► FAQs

Do you have questions about the Elections that you are unsure of the answers to? If so, take a look at our FAQs and if you still can't find the answer then email Ruth Christie, Membership Services Manager at r.christie@worc.ac.uk

Q. Why does the SU have elections?
A. The SU is here for students and it’s led by students elected by students to represent their interests. Every year, elections are held so that students can choose who their representatives will be for the following academic year.

Q. Who can stand as a candidate for election?
A. Any member of Worcester Students’ Union can stand for election to office.

Q. Who are the members of Worcester Students’ Union?
A. Any student, full-time or part-time, registered for a course of study with the University of Worcester, is automatically a member of Worcester Students’ Union, unless they have expressly opted out of membership. This includes students of partner colleges who are studying a University of Worcester course.

Q. What are the positions students can stand for?
A. There are three Sabbatical Officer roles and six Part-Time Officer roles. We also need a Chair of Student Council and a student to be a delegate to the National Union of Students’ Annual Conference (24th – 26th April in Sheffield)

Q. Do you have to have been a Vice President to stand for President?
A. No!  Any student can nominate themselves for any of the sabbatical positions.

Q. What’s a Sabbatical Officer?
A. There are three paid Sabbatical roles – President, Vice President Education and Vice President Student Experience. These are full-time jobs, which means that the successful candidates will be employed by the Students’ Union for a year from June. It tends to be students in their final year of study who stand for these roles, but you can take a year out of your studies to undertake the role.

Q. What are Part-Time Officers?
A. Part-Time Officers are unpaid and continue with their studies while they undertake their role. Together with the Sabbatical Officers, they form the Executive Committee. In 2012, the following Part-Time roles are available:
• Mature Students’ Officer – representing the interests of mature students in particular (the majority of students at the University of Worcester, in fact)
• International Students’ Officer – making sure that students who come here from all over the world to study have their rights recognised and their needs met
• Sustainability Officer – helping the SU and students to focus on making improvements which contribute to financial, environmental and social sustainability
• Diversity Officer – working to protect and promote the rights of all students, whatever their age, ability, care commitments, gender, race, religion or belief to dignity and fair treatment
• RAG Officer – this is a new position for 2012 and is a great opportunity for someone interested in the charity sector, organisational skills, volunteering and showing that students can make a positive difference
• Representation Officer – working to ensure that all students feel that they are represented at all levels so that their voice is heard and they make a positive contribution to their own educational experience

Q. I’m not sure whether or not to stand – how can I find out more?
A. Come in to the SU and have an informal chat with one of the current Sabbatical Officers or a member of staff. You might even like to arrange to shadow one of the Sabbatical Officers, which will give you a good idea of what their roles actually involve.

Q. So, if I decide I want to stand for election, what do I have to do?
A. You’ll need to complete the relevant forms in the Nomination Pack and get them to SU Reception by midday on Friday 2nd March at the latest. You’ll need another two SU members (University of Worcester students) to support your nomination and to sign the relevant Election Nomination Forms. If you want to be a candidate for a Sabbatical Officer role, you’ll also need to complete and sign the Candidate Declaration to confirm that you’re not barred from being a charity trustee.
Any member can also stand to be a delegate to the NUS National Conference – you don’t have to stand for any of the other positions.