elections

by-election 2016/17

This autumn, we will elect the vacant Executive Council positions, along with four NUS delegate positions. Exec meets every two weeks and is the political lead of the Students' Union. NUS Delegates attend NUS UK and/or NUS Scotland Conferences in March/April 2018. 

Student representation is the core of what we are as a Student Union and putting you, our members, at the heart of the decision making process is vital to ensure that your interests are championed. Every year you elect student officers to represent your views, to be your voice to the University, to local government and to national policy makers. Through consultation and talking to our members, active campaigning and lobbying decision makers your Union fights to improve your experience and opportunities whilst at University, after graduation and for those students still to come. 

When you’re thinking about standing for a position in Your Union, your first point of call should be to get a full and realistic idea of the post you are considering. Each position is different and interesting, with diverse remits and responsibilities. Why not organise an informal chat with a current Exec member or a Sabbatical Officer, or arrange a meeting with our Democracy & Research Coordinator, Amy, to find out more about the position. 

Once you’ve decided to nominate yourself make sure you complete the online nomination process, including your manifesto, slogan and photo, and return all necessary documents, including your seconders form, publicity design and signed Officer Code of Conduct to amy.eberlin@stir.ac.uk

Make sure you also familiarise yourself with our elections schedule & rules - Elections 

Vacant Positions:

• Housing Officer
• Environment & Ethics Officer
• Media Officer 
• Engagement Officer
• Non-Traditional Students' Officer 
• Extended Campuses Officer 
• Health Promotions Officer
• Postgraduate Officer
• 4x NUS Delegates (info at the bottom of this page)

You can find out more about the positions by clicking on the roles.

Dates to Note:

• Nominations Open: Friday 22nd September 9am
• Nominations Close: Friday 6th October 5pm 
• Candidates Briefing: Monday 9th October 12pm 
• Voting Opens: Monday 16th October 9am
• Voting Closes: Tuesday 17th October 6:15pm 

When nominating yourself you must ensure that you have completed everything on this 'to-do' checklist, as you wont be able to stand in the Election until eveything is completed: 

1.    Manifesto (maximum 500 words)

2.    Slogan (maximum 25 words)

3.    Picture of yourself

4.    Seconders Form (15 seconders needed)

5.    Publicity artwork design (see below for requirements)

6.    Signed Officer Code of Conduct
 

All candidates get a printing allowance from the Union. Executive positions get £10. If you run uncontested, your printing allowance may be halved. 

The printing allowance is used to print posters and flyers for your election campaign.  The Union also provide 1 FREE HOUR of design time with Mailboxes Stirling.  Please contact Mailboxes directly on 01786 449543 or email them on info@mbestirling.co.uk 

Each candidate’s publicity MUST HAVE the following:

•        Your name & the position you are running for
•        The Student Union logo
•        The date and time of the election
•        Details on how to vote (via Union website)

You may submit ONE DESIGN which will be printed in the various sizes. Your publicity is printed SINGLE-SIDED in BLACK PRINT onto coloured paper; there is a choice of 9 colours of paper to choose from and you will need to stipulate what colour you want at the time of submitting your nomination. 

Colours:  Red, Yellow, Orange, Deep Blue, Light Blue, Dark Green, Light Green, Lilac or Pink

Print Pack: 500x A6 (single sided flyers) 10x A3 (single sided posters black and white on colour paper) 

Each candidate is responsible for ensuring their publicity artwork is designed. Each candidate is also responsible for delivering the artwork design file to the Union correctly named- e.g. John Smith Publicity.pdf 

campaigning 

There is no campaigning until you are confirmed as a candidate, which will be after nominations close.

Our Union top-tips for the Autumn elections:

• Have a team to support you.
• Work out who your voters are.
• Design your publcity in a way which you think will have the most impact with your voters.
• Have a catchy slogan.
• Be visible – talk to people and ask lecturers if you can do lecture shout-outs.
• Have a social media presence (Facebook page, Twitter hashtag or Snapchat name)
• HAVE FUN!

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Amy Eberlin, our Democracy & Research Coordinator, or drop into the Union for a chat.

nus delegates

At NUS National Conference 2014 and NUS Scotland Conference 2015, delegates voted to change NUS' rules around delegations to Conference, meaning that from now onwards, all students' unions must send delegations that include at least 50% self-defining women (rounded down) as a way of ensuring that conference floor is representative of the student movement.  For example, we at Stirling have a delegate entitlement of 3 for NUS UK and 5 for NUS Scotland, so for NUS UK, we must send at least 1 woman, and for NUS UK, at least two women. As such, this will be taken into consideration during the count process, to ensure that our minimum 50% rounded down requirement is met.