Bringing your club and society elections to life Fiona Ellison & Rosie Hunnam NUS Student Opportunities team

Learning objectives

Develop your understanding of the importance of club and society elections in driving quality in student opportunities Identify ways to improve different elements of the elections process Improve your confidence in technical terminology relating to democratic procedures Reflect on good ideas from other students union

Bringing your club and society elections to life

Why is this important? NUS work on democracy SU developments with club & society elections Increase engagement with elections Quality -Staff & officer involvement -Providing a great experience

Before the election

Before the election: procedures Students union election procedures - useful Use the club/society constitution Make it watertight When will club & society elections take place?

Before the election: rules to consider Who can be on committee? Leeds University Union: club/soc membership must be at least 70% current Leeds Uni students. Top three committee positions must be current students. Quorum The number of voters required to make the election representative of the membership and therefore valid New members What are the committee positions? Appointment vs. election

Before the election: people Who is responsible for club & society elections? Vote now!

Who is responsible for club & society elections? Society/club staff SU democracy team Sabbatical officers SU senior managers Club/society committee

Who is responsible for club & society elections? Returning Officer Responsible for the election, ensuring that it is fair How much do you manage your club & society elections? Staff/officer capacity SU priorities Students needs

Before the election: training Training on how to run elections Training for election candidates How is training delivered? Face to face (individuals, groups/committees) Online Handout (written information)

Before the election: promotion What do you need to promote? Election rules & procedures Open of nominations Election/AGM date

Before the election: promotion Election rules & procedures Explain to committees multiple times Combine printed materials, online, & in-person Dont forget to tell the club/society members

Before the election: promotion Open of nominations Make it easy Combine with officer elections?

Before the election: promotion Open of nominations Make it easy Combine with officer elections? Talk about skills and experience Talk about being on committee all year Liberation & elections

Before the election: insight Emma Green NUS Development, Training & Events Officer (Liberation)

Before the election: promotion Election/AGM date Election dates AGM?

The election

The election: how to Different ways to conduct an election: Online Paper hands-up How do your clubs and societies conduct their elections? Vote now!

The election: ATV/STV NUS recommend ATV (Alternative Transferable Voting) or STV (Single Transferable Voting) Why? Fair method Used in your officer elections and in NUS elections How to do it? Watch this video!

ATV elections video

The election: event Online elections – why do an event? Sense of occasion Opportunity for discussion about club/society Start of outgoing/incoming committee handover

The election: event Top tips for good election/AGM events: Welcome Sign-in sheets/register Returning Officer Timely Fun!

After the election

After the election: paperwork Paperwork Important Annoying! So make it… …easy …quick to complete …accessible & give them a deadline

After the election: handover, induction, & training Student Opportunities Resource Hub guidance on: - handover & training -development planning Essential part of elections process Crucial for improving quality of clubs and societies

Questions?

What next? Get in touch: Sign up to the next webinar – Developing your recreational sport provision 20 th March, 12-1pm Explore the student opportunities resource hub: studentopportunities.nus.org.uk Complete the short webinar survey