development of environmentally and ethically sound working practices within YUSU and the University.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ OFFICER
Represents international students and encourages their participation in wider YUSU and University activities. Candidates for this role must be an international student.
LGBTQ OFFICER
Represents students who do not self-define as both heterosexual and cis-gendered and works to increase awareness of LGBTQ issues. Candidates for this position must not self-define as heterosexual and cis-gendered.
MATURE STUDENTS’ OFFICER
Represents mature students, provides social opportunities for them and encourages their participation in wider YUSU and University activities. Candidates for this position must be over the age of 21.
WOMEN’S OFFICER
Represents women and promotes women’s liberation across campus. Candidates for this position must self-define as women.
Officers who lead a Coordination Committee These Officers coordinate a certain activity of YUSU, and there are no restrictions as to who can run for them.
RAG OFFICER
Develops fundraising opportunities for students.
VOLUNTEERING OFFICER
Develops opportunities for students to become involved in volunteering.
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OTHER POSITIONS Policy and Review Group YUSU’s Policy and Review Group (PRG) is a new body responsible for reviewing and reporting on the policy process within YUS. They ensure that students have the ability to submit Ideas and that policy is generated both transparently, accountably and fairly. PRG is made up of five members, one of whom, the Policy Coordinator, is elected now.
POLICY COORDINATOR Chairs the PRG, referendum debates and Union AGMs, as well as having a number of other responsibilities in holding officers and others to account and helping to develop policy. When do I start? - The Policy Coordinator begins their term on the last day of Spring Term. The four remaining members of PRG are unelected and are being recruited throughout January. To apply for these positions visit www.yusu.org/jobs.
Delegates to NUS Conference The National Union of Students is the national body that represents all students across the UK. Every year each union affiliated to the NUS (of which York is one) sends a delegation to NUS National Conference, its highest decisionmaking body, where important national policy decisions are made and the NUS National Executive Committee are elected.
NUS DELEGATES (4)
Represent the views of students from York and vote on national policy at NUS Conference.
SENATE REPS (3) Sit on University Senate, the most important University committee on teaching and learning. It is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor and is also attended by the President and Academic Officer. Senate reps start their term on the last day of Spring Term.
STUDENT TRUSTEES (1) Responsible for the financial and legal implications of YUSU’s activity. The sole student trustee position elected will begin their term in August. Student trustees must be eligible to be a trustee. Check the criteria online at www.yusu. org/elections.
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LEAD Be the voice of 16,000 students. YUSU is here to represent you. Being a YUSU Officer gives you the resources, responsibility and authority to consult students, find out what they want, and fight for those issues at all levels. Take responsibility of a charity with a turnover of more than £5 million. Full-Time Officers also act as trustees of YUSU. This means you’ll get direct experience of having responsibility for directing and administering an organisation with an annual turnover of more than £5 million.
WHY RUN IN THE YUSU ELECTIONS 2015?
CHANGE
INSPIRE
Change your Union; Change your University; Change York.
Lead the debate with students in York, and engage Nationally.
Students will elect you to fulfil what you said you’d do in your manifesto. If there’s something about your student experience you don’t like, or if you think YUSU is getting it all wrong, then running to be a YUSU Officer is one of the best ways to change all that. You’ll be given the authority and the resources to make your ideas into reality.
If you’re elected as an Officer, you can lead on campaigns, engage students in activities and take part in debates on campus on the local and national issues of the day, and mobilise students to achieve the changes you want to see.
Develop your skills and gain new professional experiences. Every Officer is responsible for leading a team, for developing a YUSU activity, committee or network and for making strategic decisions about a part of the organisation. Being a YUSU Officer is a unique opportunity to build confidence developing new skills such as leadership, public speaking, representation and strategic thinking.
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YUSU is also affiliated to the National Union of Students (NUS), which means our Officers get to meet and train with other Officers from Aberdeen to Exeter; they join conferences to decide where students stand on national issues and develop their skills. There is also a huge opportunity to work with and collaborate with other student unions and other organisations to run important national campaigns for students.
