After a proposal from the Executive Committee was successfully passed by 70% of voters at a referendum in December, the roles and remits of the Executive Officers have been updated and in some cases completely changed.

That means that this year we have 11 positions to elect, each with its own unique responsibilities and opportunities to improve the lives of Strathclyde students.

The positions cover the major areas that the Association deals with and are led and directed by students through forums, where any student gets the chance to have their say and influence the way things are done. Meaning you don’t have to be elected to be involved, you don’t have to be involved with everything – you can get involved in issues you really care about and then get back to your degree if you want to. However we still need students to keep The Union running throughout the year so these positions have been developed to reflect the way the organisations runs all year round.  

The positions are all up for grabs at the elections on March 19th & 20th 2012. They are split into two different types – Full-Time Sabbatical (paid*) and Part-time Voluntary (unpaid).

A Sabbatical position is full-time, so if you are in the middle of your degree, you will have to take a year out of your studies to fulfil the role (if you choose to take a year out in the middle of your degree, you will need to get written approval from the Vice Dean Academic of your Faculty). For the part-time, voluntary positions, you will continue studying full-time and carry out the role alongside your studies.

*All Executive Officers are paid an honorarium for their time spent in office. This is paid at £17,677 gross per annum

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Click on a position to find out more:

Full-Time (Paid)

• President
• Vice President Activities & Development
• Vice President Education
• Vice President Diversity & Advocacy
• Vice President Sports & Wellbeing

Part-Time (Unpaid)

• Vice Chair External Engagement
• Vice Chair Activities
• Vice Chair Education
• Vice Chair Diversity
• Vice Chair Sports & Wellbeing
• Policy & Democracy Officer

President

Position: President
Type: Full-time Sabbatical (Paid)
Role: The Chief Representative of Strathclyde Students

• Be the overall chief representative and spokesperson of USSA; to the university, media, and external agencies and ensure that the Association maintains close links with the local and national community on issues of mutual concern. 
• Via the Chief Executive, ensure the smooth running of the Association, ensuring staff concerns and policies are dealt with appropriately and all relevant legislation is adhered to. 
• Be the chair of the Trustee Board, Executive Committee and Financial Oversight Committee. 
• Be responsible for overall financial and political management of the Association, including the presentation of the budget to University committees and signing contracts on behalf of the Association as appropriate. 
• Coordinate the work of the Executive in setting the yearly strategic goals and objectives of the Association, along with USSA management. 
• Ensuring that the appropriate policies are implemented and adhered to for the effective and safe running of the Association. 
• Be responsible for all commercial events and publicity as well as ensuring the effective management and development of Association trading concerns.
• Development and implementation of a commercial strategy which ensures wide access to commercial activity for all student groups and appropriate demographics. 
• Oversee the organisation of Fresher’s Week and other such events in conjunction with the relevant officer(s).

Vice President Activities & Develpment

Position: Vice President Activities & Development
Type: Full-time Sabbatical (Paid)
Role: Helping Students get the most from their Uni experience by doing things they enjoy!

• Act as Clubs & Societies Convenor
• Be responsible for the promotion of societies, student activities and general volunteering amongst the student body and ensure widened access, with the aim of encouraging increased participation. 
• Provide assistance, support and guidance to USSA volunteers, and provide them with the means to effectively carry out their roles. 
• Lead on policy development and implementation with regards to volunteering and involvement. 
• Ensure that an effective strategy is in place for recruitment, retention, and reward, of student volunteers. 
• Actively promote the benefits of student activity and volunteering, and be responsible for its strategic direction. 
• Promote opportunities for personal development of members through extra and co-curricular activities. 
• Along with the appropriate clubs and societies, work on a fundraising and community engagement strategy, and ensure that the Association maintains a place of high esteem within the community. 
• Work with local partners to provide volunteering opportunities for our members in the community, providing mutual benefit as a basic premise for such activities.

