KUSU Elections Guide 2012
Candidates Information Pack
17/9/2012
Contents:
Introduction
- What the Union is and what it does
- Our current position and the big issues facing us and our students
- Description of all the roles
- Voting timetable and process
- Campaigning “rules” for candidates and their teams
- A set of questions that all candidates need to reply to
Introduction
This pack is for candidates, interested candidates and their campaign teams and is designed to help you understand your potential role and guide you in running your election campaign.
Your first step should be to check out the positions available, read their role descriptions and see which ones interest you the most.Once you have an idea of what position you'd like to put yourself forward for download a nomination form.
The majority of your election campaign itself will happen in the fortnight before elections, once nominations have closed. This means that you have to have your campaign prepared and ready to go in advance, which can involve lots of planning and organisation.
Here’s what to do before you hand in your nomination form.
Ask Questions:
The role descriptions available below give a pretty good explanation of the roles, but nothing can beat talking through the role with a real person. There are always people more than happy to answer questions about any of the roles and there are two key ways to get in touch with them:
1. Email to get in touch with the KUSU CEO, they will find the best person to answer your questions.
2. Pop into the KUSU office at Penrhyn Road and make an appointment to see one of the full-time Officers.
Build your team - tell your friends
During your campaign you will need a team of friends and supporters to help you out. They will be an invaluable asset during campaigning and will come in handy at just about every stage. Step one is to let them know you’re standing.Ask around for ideas and advice and get them excited about helping you. Getting input on your ideas makes your friends feel part of your campaign right from the start.
Start Planning
Different positions require different amounts of work and different amounts of planning. Have a read through the rest of the guide to help you understand the position you are running for and how KUSU works.
1)What the Union does
We are an independent charity, managed by 4 full time sabbaticals, with the main part of our funding coming from the University.Our main role is to provide the services that make life better for our students at Kingston, both by providing physical services and by campaigning and giving students an independent voice to the University.Though you may not always see it, the Students’ Union is working for you everyday.
We currently employ 20 full time permanent staff, excluding the 4 full time officer trustees. Additionally there is a full time Citizen’s Advice Bureau staff member employed as a contractor to the Union. We also employ around 80 student staff.
The Union is split into three main departments:
- Student Development (Volunteering, Sports, Societies, Advice / Support, Student Voice)
- Commercial services (3 bars, 2 shops, reception, marketing)
- Finance
KUSU has developed several “services” over the years, each led by what students want from their KUSU:
- Representsstudents to the University, and locally and nationally through a team of Student Officers
- Supports student-led campaigns on a variety of issues.
- Supplies individual representation for students who have difficulties with the University – last year we represented over 1000 students directly to the University
- Jointly supports University Course Rep system
- An award winning volunteering programme
- Supports student sports clubs
- Supports religious, cultural, political and other student societies
- Ensures there is a provision of safe, fit for purpose and value for money facilities for students in our 3 bars, catering outlets and 2 shops.
Growth and investment over recent years has come primarily in the areas of student development, with new staff posts in the last four years in Advice, Student Voice, Sport and Societies plus additional part-time staffing in clubs and societies.
Figure 2: Kingston University Students’ Union Organisational Chart – August 2012
2)Our Current position - Financial
Summary of audited accounts
- KUSU’s gross income from all sources this past year totalled £2,343,659 which includes £717 657 in block grant from KU
- There was a total expenditure of £2,266,86 of which £797 869 is in respect to staff costs
- £169 909 of these funds were “restricted” to cover volunteering and the Clubs and Societies opportunity funds
- The audited accounts include a £200 000 “grant for rent” figure, which is a nominal value which the auditors have recommended we include as the value of our current estate at a commercial rate.
Summary of management accounts
- KUSU generated an overall surplus of £66 133 in the 2010/11 financial year, a fall from the £79 539 surplus in 2009/10.
- Our current reserves are £629 814
- Affiliations for the year were £44 419 – this includes our affiliation fee to the NUS
Key challenges to the Union
Over the next few years it is apparent that KUSU faces a number of challenges which need addressing now to ensure that we remain fit for purpose;
- The impact of tuition fees – potentially we may see that if fees result in a real –term fall in income for the University that that may be passed onto the Union, has it already has to a number of KU faculties and departments. Some scenario planning has already taken place, and we have identified that service levels will start to fall once funding cuts reach 10%. Conversely, a number of Universities have actually expanded funding to their Students’ Unions to encourage them to play a greater role in improving the student experience.