KEY DATA 2014 OVER-SEAS STATUS
85%
OF STUDENTS WHO VOTED WERE FROM THE UK
GENDER BALANCE
62%
OF CANDIDATES WERE MALE
10%
5%
OF STUDENTS WHO VOTED WERE FROM OVER-SEAS
OF STUDENTS WHO VOTED WERE FROM THE EU
VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS
38%
OF CANDIDATES WERE FEMALE
45%
OF VOTERS WERE MALE
55%
OF VOTERS WERE FEMALE
NUMBER OF NOMINATIONS 10
2014 2013 2012
8 6 4 2 0
PRESIDENT
YORK SPORT
STUDENT WELFARE ACTIVITIES
ACADEMIC
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WHO CAN RUN? Absolutely everybody is able run for the Full-Time Officer positions, regardless of your background, age, gender or course - you just need to be a student here at York! Though some of the PartTime roles do require you to self-define. You don’t need to have held a position or had any dealings with YUSU before to run in the elections, nor have been heavily involved in a college committee. If you have a good manifesto and campaign well, you should have just as much chance of winning as anybody else, and YUSU can support you through the entire process. NB: There are a few legal requirements for becoming a trustee (which you would be as a Full-Time Officer). Check online if this applies to you at www.yusu.org/elections. Once you’ve made a decision to run, and what to run for, nomination is easy. Simply go to www. yusu.org/elections during the nomination period (See the ‘Key Dates’ earlier in the booklet) and follow the nomination instructions online.
And that’s it! It’s as simple as filling in the form online. The next step is to think about your manifesto and campaign - what do you want to change or improve? We can provide you with loads of support for this so don’t worry if you have no experience of politics or campaigning - we want the process to be open to everybody. NB: If you’re thinking about running, or are a little unsure about putting yourself forward because you don’t know if you can commit then don’t worry! You will have until the manifesto submission deadline of 5pm, Friday 6th February (Week 5) at 12pm to drop out of the running. If you nominate yourself early on, then you’ll be able to take part in all the pre-election training and mentoring that we run here at YUSU. AND: If you are a student with a family and are worried about childcare costs whilst campaigning and doing your job if you are elected, we may be able to offer subsidies to support you. Visit the Advice and Support Centre in the Student Centre, James College or email elections@yusu.org.
WE CAN HELP YOU WIN AN ELECTION You might be a seasoned campaigner, or a total newbie to the whole idea - so here at YUSU we’re determined to give you all the tools and skills you need to be able to run a successful campaign, and hopefully win an election.
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CANDIDATE WORKSHOP & BRIEFING The Candidate Workshop is an afternoon of activities designed to prepare you for the campaign ahead, and will be on Wednesday 4th February (Week 5) in YourSpace. There’ll be a range of workshops to cover all aspects of campaigning, and we’ll give you a whole host of skills and advice you can put into practice. It’s also where you’ll have your official candidate photo taken, go over the campaign rules and have a chance to meet with all of the other candidates - who will be feeling just as nervous as you are!
WHAT HELP CAN I GET?
Attendance is compulsory. Unless you have attended your nomination will not be approved by the Returning Officer and you will not appear on the ballot. If you really cannot make it to the Candidate Bootcamp you should notify us in advance by emailing elections@yusu.org and arrange to come in to the Student Centre at an alternative time. Your nomination cannot be approved until you have done this.
LIBERATION NETWORK EVENTS Traditionally, we don’t get many candidates from some important groups on campus, so as well as the Candidate Workshop, this year our Liberation Networks (BME, Disabled Students, LGBTQ and Womens) will be running a session on Friday 23rd January from 6pm in D/L/036 for their members who are thinking about, or already have, nominated themselves for positions. This is your chance to find out more about the experience of running and also get some tips from successful candidates.
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MENTORING Once you’ve nominated yourself, you’ll get a chance to meet with a YUSU staff member who will support you. Mentoring will run from Week 3 to Week 5, so nominating yourself early will give you more time to access your mentor. Mentors will be able to help you to work out exactly what your key messages are and develop a full manifesto, and they’ll be able to give you advice about how to craft your election campaign and get the most out of the election period.
CAMPAIGNING Campaigning will begin at 9am on Tuesday 17th February in Week 7 and will end at 12pm on Thursday 26 February in Week 8 when voting closes. You must not campaign before this time. NB: During week 6, YUSU will be promoting the elections themselves and promoting all candidates collectively to give the elections a head-start. During Week 6 however you must not actively campaign. Rules will be clarified during candidate briefings.
ACCESSIBLE FORMAT INFORMATION: This document can be made available in large print upon request. If you require another alternative format please contact us to discuss your requirements. Telephone: 01904 32 3485 Email: democracy@yusu.org Contact Details: YUSU The Student Centre James College Newton Way Heslington York YO10 5DD
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