Election Terminology
Below are some common election terms and acronyms and their
definitions. If there are any terms you think should be added to this
list let us by emailing us at elections@swansea-union.co.uk.
This is the time in which candidates can actively get people
to vote for them. During this period, candidates are allowed
to put promotional materials online, add students to Facebook
pages, display physical promotional materials etc.
Annual General Meeting - This is a large forum where a wide
variety of students come to debate and determine the direction
of the Students’ Union.
Any student can attend, and any student can submit a motion
for discussion. This is also where the Students' Union
presents its accounts, informs students of its performance and
listens to student feedback.
Campaigning is the activity where candidates try and secure
votes. Expect flyers, videos, t-shirts, banners and more!
This is the week when candidates will be actively campaigning
for your votes.
These are the students that are standing in the election.
Full-time Officer - the heads of the Students' Union who
are elected by students to represent their views.
This is an event where candidates can debate issues affecting
students. Questions for the candidates can be submitted by
students.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender +
Liberation Groups are BME, LGBT+, Students with Disabilities,
Women and Welsh Language. Liberation campaigns seek to
represent and empower individuals who experience
discrimination and disadvantages in terms of status and
opportunity because they belong to, or are perceived as
belonging to, a particular social group.
Putting yourself forward to stand for a position in the
election.
This is when students can nominate themselves to stand in the
elections!
National Union of Students - the national voice of students.
The NUS helps students to campaign, get cheap student
discounts and provides advice on living student life to the
full.
This means that any student can run for the position,
regardless of what gender they define as.
This is when candidates start their preparations for Campaign
Week! Also known as Soft Campaigning.
Part-time Officer - they're elected by students to
represent different areas students are effected by. These
positions are undertaken alongside students' studies and
are part-time and voluntary.
This is the minimum number of votes needed for a policy to
pass.
This is when all the students at the University are asked to
give their opinion about or decide an important political or
social question. For each referendum motion, arguments for and
against are put forward by campaigners for both sides.
This is the definition of your identity and is used to
determine if you belong to any of the liberation groups. It
might seem obvious to yourself that you define as black or as
a woman or LGBT+ etc. but to avoid any confusion, we ask you
to declare how you self-define.
This is the preparation period before voting opens. During
time students may be getting a campaign team together,
creating Facebook page without people being added, setting up
Twitter accounts, making videos etc.
Swansea University Students' Union
A trustee is legally responsible for the Students’ Union
and makes decisions on the direction of the organisation.
Which roles are up for grabs?
Full-Time Officers
Paid Positions
There are 6 full-time positions up for grabs with a salary
over £19,000. These positions shape the future of the
Union and University, and they're great for students
graduating this year or anyone who wants to take a year out from
their studies.
As the president of the Students' Union you'll
lead on student-based issues, be the main contact and
public voice and sometimes face for the Union Swansea
students, as well as responding timely to unexpected
challenges. The role is both challenging and rewarding.
Some of the matters you'll be involved in range from
national campaigns to collaborating with the Uni on-campus
initiatives. You'll also be expected to oversee the
governance and democracy of the Union, ensuring that it
works for the benefit of its members and that its
democratic structures are upheld and fit for purpose.
For the President's job description, click
here.
As the Education Officer, you will lead the Education Zone
within the Students' Union. You'll chair the
Education Committee, which is made of College
Representatives and work with Subject Representatives.
Together, you'll coordinate the training and delivery
of student representation with subject and college reps,
as well as leading on academic or education-related
campaigns and events. The main aim of the Education
Officer is to improve academic experience and maintain
strong working relationships with staff and Student Reps
in the colleges across the Uni.
For the Education Officer's job description, click
here.
As the Sports Officer, you'll represent and support
sports clubs, their members and all students interested in
sports. You'd be a part of the Sport Swansea committee
that creates the sport strategy and ensure it's at the
heart of what we do in relation to sports at the Uni.
You'll also work with the Sport Swansea team and the
Sports Executive to deliver student sports at the Uni, and
be involved in BUCS and the Sports Awards. As well as
this, you'll be part of the Varsity Board and other
groups for Sporting Corporate events, which aims to best
deliver these events for our athletes and students.
