Interested in being part of the Executive Committee?

This page aims to answer some of your questions about general duties, should you be interested in standing for an Executive position.

General Executive Responsibilities

The successful operation of the Executive Committee (and hence USSU itself) relies on officers working as a team, taking decisions and allocating responsibility collectively. You are likely to be involved in campaigns, ad hoc working groups covering a whole range of the Union's activities, or simply helping out other officers if their workload gets unmanageable. i.e. generally mucking in.

You will have general responsibilities as a member of the Executive. This includes preparing for and attending Executive Committee meetings (usually weekly), Students Council (monthly) and General Meetings (two per year).

Officers are normally expected to spend a few hours on a regular basis on duty at Manor Quay. At the start of the academic year all officers have to pitch in, for example with inductions for new students.

What is the time commitment?

The sabbatical posts involve taking a year out from study (or after graduation)and are paid positions. The term of office runs from the beginning of July until mid July the following year. In practice most 'officers elect' will start to attend Executive meetings and get a feel for what is going on, as soon as they are elected.
Once in post the working week for a sabbatical officer is technically 35 hours. In practice this is not a nine to five job, and you may find yourself working much longer hours (including some evenings and weekends) particularly at busy times of the year. You should also be aware that even when you are 'off duty', students may want to ask you questions or make suggestions.

Non sabbatical posts are taken on while you continue to study. The term of office runs for a year from the first Students' Council Meeting after Easter. In practice most 'officers-elect' will start to attend Executive meetings and get a feel for what is going on as soon as they are elected.
To an extent a non sabbatical officer can put in as many hours as they want. You should expect to allow about 10-15 hours per week. This can be more if you have a particular project on, or less, for example during assessment periods or when coursework deadlines loom. The first week or so of each semester is particularly busy. You should also be aware that even when you are 'off duty', students may want to ask you questions or make suggestions.
Obviously the more time and effort you put in to your work, the more rewarding it will be. However you need to balance this against the time needed for academic work and (if you are lucky) your social life!

What help will I get?

All officers attend an initial training event in June to get to know each other, and to get to grips with the basics of working as an officer and part of the team. This is supplemented by 'in house' sessions covering the specifics of the USSU.

Ongoing support is provided by USSU staff. You may also find student volunteers willing to help you with your work - either participating in sub committees, or offering their time and ideas on a less formal basis.

What is the Selection Procedure?

Selection for the post (and all Executive positions) is via cross campus ballot. Posters advertising the dates and deadlines are displayed at least ten days before nominations open. There are strict guidelines covering election campaign to ensure fairness, and you should be aware that no candidate is allowed to campaign until their nomination has been accepted by the Returning Officer.

Who will I be responsible to?

The Executive Committee is a sub-committee of Students' Council, and as such you are answerable to this body, and the General Meeting. In practice you will also need to account for your action to your colleagues on the Executive Committee.

What will I get out of it?

Being a member of the Executive Committee is a great opportunity to acquire and develop a host of general skills that will be of use to you in a whole variety of work situation in the future. For example:

• Working in a team
• Meeting skills
• Written and verbal communication skills
• Time management/ self organisation
• Public Speaking

Former officers often comment on their increased confidence as a result of their year in office.

Further Opportunities

The general involvement in USSU can be useful is you are considering taking on another role on the Executive Committee.

The general skills gained from this post will be useful in many areas of employment.

You can read comments and job descriptions on all the roles here