- Additionally we need to see what impact the new fees will have on our overall demographic – there may be more local students, less international students etc
- The role of the Union within a “consumer-led” HE sector – for example; is “collective” representation a viable model to deal with “customer complaints”? What does an advice and support service look like in the new HE sector?
- Demands on the University estate – it is recognised that there are issues around KUSU estate both at Kingston Hill and Penrhyn Road, and that the outcome of future planning discussions will have a significant impact on the way KUSU operates. At present we are already seeing limits on the levels of engagement we can offer (particularly in terms of sports) due to the limitations of the existing facilities.
- Financial issues – although we are currently reasonably financially healthy much of our surpluses over the last few years have been made from cost savings rather than generated income. This is not a suitably sustainable model and we are going to need to look to alternative sources of income.
- A new VC – whilst the new VC has been supportive thus far, and has a history of supporting Students’ Unions there will still be changes to our working relationship with the University’s senior management team.
- The need for alternative sources of income. It is apparent that there continues to be an overall downward trend in licensed trade sales, and despite our tweaks to the financial recording in terms of bar income streams, I would suggest at this point that licensed trade sales will continue to fall. Therefore we will need, during the course of the next two years to identify new and realistic income streams.
- Addressing the lack of meaningful political / democratic engagement with the student body
Many of these issues are addressed in the new strategic plan.
Current issues affecting students
There are a number of issues affecting students locally and nationally, many of which are probably impacting on your daily lives as students now and certainly will over the next year or so. Broadly speaking these issues include:
- Tuition fees and the impact on access to HE
- Visa issues for international students
- Course cuts (at least on a national level at this stage)
- Potential changes to course delivery (2 year degrees, distance learning etc)
- Facilities on campus / estate issues
- Feedback and assessment
- Employability (and the inequality of graduate outcomes)
- Accommodation issues
- Access to services
- Hidden course costs
3)Role Descriptions
The role descriptions are presented in the Constitution and byelaws for each of the roles. Full copies of the Constitution and byelaws will be made available, and all officers are governed by the Constitution and bye-laws throughout their time in office.
Full time elected trustees
All full time posts are paid (£19, 556 per annum) and treated as full time staff members in terms of working hours and holidays etc. They are on a 54 week contract, but time cannot be taken off during July at either end of the year in office.
President:
The President is responsible for the day to day running of the students’ union, the representation of the student body and making sure all Union decisions are communicated to all Kingston students.As the chief representative of the student body the President sits on various committees within the university and local community:
- University Board of Governors
- Chair of KUSU Trustee Board
- Chair of KUSU Management Committee
- Executive of the Kingston Race Equality Council
They also meet regularly with local partners and decision makers such as the University’s Vice Chancellor and Senior Management Team, Local MP’s and Councillors and Heads of University Departments. The relationships the President develops with these individuals are important as they can be incredibly effective in delivering change for the student body. You will get the chance to meet and work people from a huge variety of professions.
As the chair of the Trustee Board the President is responsible for ensuring the good governance and management of the Students’ Union. As an independent charity with an annual turnover of £2.3m this is a challenging but exciting opportunity for any student and will provide you will invaluable experience for after your time at University.
