BUCS Student Officers

Elections 2012

BUCS Student Officers are elected on an annual basis primarily to represent the student membership within BUCS on the BUCS Advisory Group.

The Student Officer position is one of the communication pathways linking the Board, Advisory Group and BUCS staff with the membership. The position will also help these groups have a direct insight into the opinions and views of the student body involved in BUCS.

There are for student officers positions, one of which will be elected to Student Director and serve on the BUCS Board.

Who can run?

To stand for the position of student officer a candidate must either be an internally registered student at a member institution on a HE credit rated course and on a programme of at least 50% FTE or a sabbatical officer of an athletic union, sports union or student at a member institution.

What will you do?

You will sit on the Advisory Group* and provide input into the internal strategy of BUCS, with particular focus on areas relating to the student sporting experience. As part of this group you will also be involved in specific projects considered to be relevant to debate such as Keep Wednesday Afternoons Free and Allocation of BUCSpoints.

You will be the main point of contact for regional student chairs in specified regions and nations and represent students’ needs, concerns and aspirations as expressed at regional meetings.

You will assist with the delivery of the training programme for sabbaticals, making sure they feel involved withBUCS, not only through the competition programme but also in the other areas of BUCS delivery such as SportDevelopment, Disability Sport and Professional Development.

Student Officers will also take responsibility for a specific area of BUCS business and these are:

  • Sports Programmes, International and Disability Sport
  • Professional, Regional & Sport Development
  • Communications and Marketing
  • Finance and Governance

The student officer with the most votes will be invited to join the Board as Student Director. Further details of potential areas of involvement in each of the areas of the business which student officers could get involved with are given at the end of this document as a guide for potential candidates.

How much time will it take up?

That is up to you but remember you’ll only get out what you put in.

BUCS would like you to attend the meetings in your regions of responsibility when possible and Advisory Group meetings of which there are 4 or 5 a year. In addition the Student Director will attend all Board meetings which take place in London, 4 times a year.

Will I get paid?

No - this is a volunteer role but you will get reimbursed for travel expenses when representing BUCS. You willalso have the opportunity to volunteer at the BUCS Championships and other sports events with accommodation and food provided when deemed appropriate by BUCS.

What support will I get?

If you’re thinking about running you can get in touch with the current Student Officers to talk about the role in more detail.

Col Leung, Student Officer,

AgiDuhig, Student Officer,

Karen MacKellar, Student Officer,

Terry Preston, Student Officer,

As a new officer you will be given training from the current student officers and introductions to the staff andelected staff representatives and throughout your term of office you will also have a BUCS staff mentor forguidance and support.

How do you run?

All information for Student Officer nominations and elections will be sent out in Essentials as part of the AGMpapers.

If you are considering putting in a nomination talk to your AU and/or Director of Sport as you will need the support of your institution.

Check the deadline for the return of nomination forms and election statements aslate submission can not be considered.

Hustings will take place on Wednesday 11thJuly 2012 at 3:40pm.Voting for these posts will take place from 07:00am to 11:00am on Thursday 12th July 2012at the BUCS Conference, University of Exeter.

Note

*Advisory Group is tasked with advising the Board and CEO on matters of importance to BUCS and its members. The group comprises of:

  • Student Officers
  • Elected Staff Representatives
  • Student Chair from each region and Home Nation
  • Staff Chair from each region and Home Nation
  • BUCS CEO & Head of Professional and Regional Development

BUCS Business Areas

Student Officers will take responsibility for a specific area of the BUCS business. The areas are outlined belowand are not intended to be job descriptions, they are merely a list of things which the student could get involved with.

Sports Programmes, International and Disability Sport

Work closely with the Head of Sports Programmes to:

  • Discuss developments to all facets of the BUCS competitions programme.
  • Ensure the membership’s views on competitions are represented, through discussion at the Advisory
  • Group, or direct consultation with specific members if appropriate.
  • Support regions or conferences in the development of localised competitions structures, and/or

conference-level events (e.g. a finals event).

  • Work with BUCS on projects related to national bodies, such as Sport England, Sport Scotland and the Sports Council for Wales.

Work closely with the Head of International Programmes

  • To represent the views of BUCS student body on all international matters.
  • To attend meetings of the BUCS International Influencing Group (approx 3 – 4 a year)
  • To assist in the selection of the student members to attend the FISU Forum (this would not preclude the individual from applying should they wish, they would then forgo their position on the selectionpanel).
  • To assist in the selection of student nominations for EUSA Student Technical Committee

positions (this would not preclude the individual from applying should they wish, they would then forgotheir position on the selection panel).

  • To assist with Marketing and Communications, taking specific responsibility for raising awarenesswithin the student community of the BUCS International Programme.

Work closely with the Head of Disability Sport to:

  • Discuss and support the development of the sporting offer for disabled students to ensure the membership’s view on disability sport are represented, through discussion at Advisory

Professional, Regional and Sport Development

Work closely with the Head of Professional & Regional Development to:

  • Assist in drafting the professional development dayprogrammes and lead initiatives for sabbatical officer’scontent for engagement.
  • Assist with development and support of Advisory Group projects.
  • Engage and support the sector in Healthy campus initiatives.
  • Lead on the sabbatical training to be delivered in the regions.
  • Help to establish a complete picture of each region’s communication structure, to be made available to key personnel and stakeholders.

Work closely with the Head of Sport Development to:

  • Identify opportunities and projects to support the development of new and existing student clubs.
  • Provide advice and guidance on the development of intra-mural competition.
  • Assist with identifying and improving opportunities for students to train to becomecoaches, officials and volunteers.
  • Contribute to the development of new social opportunities to participate, driving activity through theFacebook sport network platform.

Communications & Marketing

Work closely with the Head of Communications, Commercial and Marketing to:

  • Promotion and marketing of BUCS Championships.
  • Sourcing stories/features/news for BUCS Life (editing or writing where appropriate).
  • Sourcing news stories for the BUCS website.
  • Involvement in corporate events planning and execution (e.g. BUCS Ball, Awards, Conference and special events).
  • Advise on sponsorship and advertising policies.
  • Supporting the promotion of BUCS suppliers/partners – identifying opportunities within the student landscape for sponsors or partners to get involved in student activities.
  • Providing feedback on current communications tools (website, Essentials, BUCS Life, View from theBench)

Finance and Governance

  • Be the ‘Student Voice’ on the Board and represent the work areas of the other student officers.
  • Ensure that all duties required of the student director are performed, including attending Board meetings through the year, completing actions as required.
  • Ensure that any relevant items, for discussion at the Board, are brought up from the Regions and Advisory Group; especially those which are related to students.
  • Work with the Head of Finance & Administration on matters arising between Board meetings.
  • Areas for budgetary consideration may include: Affiliation and Entry fees, Non-sporting events and all areas of BUCS finances through to overall value for money available to the membership.
  • Review the management accounts before the board meetings.
  • Help other Student Officers in their areas, as required, to ensure budgets are in mind when planning and reviewing is underway for events, initiatives and projects.