For the Sports Officer's job description, click
here.
As the Societies and Service Officer, you'll provide
support and representation for all of our societies and
oversee the services that we provide. The role will give
you opportunities to explore new avenues for students and
maximize the potential of the current activities, whilst
giving students the best experience. You’ll lead
various society committees and be at the helm of the
decision-making body, which will enable you to influence
decisions on behalf of societies so they can run
efficiently.
You'll also ensure that the services students want and
need are developed and that students get value for money
from their Union. All Full-time Officers are responsible
for the Union's finances, but the Societies and
Services Officer is key to ensuring that students are
aware of where resources are allocated and feel a part of
the decision making process.
For the Societies and Services Officer's job
description, click
here.
As the Welfare Officer, you will provide support and
representation for all students. It'll be your job to
inform students of the unique risks they may face and the
support and advice that's available. You'll also
have the chance to offer support to students who study
abroad on International programs like Erasmus. You'll
also be a member of the SAS Management Board, ensuring
that the service is student-focused and improves student
housing. You'll develop a strong working relationship
with the Advice & Support Centre to ensure students
are aware of the service and identify campaigning issues
and objectives.
For the Welfare Officer's job description, click
here.
As the Welsh Affairs Officer, you'll ensure that all
University and Union content meets the Welsh Language
Standards, promote the Welsh language and Welsh culture to
all students through various events and work closely with
the Welsh community of students to ensure they're
fairly represented.
For the Welsh Affairs Officer's job description, click
here.
Part-Time Officers
Volunteer Positions
There are 10 part-time officer positions available, which are
voluntary and come with lots of benefits and opportunities (and it
looks great on your CV). These positions are fulfilled alongside
your studies.
Please note:
Some positions are only open to candidates who self-identify as
the respective type of student being represented by that role. For
example, you must self-identify as woman to become the
Women’s Officer.
The Part-time Officer roles that are available in this election
are:
The Race Inclusion Officer represents students in a range
of areas including academic affairs and social activities.
You'll also engage students with the Union and may
represent the SU at NUS Students Conference and NUS Wales
Students Conference in the spring.
To be the Race Inclusion Officer you must self-define as
from a minority ethnic background.
For the Race Inclusion Officer's role description,
click
here
You'll campaign on environmental issues and help the
Union maintain and improve on its green credentials.
For the Environment Officer's role description, click
here
You'll raise awareness, promote and campaign on ethics
issues within the Union and the University.
For the Ethics Officer's role description, click
here.
You'll be impartial and transparent and hold the
Full-time Officers to account on behalf of the Part-time
Officers and other students.
For the General Secretary's role description, click
here.
You'll represent all International students and raise
awareness by campaigning on issues that affect
International students and the wider International
population.
For the International Officer's role description,
click
here.
You'll represent all LGBT+ students who study on Bay
Campus, and raise awareness by campaigning on issues
affecting LGBT+ students and the wider LGBT+ population.
You'll also represent the Students’ Union at NUS
LGBT+ Conference and NUS Wales LGBT+ Conference in the
spring.
To be an LGBT+ Officer, you must self-define as LGBT+.
For the Bay Campus LGBT+ Officer's role description,
click
here.
You'll represent all LGBT+ students who study on
Singleton Campus, and raise awareness by campaigning on
issues affecting LGBT+ students and the wider LGBT+
population. You'll also represent the Students’
Union at NUS LGBT+ Conference and NUS Wales LGBT+
Conference in the spring.
To be an LGBT+ Officer, you must self-define as LGBT+.
For the Singleton Campus LGBT+ Officer's role
description, click
here
You'll represent mature students in a range of areas
including academic affairs and social activities.
You'll also engage mature students with the Union and
represent the Students’ Union at NUS Mature Students
Conference in the spring.
To be the Mature Students Officer, you must self-define as
a mature student.
For the Mature Students Officer's role description,
click
here.
You'll represent and raise awareness of the issues
facing students concerning mental health, whilst
representing all Swansea University students.
For the Mental Health Awareness Officer's role
description, click
here.
