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Elections Information

Who can run?

Any current BU student, who is a member of SUBU can run to be a Full-Time Officer and NUS Delegate. You’ll need to be able to start full-time employment in early July 2024 for Full-Time Officer roles, so if you will still be enrolled in a programme at this time you will be expected to suspend your studies. If you have questions about pausing your studies, we recommend speaking to your programme lead, or you can have a chat with a member of the elections team!

To run for an NUS Delegate role, you'll need to be able to attend the conference in Harrogate between the 17th-18th April 2024

How do I run?

To run for one of the roles:

  • Head over to the Candidates Hub to find out more about being a candidate in the elections
  • Decide which role you want to run for by taking our 'Which Officer Are You' Quiz, attending a 'Want to be an Full-Time Officer' Session and reading the role descriptions
  • APPLY!
  • Attend training and write and submit your amazing manifesto by February 28th.
  • CAMPAIGN!
  • Attend the Elections Results Night 

Voter Count

 

At SUBU we use a preferential voting system called Single Transferable Vote (STV) system which provides voters with much more choice and influence. When voting students select their candidates in order of preference and are able to vote for as many or as few as they like. During the count candidates are excluded if it is impossible for them to reach the quota, their votes are then transferred in order of preference. STV means that candidates must reach a quota/proportion of the vote. The quota is determined by the number of votes cast and the number of positions to be filled. For roles where there is only one position available the quota is half the total number of votes cast. If in the final round there are two candidates remaining the candidate with the highest number of votes is elected.

Key Dates

 

Applications Open

15th January, 10am

 

Applications Close

16th February, 12 Midnight

 

Manifesto Deadline

28th February, 12 Midnight

 

Start of Campaiging and Manifestos Published

5th March, 12 Midday

 

Candidate Q&A

8th March, 3pm

 

Polls Open

11th March, 10am

 

Polls Close

15th March, 4pm

 

Announcement of Results

19th March, 7pm

The Roles

In this election, you’ll be electing your Full-Time Officers and NUS Delegates.

The Full-Time Officers are four elected students who represent all students at BU. Each role has a specific area they are responsible for. This is a Full-Time paid position, where if elected you'll be in post for one year from July 2024 . The roles available are SU President, Vice-President Education, Vice-President Student Opportunities and Vice-President Welfare and Community

The NUS Delegates represent Bournemouth students at the annual NUS Conference. At this conference, you'll get to decide the policy and campaigns for the National Union of Students for the next academic year. You''ll also be able to attend workshops, events and networking opportunities that relate to the student movement. The conference is set to take place in Harrogate from April 17th-18th 2024. You'll also need to be available to attend briefing sessions beforehand.

The President

  1. Being the principal representative for the Union and Bournemouth University students, within the Union, University and wider community, except in areas covered by other Officer roles
  2. Being the main liaison with the University and an ex-officio member of the Bournemouth University Board of Governors
  3. Responsibility for the leadership and direction of the Union
  4. Chairing of the Board of Trustees
  5. Coordinating and ensuring the effective operation of the Officer team
  6. Working with Union staff members, particularly the Senior Leadership Team, to ensure the delivery of appropriate services and activities 
  7. Leading on national representation and campaigns to improve the student experience, unless specifically covered by other Officer roles
  8. Liaison with any subsidiary companies of the Union.

 

The Vice President Education

  1. Being the principal representative of Bournemouth University students in relation to their education, across all levels and modes of study, within the Union, University and wider community
  2. Coordinating the Union’s activity relating to improving student’s education
  3. Critically holding the University to account on all matters of education 
  4. Championing widening participation and the academic rights and interests of marginalised student communities.

 

The Vice President Student Opportunities

  1. Being the principal representative of Bournemouth University students in relation to clubs and societies, volunteering, fundraising, student development and employability, within the Union, University and wider community
  2. Coordinating the Union’s activity relating to enhancing student opportunities
  3. Critically holding the University to account on all matters of student opportunities
  4. Championing widening participation and increasing inclusivity and accessibility within the remit of student opportunities. 

