be the student voice - bcsu elections 2016

Bradford College Students’ Union Elections 2016

www.BradfordCollegeSU.co.uk/your-voice/elections

BE THE

STUDENTVOICE

All you need to know aboutthe BCSU elections 2016

A bit about us…Bradford College Students’ Union is a student-led charity run bythe 10 student officers elected each March. These studentofficers represent Bradford College students and campaign onthe issues that matter to them.

Elected officers work alongside experienced staff to delivercampaigns, events and activities for the student body.

Here are the main things we do:

ADVICE

StudentParliament

Campaigns

Volunteer

Clubsand

Societies

NUSExtraCard

Activities

Reps

Being a Student OfficerIf elected, you will work or volunteer as an elected officer andmember of the Students’ Union Executive Committee, runningcampaigns and events on behalf of the students you represent.

Depending on which role you go for, you could be a full-time, paidofficer or a part-time officer volunteering alongside your studies.

Either way, you’ll have help getting used to your role, supportfrom our staff to get things done, and acccess to a budget foryour ideas.

There are responsibilities on all officers as part of “the deal” -attending all the student meetings, and being held to account bystudents for what you do. The full-time roles have an expectationthat the office really is full time - about 35 hours a week. Beyondthat, most of what you do is up to you, and we make reasonableadjustments if you have other commitments.

As an officer, here are just some of the ways in which you willcampaign and represent students:

• Stalls, events, & activities • Taking part in meetings• Question & Answer sessions • Sitting on committees• Speaking to students • National conferences

First things first, you need to get yourself elected – all officersare voted in by students, and therefore it’s really important thatyou convince as many students as possible to vote for you.

So you’ve decided you’d like to be inthe elections... what now?

The first step:Deciding which position to GO for

This is obviously a really important decision, and firstly you needto decide whether to stand for a full-time or part-time role.

This may already be decided by whether you are at the end ofyour course, or whether you’d like to continue studying at collegenext year.

You can only pick 1 so think carefully about which you’d enjoy best.

There are 4 general positions that any student can stand for:both full-time positions, the Clubs and Societies officer and thePublicity officer.

The other 6 roles are specifically for students from the groupsthey will represent:These officers represent student groups that traditionally havebeen under-represented in society or in the success of thecollege. They are sometimes called "liberation officers" becausethey work to free students from the effects of discrimination or tosupport a community of those students.

Have a read through our officer profilesto find out which one suits you!

President

Education and Welfare

Clubs and Societies

Publicity

Black and Ethnic Minority Students

Students with Disabilities

International and EU Students

Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, + Students

Mature Students

Women Students

Full time

19+

Voluntaryand

liberation

PresidentLeader, Passionate, Enthusiastic,Confident, Organised, Decision-makerAs President, you would be the figurehead of the organisation,representing students and leading on the big campaigns.

● Chair of Student Parliament, the top decision body forstudents in College

● Chair and organise the Student Executive Committee, thegroup of officers who lead the union

● Consult with students on issues that matter to them

● Represent the student body at meetings with college

● Organise campaigns and events

● Represent the Students’ Union locally and nationally

● Lead the Students’ Union as Chair of the board of Trustees,supporting them to oversee the running of the Union

● Represent students as a member of the CollegeCorporation – the most senior leadership board in college

● Lead the delegation to the National Union of Studentsconference in 2017

FULL TIME ROLE

Education ANDWelfare Vp

Leader, Perceptive, Understanding,Confident, Determined, Change-makerAs Education and Welfare vice-president, you would berepresenting students with a specific focus on education andwelfare issues.

● Lead, promote, and support the Bradford College studentrep system, working with reps throughout the year

● Get the student voice heard in College

● Work with the Students’ Union advice service on academicissues and related casework, supporting students withissues relating to education and welfare

● Represent students on the college’s Academic Board andother committees

● Step in as leader of the Union when the President is away

● Support liberation officers as their full-time contact ifstudent casework comes up

● Lead student voice on matters relating to courses, teachingand learning, College policies, student safety and wellbeing,and national education and welfare issues.