VP Activities:
The VP Activities oversees the Union’s student facing activities and helps set the direction of the way these will develop in the future. The role includes:
- working alongside staff to develop a sustainable and student led Sports and Societies programme
- proactively engaging students in sports and societies
- working alongside staff to ensure the democratic delivery of sports and societies within KUSU
- representing the needs of the groups and individuals involved in sports and societies at University and Union Committees
- dealing with the University in terms of competitive and recreational sports delivery
- working alongside staff to ensure the effective delivery of a comprehensive volunteering programme
- positively supporting the elected officers relating to Sports and Societies
- developing and facilitating sports and societies related campaigns, including awareness and recruitment
- supporting “liberation” officer activities
- encouraging student participation in all social activities
VP Learning and Teaching (formerly VP Education)
The VP Learning and Teaching is expected to be responsible for advancing the experience of Kingston students in areas relating to their learning and teaching experience. To this end they will act as the lead Union officer, working alongside staff, to ensure that the University and Union are creating a positive learning and teaching experience. To achieve this, the main aspects of the role will be:
- To represent the needs of Kingston students in all areas of developing the University learning and teaching strategy
- To work alongside KUSU staff and the University to develop an effective course reps system
- To act as the primary officer contact for individual representation cases relating to academic issues
- To develop and facilitate a year long programme of education related campaigns
- To work alongside KUSU staff to ensure that academic regulations / procedures are fair to our students
- To work alongside our collaborative partners to ensure all Kingston students receive equal access to quality learning and teaching
- To positively support the work of academic based part-time officers
- Representing the student body on academic related University committees
VP Student Life
The new VP Student life role is expected to be responsible for advancing the experience of Kingston students in areas not relating to their learning and teaching experience. To this end they will act as the lead Union officer, working alongside staff, to ensure that the University and Union are creating a positive student experience. To achieve this, the main aspects of the role will be:
- Liaising with the University accommodation office to deal with issues of concern relating to student accommodation (both University and private)
- Working alongside the KU student life office to monitor and influence student welfare provision
- To ensure that KUSU and so the student body has an input into the continued development of University facilities and estate, including awareness campaigns and gaining student feedback on future facilities related issues
- Working alongside the University to ensure that employability / development of personal skills are key elements of future University strategy and ensuring that the Union plays a role in developing future delivery in this area
- To liaise with community representatives and external bodies on behalf of KUSU and its students to develop positive community interactions
- To positively support the work of liberation part-time officers and ensure that there is a programme of liberation campaigns throughout the year
- To review and monitor the delivery of advice services both within KUSU and the University
- To work alongside relevant bodies to develop a citizenship agenda across the University, and promote the ideas of positive citizenship to our members
- Representing the student body on University Committees related to the above areas
Part time roles
The Union executive part time roles are voluntary and normally involve a few hours a week attending meetings or campaigning on behalf of the students the post represents. We are trying to encourage the part time student officers to be more active and get more involved with the groups they represent and to do this we offer staff and full-time officer support, so that it doesn’t interrupt too much with your studies.
The Part Time Officers shall:
- Engage with their cohort to develop an understanding of that groups needs
- Represent the academic, welfare and social needs of their cohort to the Union and University
- Ensure the diverse voices on campus are heard at Union and University level, and that no group of students is discriminated against, directly or indirectly
- Ensure that the union operates in an ethical, fair and non-discriminatory manner
- Attend Union and University meetings as required
- Lead campaigns directly affecting their cohort, with the support of full time officers and national organisations
- Monitor the Union’s effectiveness at achieving its strategic goals and make recommendations where appropriate to the Trustee Board
Student Trustees
There are 3 student trustee posts which are elected separately to full or part time student officers. The student trustees are elected on an annual basis and may stand for 3 terms of office. The Constitution outlines the roles of student trustees as:
- The Board of Trustees shall be responsible for the management and administration of the Union and (subject to the Education Act, this Constitution and the Bye-Laws)
- The Board’s powers shall include but not be limited to responsibility for:
- the governance of the Union;
- the budget of the Union; and
- the strategy of the Union.
- The Board of Trustees may override any decision and Policy made by the Members in general meeting or Referendum or by the Student Executive which the Trustees consider (in their absolute discretion):
- has or may have financial implications for the Union;
- is or may be in breach of, contrary to or otherwise inconsistent with charity or education law or any other legal requirements (including ultra vires);
- is not or may not be in the best interests of the Union or all or any of its charitable objects; or
Delegates for NUS Conference
Seven students are elected to represent Kingston students at the NUS’s national conference in April 2012
The conference discusses national and international student policy and is of interest and value to anyone interested in broader student politics. To find out more about NUS conference go to
4)Voting timetable and process
Voting is managed by the Returning Officer from NUS and the Deputy Returning Officer from KUSU. Voting is planned to take place between Monday October 15th and Friday October 19. Voting will be online and polling booths, with online voting mechanisms will be on different campuses each day of the week. Links to vote will be available from myKingston throughout the voting period.
We will require each of you to answer the attached questions and submit a manifesto no later than Monday, 8th October at 5:00pm. Your manifesto will be a document, diagram or video that includes some of the things you want to do if you get elected, ideally a picture of yourself and any other information you want to include. Some examples can be found here: Your manifesto and the answers to your questions will be posted online at
We encourage you to be as creative as possible about communicating to students – websites, youtube videos, facebook groups, podcasts, actually talking to them face to face and anything else you can think of.