Vice President Education

Position: Vice President Education
Type: Full-time Sabbatical (paid)
Role: Helping students improve the Strathclyde learning experience

• Be responsible for representing students on all academic matters to the university and other such bodies as appropriate. 
• Provide advice and support to students on matters of an academic nature as and when required.
• Engage with national education agencies on areas of policy development and implementation. 
• Be responsible for Association policy on academic matters and education. 
• Ensure the organisation and implementation of education related campaigns, events, and materials. 
• Be responsible for the provision, training, and running of an effective class representative system, and work with the appropriate bodies to this end. 
• Work with the appropriate local and national partners and agencies to formulate and implement effective widening participation and access strategies to Higher Education.
• To empower students to enhance the quality of their learning & teaching experience.

Vice President Diversity & Advocacy

Position: Vice President Diversity & Advocacy
Type: Full-time sabbatical (paid)
Role: Promoting & celebrating diversity

• Provide a lead on issues of students’ rights and welfare, and represent these issues to the university and others as appropriate, including relevant campaigns, events and materials.
• Ensure that all students receive the necessary advice, support and representation, regardless of background. 
• Take a lead on celebrating diversity within our membership and the wider community in every aspect of the Association’s work as well as leading on the Association’s Internationalisation agenda.
• Ensure the implementation of, and adherence to, an effective equal opportunities policy. 
• Oversee, and provide support to, the work of liberation and Faith & Belief groups, and ensure the provision of appropriate events for these groups and students throughout the year. 
• Ensure that the Association, its services, and publications are accessible to all students. 
• Ensure familiarity with current issues in students’ welfare and rights, and provide materials on such issues to the general student body. 

Vice President Sports & Wellbeing

Position: Vice President Sports, Physical Activities & Wellbeing
Type: Full-time Sabbatical (paid)
Role: Helping students get the most from their Uni experience by promoting sports and healthy living/lives

• Act as President of the USSA Sports Union, and promote the profile of the Sports Union, and general sporting activities, amongst the student body
• Prepare and implement an effective strategy for increasing participation in, and widening access to, all sporting and physical activities. 
• Convene relevant Sports Union committees, and represent Strathclyde sporting interests to the university and national student sports bodies. 
• Oversee the financial management of the Sports Union, including the drafting of a Sports Union budget, and ensuring that club budgets are adhered to. 
• Ensure that the Sports Union implements, maintains, and adheres to appropriate and relevant policy for the purposes of health and safety within sport. 
• Coordinate the work of Sports Union committees, and ensure the efficient and effective organisation of a Sports Union AGM. 
• Be responsible for the promotion and awareness raising of relevant health and wellbeing issues, and organise events, campaigns and materials to this end. 
• Organise and coordinate the annual Sports Fair, and other appropriate events throughout the year. 

Vice Chairs

Position: Vice Chair (x5)
Type: Part-Time Voluntary (unpaid)

There are 5 Vice Chairs and all are up for election in March. Thier main roles include being an active part of the Board of Trustees as well as promoting the work of the area of the Association that they represent through the forums.

• A full member of the Board of Trustees which is ultimately responsible for the long-term strategic direction of the Association as well as its political and financial sustainability
• Leading the research and development of policies, campaigns and events relating to the relevant forum
• Working directly with the Executive Committee on campaigns and events relevant to their forum area

The Full List of Vice Chairs:

• Vice Chair External Engagement
• Vice Chair Activities
• Vice Chair Diversity
• Vice Chair Education
• Vice Chair Sports & Wellbeing

Policy & Democracy Officer

Position: Policy & Democracy Officer
Type: Part-time voluntary (unpaid)
Role: Ensuring we promote and uphold student’s democratic rights

• Be responsible for the organisation, promotion and Chairing of all meetings of The Council, Question Time and General Meetings as well as the Policy & Democracy Committee;
• Be elected by cross-campus ballot and shall act as an objective and unbiased critical friend of the Executive Committee by encouraging and facilitating debate within Association structures and accountability of the Officers of The Association;
• Be available for advising the Forums on how to formulate policy proposals;
• Have the right to attend and observe any Committee meetings held within the Association structures, but shall not be granted voting rights;
• Be able to question Executive Officers on behalf of a member or members of the Association.