FULL TIME ROLE

Clubs+Societies OfficerOutgoing, Engaging, Enthusiastic,

Active, Organised, Encouraging● Encouraging and supporting students to set up new clubs

and societies

● Helping to promote societies through events such as ourannual Freshers Fair

● Encouraging members of clubs and societies to get involvedin other union campaigns and events

● Approving club and society budget requests

PUBLICITY OfficerCreative, Listener, Perceptive,

Persuasive, Creative, Experimental● Help us to promote the Students’ Union and the other

officers’ campaigns and events

● Writing articles for our website or for press releases

● Coming up with new and creative ways to get our messageout to students

● Helping the Students’ Union reach students online and at allour campuses

VOLUNTARY ROLES

BME STUDENTS OfficerActivist, Determined, Dynamic,

Supportive, Organised, Encouraging● Representing black students and students from other ethnic

minorities at Bradford College and host opportunities forthese students to share their views

● Working with BME students to run events and campaigns

● Bringing the NUS Black Students Campaign to College

● Guaranteed BME voice of students in the Union

DISABLEDSTUDENTS OFFICER

Activist, Engaging, Dynamic,Supportive, Organised, Encouraging● Representing students with disabilities and learning

difficulties at Bradford College and facilitate opportunitiesfor these students to share their views

● Making sure our campaigns and work is accessible to all

● Bringing the NUS Disabled Students Campaign to College

● Guaranteed voice of students with disabilities in the Union

VOLUNTARY ROLES

INTERNATIONALSTUDENTS Officer

Compassionate, Engaging, Enthusiastic,Organised, Leader, Determined

● Represent international and EU students across College asthe guaranteed Union voice for these students

● Help make the College a supportive place for internationaland EU students and keeping them involved in our work

● Bring the NUS International campaign to Bradford College

LGBT+ STUDENTS OfficerSupportive, Activist, Perceptive,

Organised, Leader, Creative● Represent lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and other students with

minority sexualities or gender identities at Bradford College

● Facilitate meetings and events for the college’s LGBT+students

● Run campaigns with LGBT+ students and bringing the NUSLGBT+ campaigns to College

● Make sure our work as a Union is open to all students as theguaranteed voice of LGBT+ students on the executive

VOLUNTARY ROLES

Bradford College Students’ Union Elections 2016

MATURE STUDENTSOfficer

Committed, Engaging, Compassionate,Supportive, Organised, Encouraging

● Representing students over 19 at College

● Working with mature students to run events and campaigns

● Celebrating participation, adult learning and continuingeducation at Bradford College

● Ensuring our campaigns, events, and activities are relevantand accessible to older students

WOMEN’S OFFICERActivist, Engaging, Leader,

Supportive, Organised, Encouraging● Representing students who define as women - the majority

of students at College

● Working with women students to run events and campaigns

● Bringing the NUS Women’s Campaign to Bradford College

● Guaranteed voice of women in the Students’ Union team

19+

VOLUNTARY ROLES

Elections process - The NEXT step:WRITE A MANIFESTO

A manifesto is basically a written statement about yourintentions and aims if you were to get elected – what youwould like to do and change if you became the officer.

A manifesto is really important so students know whythey should vote for you. You need to be thinking aboutwhat is important to students and that you would like toaddress it. A great way to come up with ideas is to talkto students now and find out what they want.

You can see an example on the next page, but it doesn’thave to look like that. All manifestos will be published ina booklet & given out to students during elections -think about how you or a friend could make it look goodand make it clear what you are going to do.

And then:Fill in the form!

You need to get a nomination form from us, fill it out andgive it back to us along with your manifesto. We needeverything in by the date below – you aren’t an officialcandidate until you’ve done this!

Nominations Open: Monday 1st February (10am)Nominations Close: Friday 26th February (4pm)

A BITABOUT YOU…

A GOODPHOTO!

3 THINGSYOU WANTTO DO IN

YOUR ROLE

DON’T FORGET TOTELL PEOPLE

TO VOTE FOR YOU!

Elections process: NEARLY THERE:CAMPAIGNING AND A CAMPAIGN TEAM

As much as we can encourage students to vote, it’s the candidatesthemselves that get the majority of students voting during elections.

This is because most students will only vote if they think there issomeone worth voting for, which is why you and other students whocan help you need to get out there, and campaign across college!

Start thinking about:● Getting together a campaign team to help you -

you won’t know if someone can help or not unless you askthem!

● Creative ways in which you can get your message out there

Don’t miss our Campaign Trainingin the first week of March!

STUDENTS VOTE: THE ELECTIONSThere is a mandatory Candidates’ Briefing on Monday14th March which everyone must attend.We will then have voting stations at different collegebuildings on the 15th , 16th and 17th March!

RESULTSThe count and results of this year’s election will

take place on Friday 18th March!

NOTESWe’ll announce more dates for your diary soon…

So keep a note of them or anything elseto do with the elections here:

Work on your ideas and projects

Represent all studentsat Bradford College

Develop your skills and employability

Make a changein 2016-17

Visit: Students’ Union Office, G13 Hockney buildingEmail: [email protected]: Robson on 01274 43 3007Facebook: www.facebook.com/BradfordCollSU

BRADFORD COLLEGE

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be the student voice - bcsu elections 2016

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