 

The Vice President Welfare and Community

  1. Being the principal representative of Bournemouth University students in relation to welfare, community engagement and liberation, within the Union, University and wider community 
  2. Coordinating the Union’s activity relating to improving student welfare and community
  3. Critically holding the University to account on all matters of welfare and community
  4. Championing equality and diversity, and student wellbeing; including but not limited to mental health, physical health, safety and housing.

 

NUS Delegate x5

  1. Represent Bournemouth students at the annual NUS Conference on the 17-18th of April 2024
  2. Decide the policy and campaigns for the National Union of Students.
  3. Attend workshops, events and networking opportunities that relate to the student movement.
  4. Attend briefing sessions beforehand.

Please note, NUS require that 50% (rounded down) of the delegates we send to the National Conference must self-define as women or non-binary. 

 

Download a full copy here

 

Being a Full-Time Officer

Unique Experience

You’ll be the leader of the organisation, something very few students will be able to say upon leaving university! You’ll be a trustee and will have direct decision making powers when it comes to SUBU strategy.

Great Workplace

You’ll get to work at SUBU! You’ll also get paid £23,144, get 24 days holiday plus bank holidays, 3.5 days off over Christmas off AND you’ll get free entry to The Old Fire Station.

Active Role in the Student Community

You’ll be able to meet people from all parts of BU, and have a real impact that could last a life time.

Skills Development

You’ll develop key skills such as influencing, multi-tasking, organising, communication and negotiation skills, all of which looks great to future employers.

Flexibility

You’ll have a remit but your role is what you make of it. You get to set out what you want to do in your manifesto and when you are elected you get to make it happen!

 

Candidate Hub

The Candidates Hub is the essential place to head to for all the information that candidates need to run in this election! You'll find resources on campaigning, writing a manifesto and much much more

Candidate Hub

 

FAQ's

The Students Union at Bournemouth University represents the student voice here at BU. Every BU student is automatically a member. As a student led organisation, you set the direction an make the big decisions about what we do, whether this be by running or voting in an election or participating in one of our other democratic forums such as the SUBU Summit, or evening talking to your Student Rep.

Every year you elect current students who are then responsible for representing 17,000 students views to the university. The Full-Time Officers lead this network of student volunteers and work full-time to ensure that your student life is the best it can possibly be- from campaigning on issues that you are facing on your course, locally and nationally. Whether you’re passionate about welfare and student rights, creating positive change, holding the University to account or just voting for the students who you want to represent you, this election is an opportunity to get your voice heard and make an impact on what matters to you at University. In these elections you’ll also be voting for your NUS National Conference Delegates, these are the individuals who will be representing you on a national scale, voting for the future NUS President and Vice Presidents, as well as voting on NUS Policy.

There are four officer positions, click here to find out more about them!

  • President
  • Vice-President Education
  • Vice-President Student Opportunities
  • Vice-President Welfare and Community
  • NUS Delegates

You cannot nominate yourself for more than one full-time officer role

Any current BU student, so it doesn’t matter whether you are an undergraduate, postgraduate or part time of full time student.

Yes, full-time officers are remunerated. Their annual salary is over £23,000. They also receive 24 days holiday, bank holidays and an additional 3.5 days over Christmas.

SUBU is there to represent all students, and HSS students are no different!

Breaks in all courses can be managed, although regulatory body practice requirements may need to be revisited on certain courses. You also have up to two years to register with the NMC and HCPC after finishing your course.

If you are interested contact subudemocracy@bournemouth.ac.uk to discuss further.

International Students are able to be a Full Time Officer and you are able to get a visa extension while you are in office. You can find out more information here.

You can find out more on the UKCISA website
If you are an international student who is interested in running please contact subudemocracy@bournemouth.ac.uk as soon as possible.

It’s really simple, all you need to do is submit your application by the 16th of February!

Yes, there are training opportunities during the elections period which will provide you with insights into SUBU and what it is like to be a full-time officer.

