The Students' Union holds various elections throughout the year, naturally this can become confusing and thus this page is here to explain to you what each election is for so you'll have a little more idea when you're getting canvassed by over-enthusiastic people in strange attire!
The Big One! These elections take place near the end of the second term (March/April time) and are for the officers for the following academic year. The people you elect will become the trustees of the Students' Union (they are legally and financially responsible for the Union's actions) and are responsible for developing the Union in-line with the needs of its members i.e. you guys. They'll be doing the job full-time either as an extra year after Uni or as a sabbatical year in between say year 1 and year 2 or year 2 and year 3.
Expect campus to become poster-covered and full of people desperately supporting one candidate or the other. This year (2009/10) we aim to host the elections online for the first time in Newport's history. The aim of this is to encourage as many people as possible to vote. Every student at University of Wales, Newport has the right to vote so make it count.
The Part-Time Officer elections are for student officers who are taking on a volunteer role alongside their course. These are the second biggest elections of the year. These elections normally take place in the 3rd term just after Easter but this year will happen late (or early depending on how you look at it!) on October 19th and 20th.
Your course reps are the representatives for your course in your year group, there are usually 2 from each class. You'll be asked to vote on these early on near the start of your course each year. For more info on Course Reps. click here.
Each team, society or media branch elects their next year's leaders near the end of the academic year (April/May time), voting is usually by hand or secret ballot at a society meeting, training session or after the Media Committee.
External Trustees are non-students brought in for their expertise in HR, Law, Business etc. to guide and support the Union, they sit on the Trustee Board which has the power to veto legislation or policy which would, in their view, leave the Union with serious legal or financial implications to deal with. Subject to the new constitution being approved by the Charity's Commission and the University's Board of Governonrs there will be 3 posistions and any student can nominate someone. There will then be a simple Yes or No online vote to decide whether or not that individual becomes an External Trustee.
There will be a minimum of two posistions, alongside the Union President, for students to represent Newport at the National Union of Students' Annual Conference where direction and policy of the national union is set. Notice of nomination procedure and details of the online vote will be announced nearer the time in February/March.
