Autumn Term Elections
All of the Committees of the Guild empower you to make changes on the issues that matter to you. Each has its own remit, so you can be sure that whatever your interests, there will be a role that’s just right for you.
All roles are Part-Time, so they can be completed alongside any study commitments.
Commuter Students’ Officer – formerly Home Students’ Officer (Officer By-election)
The Commuter Students’ Officer supports those students who have chosen to live at home whilst they study at the University of Birmingham. You’ll ensure that home students do not miss out on the full University of Birmingham experience. You’ll work other Guild Officers and the University to encourage more local residents to attend university and so widen participation in higher education.
Candidates for Home Students’ Officer are expected to be a Full Member normally a resident in or around Birmingham.
Mature and Part Time Students Officer (Officer By-election)
The Mature and Part-time Students’ Officer campaigns on issues related to Mature and Part-time Students, promoting the interests of these students to the University of Birmingham, the Guild and the wider community. They ensure that the Guild is actively promoting initiatives to ensure that the welfare and interests of Mature and Part-time students are protected.
Candidates for Mature and Part-time Students’ Officer are expected to be either a mature student, aged over 21 or over at the beginning of their undergraduate course, or aged 25 or over at the beginning of their postgraduate course, or a part-time student.
Guild Policy Development Group Members
The Guild Policy Development Group will replace the Assessment Group. It will take on a new role this year in formulating Guild policy to make sure that the Guild remains relevant to you.
The Group also plays a key role in the “Your Ideas” process. They are responsible for considering all of the ideas submitted in a given cycle and checking them for financial/reputational or legal issues.
The Guild Policy Development Group consists of 13 members and is made up of Guild Officers and representative groups within the Guild. In the 2017-18 academic year, the positions to be elected are:
1x BME student representative member
1 x LGBTQ student representative member
1x Trans student representative member
1 x Woman student representative member
1 x Disabled student representative member
1 x Postgraduate student representative member
1x International student representative member
3 x Open Place representative members
Any full member can stand for the Open Place position on the Guild Policy Development Group.
By standing for the Postgraduate member position, it is expected that you are either a postgraduate taught or postgraduate research student.
The BME, LGBTQ, Disabled and Woman representative members are all self-defined roles. It is expected that by standing for that role, you self-define into one of those roles.
Chair of Officer Question Time
The Chair of Officer Question Time presides over all meetings of Officer Question Time – open meetings where students can hold their Officer Team to account for the things they do.
You will play a key role in setting the agenda for each meeting, being a key decision maker at the heart of the Guild’s democratic process and helping to ensure that the Guild plays an effective role in the lives of the wider student population.
NUS Conference Delegate
Delegates to National Union of Students conferences have a role in setting the agenda for the wider student movement, by voting on policy and suggesting policy ideas of their own.
By attending an NUS Conference, you can have a say on the issues that will matter to you. It is also a great opportunity to network with delegates from Unions across the UK.
Delegates will be elected for:
- NUS National Conference (8 posts): 27th – 29th March 2018
- Black Students’ Conference (1 post): 12th – 13th May 2018
- LGBT+ Students Conference (2 posts): 7th – 8th March 2018
- Trans Students Conference (1 post): 6th March 2018
- Disabled Students Conference (1 post): 2nd - 3rd May 2018
- Women’s Conference (2 posts): 1st – 3rd May 2018
- International Students Conference (2 posts): 27th February 2018
- Mature and Part Time Students Conference (1 post): TBC
- Postgraduate Students Conference (2 posts): TBC
The above dates are those released by NUS and are correct at the time of print. These dates may be subject to slight changes beyond the Guild’s control. Candidates are asked to ensure they are available to attend the dates above before nominating themselves for the role of NUS Delegate.
Nominations for the NUS National Conference Delegate role are open to any registered student at the University of Birmingham. According to current NUS policy, the Guild must ensure that at least 50% (rounded down) of the delegation define as a woman. This is to ensure that the Guild’s delegation to NUS National Conference is gender balanced.
By nominating yourself for any of the Liberation or Section Conference roles, it is expected that you fall into one of the categories above – including via self-definition where appropriate for liberation roles.
If you are unsure whether you are eligible to stand, or would like more information on the above before submitting a nomination, please email: elections@guild.bham.ac.uk
Student Equality and Diversity Committee Member
This year, the Student Equality and Diversity Group will seek to identify the broad range of issues relating to equality and diversity on campus and develop the Guild’s strategy for addressing them. This will bring together the work being done by different groups around the University such as accessibility on campus, gender-neutral toilets, the BME attainment gap, student parents and carers, LGBTQ-inclusive curricula and more.
If there are issues you’re passionate about or if you want to improve the experience of minority groups of students on campus then get involved.
Ethical and Environmental Committee Member
The Ethical and Environmental Committee does exactly what is says on the tin – it is responsible for overseeing the Guild’s response to environmental issues from recycling to power consumption. This Committee was instrumental to the Guild’s receipt of the NUS’ Green Impact Excellent Award in 2017.
As a member of this committee, you can help make the Guild a sustainable place, where the environment remains at the forefront of the Guild’s vision and strategy.
Appointments Panel Member
The Appointments Panel is responsible for recruiting and selecting new Trustees for the Guild of Students. The Trustees have ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the Guild is legally and financially compliant and for monitoring the overall organisational strategy.
As a member of the Appointments Panel, you can ensure the needs of students are represented during this process, and will continue to remain at the heart of the student experience.
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