There are a range of other training opportunities throughout the election period, so head to the candidate hub to find out more.

If you are elected you will be provided with full training and induction programme organised by SUBU including a handover and external training. There will also be opportunities for further training throughout your year in post.

Your manifesto is how candidates sell yourself to students; it sets out their aims and priorities. Candidates manifesto becomes their promises to students about what they want to achieve if they are elected.

As a candidate you’ll be asked to submit a 300 word manifesto and a 50 word condensed manifesto. You don’t need to submit your manifesto when you submit your application but it must be submitted by the manifesto deadline on the 28th February 12 Midnight

In the context of elections, campaigning is what candidates do to get votes - it's not just handing out leaflets though! Successful candidates take time to listen and speak to students, find out about the current issues relevant to the role they're standing for and persuade voters with ideas and enthusiasm, not just trendy slogans or avalanches of tweets.

Check out the Candidate Hub to find out more information about campaigning.

You will spend one year in office beginning early July, you will then be entitled to run in the election for the following year. You are unable to be a full-time officer for more than 2 years.

Voting will take place online via the SUBU website. SUBU uses the Single Transferable Vote (STV system which provides voters with much more choice and influence. STV means that candidates do not need to win a majority, but instead must reach a quota/proportion of the vote. The quota is determined by the number of votes cast and the number of positions to be filled.

When voting students select their candidates in order of preference and are able to vote for as many or as few as they like. When the voting has closed, Candidates are excluded if it is impossible for them to reach the quota, their votes are then transferred in order of preference, this ensures that fewer votes are wasted.

In addition to the candidates in the election students are also able to select ‘no suitable candidate’

The Returning Officers and Deputy Returning Officers have the responsibility to uphold the Elections Regulations. The Returning Officer will be a representative from the NUS, and the Deputy Returning Officer is Kayleigh Heckford.

The Deputy Returning Officer will be the person you deal with on a day to day basis and they will be in contact with the Returning Officers as required.

If you need to get in touch contact subudemocracy@bournemouth.ac.uk

A complaint can be made about the action of a candidate, supporter or election official. Complaints must be submitted via the online form.

More information about the complaints process can be viewed in the Rules and Complaints section here

Events

There are currently no events scheduled

 

Regulations and Complaints

All SUBU elections should be free and fair, which is why we have rules which govern our elections. You can find out more about election regulations as well as viewing the complaints process here.

 

These Elections are overseen by:

NUS - Returning Officer who is an external, independent advisor, appointed to ensure that the election is run with third party scrutiny and expertise.

Kayleigh Heckford (SUBU) - Deputy Returning Officer who is the first point of contact, responsible for candidate engagement, day to day supervision and management of the election. The RO will be consulted by the DRO whenever they see necessary throughout the process.

Laura Greenwood-Pearsons (Brighton SU) - Independent Elections Adjudicator who is an external appeals body that is responsible for ruling on appeals.

 

Regulations

The guiding principles of all SUBU elections are:

1. The law, University Policies and Union Regulations are all in full force and shall apply to SUBU elections

2. Students must be free to cast their vote without undue pressure or influence

3. Candidates must treat other candidates, students, staff and members of the public with respect

4. Candidates must not undermine the fair and democratic running of elections

5. Candidates must not do anything to gain an unfair advantage

6. Candidates must respect the campus environment and the community

 

Complaints Process

1. Complaints should be made in a timely manner and as close to the alleged rule break as possible

2. Complaints will be accepted up until one hour prior to the commencement of the count

3. Complaints must be submitted in writing, with additional evidence attached

4. Complaints made informally and without evidence shall not be heard

5. Once a complaint has been received the Returning Officers shall aim to investigate and resolve the complaint by 12pm the following working day

6. A complainant may appeal the decision of the Returning Officers. More information about complaints and appeals may be found in the Union’s bye-laws.

You must submit an elections complaint via this form. 

Contact info

 If you have any questions about the election process get in touch with the Elections Team at subudemocracy@bournemouth.ac.uk