As debate week begins for the Students’ Union Officer elections, Forge Press brings you the ultimate guide to understanding what each role is and what they do.
Each year, the recruitment of seven full-time Officers takes place, with students running for the roles of SU President, Activities & Development Officer, Education Officer, Welfare & Sustainability Officer, Liberation Officer, International & Community Officer and Wellbeing & Sports Officer.
Ultimately, the Officers work to ensure that all 30,000 students are heard and have what they need to learn and thrive during their time at University.
As a result of the recent referendum, students voted to change the structure of the SU’s Officer team for the first time in over a decade. Changes include the combination of activities with development and the Welfare Officer role now alongside sustainability as well as sports. In place of the Women’s Officer role comes a newly introduced Liberation Officer.
A summary of each officers’ role is detailed below:
SU President:
- Support and lead the Officer team, and be Chair of the Trustee Board.
- Oversee all external lobbying and student representation.
- Oversee and maximise engagement of students in SU activities and democracy.
Activities & Development Officer:
- Develop and support and represent the interests of students on a range of Student-Led activities.
- Have oversight over SU social enterprise activities and performance.
- Lead on student development and employability.
- Be the Officer lead on all SU finances (Treasurer).
Education Officer:
- Represent student interests to create change on all relevant education issues.
- Develop and support an effective structure of academic representation.
- Lead campaigns on all relevant education issues.
- Support and coordinate the following Part Time Officer: Postgraduate.
Welfare & Sustainability Officer:
- Represent all students’ views and interests on welfare matters, and run campaigns on welfare issues.
- Lead the Students’ Union’s ethical, environmental and sustainability work.
Liberation Officer:
- Represent the views, and promote the interests, of students from liberation groups, and those who face systemic barriers to participation at the University.
- Lead campaigns to create an environment free from all forms of discrimination.
- Develop and support programmes to tackle current issues affecting students from liberation groups and those who face systemic barriers to participation.
- Support and coordinate the following Part Time Officers: Women Students, BME Students, Disabled Students, Mature Students, LGBT+ Students.
International & Community Officer:
- Represent and promote the views and interests of international students.
- Develop and support activities that improve the welfare of international students.
- Develop and support programmes for student involvement in their communities.
- Develop and support programmes that promote the integration of Home and International Students in all university environments and contexts.
Welfare and Sports Officer:
- Encouraging all student participation in sport and communities.
- Develop and support activities that improve the health and wellbeing of all students.
- Represent and lobby for students interests on wellbeing and sport to the University and external agencies.