You'll represent students with disabilities and raise
awareness by campaigning on issues affecting students with
disabilities. You'll also represent the
Students’ Union at NUS Student with Disabilities
Conference and NUS Wales Student with Disabilities
Conference in the spring.
To be the Disabilities Officer, you must self-define as
having a disability.
For the Students with Disabilities Officer's role
description, click
here.
You'll represent transgender and non-binary students
and raise awareness by campaigning on issues affecting
transgender and non-binary students and the wider
population.
For the Trans - Non-binary Awareness Officer's role
description, click
here.
You'll represent all students who self-define as women
and raise awareness by campaigning on issues affecting
women. You'll also represent the Students’ Union
at NUS Student with the Women’s Conference and NUS
Wales Women’s Conference in Spring.
To be the Women's Officer you must self-define as a
woman.
For the Women's Officer's role description, click
here.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, this is a full-time, paid position. To be able to undertake
the role, you can either defer your studies for a year or stand
in your final year of study. The role starts at the end of the
academic year.
Yes! Anyone who is a Swansea University student can stand in the
elections. It doesn't matter where you live!
Yes, it doesn't matter what year you are studying in, anyone
can stand in the elections!
Please email a photo to the Elections Team and they can upload
it for you - elections@swansea-union.co.uk
SUSU is a charity, which means we must have trustees to ensure
that our actions are legal and financially viable. The majority
of the Union's Trustee Board is made up of students, but we
also have external professionals to provide advice. The trustees
sit in important meetings, oversee the business elements and
make sure everything we do is in the best interest of our
students.
No, clubs or societies can't officially support a candidate.
Any sports club or society supporting an individual candidate
can end up with that candidate being penalised. However,
it is strongly advised that clubs and societies promote and
support the elections generally!
A manifesto is a document that outlines why people should vote
for you. You should write about why you would be good at the
role and what campaigns or projects you would work on. Download
our guide
here.
There are two types of campaigning: Soft and Active.
Soft Campaigning is the preparation period. This is when you
might get a campaign team together, make a Facebook page, set up
Twitter accounts, make videos etc. Basically, you can tell
people you are standing for your position, but you can’t
tell people to vote for you or give them reasons that would
encourage them to vote for you. No materials with your manifesto
on, no videos online, no posters up. You can start soft
campaigning when nominations close at 3pm, 22nd February.
Active Campaigning is going out and getting people to vote for
you. Materials are allowed to go online, posters and banners are
allowed to go on display, lecture shout outs are allowed! You
can start actively campaigning from 6pm, 8th March.
You can only campaign within the University campuses - this
includes the entire of the main campus and other University
buildings. You may also campaign within student nightclubs (at
the discretion of their managers). You can't campaign in the
library or Students' Union buildings or around computer
labs.
The Students' Union will refund £75 allocated for
Full-time Officer campaigning materials and £30 for
Part-time Officer campaigning materials. You must provide
receipts to show what you have spent by the end of the voting
period to be able to claim back.
International students can be Full-time Officers, but there are
immigration implications that you should be aware of.
If you receive financial sponsorship, discuss your plans with
your sponsor before standing for election in case there are
restrictions.
If you stand as a Full-time Officer, this is permitted under the
immigration rules, but you will need to extend your student visa
at some point. It is important that you discuss this with an
advisor from the International Office before you start the
role!
This guidance is for student or Tier 4 visa holders. If you are
here on a different type of visa, you should discuss your
options with an advisor from the International @ Campus Life.
(This information is for general guidance and does not
constitute immigration advice. If you require more details about
your rights or what action to take, please contact Campus Life
via international.campuslife@swansea.ac.uk)
At the Students' Union, we use alternative or transferable
voting. Watch
this video
from Wolverhampton Students' Union explaining Transferable
Voting!
RON Stands for Re-Open Nominations and all elections in the SU
have this option for voters. If you do not like any of the
candidates in the election you can choose to vote RON. If RON
wins an election, the role would not be filled or a by-election
would be held at another time. Selecting No Further Preferences
(N.F.P) is an expression of indifference towards all remaining
options.