NTSU Elections open soon. Here's what you need to know
NTSU Elections open soon. Here's what you need to know
In case you didn't already know, NTSU is a democratic organisation run by you, our members (aka NTU students).
We give you the power to change and improve your university experience through various democratic processes. The main one is our annual elections that happen in February/March.
The dates for this year's elections are listed further down this page. But, before we tell you when they're happening, we want to explain what they are, who gets elected, and why you should get involved.
What are NTSU's elections?
NTSU is led by a team of six full-time executive officers (aka "the exec"). The exec are current students who NTU students elect to lead their Students' Union and represent the 40,000 people studying at NTU.
They attend high-level meetings to ensure your interests are considered when the University (and the Union) make decisions that affect you. They can influence everything from how your course is taught and assessed to what personal development opportunities and support for things such as the cost of living you can access while you're at Trent.
That's what we mean when we say our officers represent NTU students. They do lots of work (much of it invisible) to ensure you have an excellent student experience at NTU.
While you may not notice what they do from day to day, we guarantee your university experience would be far different if they didn't exist, and you would definitely miss them.
Our term two elections give you the chance to apply to be an officer or to vote for who you would like to become one and represent you next year.
Officers elected in this year's election will take office in July 2023 and be in post for the 2023-24 academic year.
What does this mean for me?
Now you understand a bit about what our elected reps do and why they're important, you have a couple of options. You can either:
1. Nominate yourself to become an officer, or;
2. Vote for the people you want to represent you next year and influence decisions that will affect you and other students.
Why should I nominate myself?
Being an elected officer is a unique experience that lays the groundwork for your future career.
Like most personal development opportunities, it's good for your CV and will help you build your network. But it also offers something else—something far more powerful—real-world experience running a business or leading a community.
That's super-valuable and hard to come by. Which is why you should seriously consider running for a position this February.
What positions are being elected?
We have full-time and part-time positions available. Which one is right for you will depend on your plans after this academic year.
To run for a full-time position, you will either need to be graduating this summer or be willing to take a year out from your studies. If you're planning on studying next year, you should consider one of our part-time roles instead.
Full-time exec roles
The six full-time positions available on our exec team are:
· President
· VP Education
· VP Postgraduate
· VP Community and Welfare
· VP Opportunities
· VP Sport
Any current NTU student graduating in June 2023 or willing to take a year out can apply for these roles. (Only postgraduate students can apply for the VP Postgraduate role.)
Part-time roles
If you’re planning on studying at Trent next year, we have several part-time positions you can nominate yourself for instead, including:
Brackenhurst Officer
Represent your fellow students studying at Brackenhurst Campus. You'll also be a part-time member of NTSU's exec team and board of trustees. (Only students studying at Brackenhurst Campus can apply for this role.)
Mansfield Officer
Represent your fellow students studying at Mansfield Campus. (Only students studying at Mansfield Campus can apply for this role.)
Confetti Officer
Represent your fellow students studying at Confetti. (Only students studying at Confetti can apply for this role.)
Undergraduate School Officers
Represent the students in your Academic School. (Postgraduate School Officers will be elected in October.)
Equality & Diversity Network Chairs
Lead one of our seven Equality and Diversity Networks.
Sports club & society committees
Members of sports clubs and societies can run for a position on their committee.
All posts begin July 2023 and last for 12 months. Exec officers must be available for the last two weeks of June to attend their training.
How do I nominate myself?
You can nominate yourself at www.trentstudents.org/nominate once nominations open at midday on Monday 13th February.
You'll need to choose the position you want to apply for, explain why you think you'd be a good fit for the role, and upload a suitable photo of yourself. If you run for a position on our exec team, you can’t nominate yourself for any other role.
What about voting?
Voting will take place between 8pm Friday 10th and 5pm Friday 17th March via our app.
Candidates will take part in Q&A sessions before voting week to help students decide who to vote for. The dates, times, and formats of these sessions are listed below.
The election results will be calculated via the alternative transferable voting system and announced live at our election results party on Friday 17th March.
Elections 2023 timeline
Here are the key dates for each stage of the elections:
- Nominations open: Monday 13th February, 12pm
- Nominations close: Friday 24th February, 12pm
- Election candidate Q&As:
- Brackenhurst: 6pm, Monday 6th March, Brack Bar
- Clifton: 6pm, Tuesday 7th March, The Point
- City: 6pm, Friday 10th March, The Level
- Voting opens: Friday 10th March, 8pm
- Voting closes: Friday 17th March, 5pm
- Results announced: Friday 17th March, 8pm, The Point, Clifton Campus.
What else should I know?
If you're thinking of running, please read the elections rules and regulations.
You can also attend one of our election info sessions happening this week. Here's where they're happening:
• Weds 8th Feb, 1-2pm:– Brackenhurst campus
• Friday 10th Feb, 11-12pm: City Campus
If you have any questions, email elections@su.ntu.ac.uk.
