frequently asked questions

You can run for the GSU Officer role no matter what year you are in. The role does have a lot more time commitments when campaigning during the election. If elected, you will need to be able to start your job as GSU Officer on Monday 15th June.
The NUS Delegate role is voluntary and permits the winners to attend the 2021 NUS National Conference on the 6th to the 8th of April.

In October 2018, we asked you how students want to be represented as a member of the Students’ Union by voting on four proposals to change our democratic system. All four changes passed, and now we are in our second year of our new system. This new system is reflected in job descriptions, Officer roles and responsibilities. Key features to note for our Elections are:
a. All candidates will be running against each other for the four available GSU Officer roles. The top candidate will have the opportunity to become the “President” and the other three winning candidates will become the “Vice Presidents”. b. If you are elected as a GSU Officer, you will need to work closely with your team to decide who takes on which responsibilities (such as committees and meetings). c. If you are elected as a GSU Officer, you will need to ensure you work on Student Priorities while you hold your role. Again, you will need to work closely with your team to decide who does what.

Key changes to note for this Election are:
- All candidates will be running against each other for the four available GSU Officer roles. The top candidate will have the opportunity to become the “President” and the other three winning candidates will become the “Vice Presidents”. (see more information in Proposal 1 )
- If you are elected as a GSU Officer, you will need to work closely with your team to decide who takes on which responsibilities (such as committees and meetings).
- If you are elected as a GSU Officer, you will need to ensure you work on Student Priorities while you hold your role. Again, you will need to work closely with your team to decide who does what. (see more information in Proposal 2 )

Greenwich Students’ Union uses Single Transferable Vote (STV), a representation system in which a person’s vote can be transferred to a second or third choice (according to their stated preference) if their first choice is eliminated during the vote count. It is essentially preference voting where students rank candidates in order from one to however many candidates are running.

If you want to understand more, take a look at this YouTube video explaining how another SU used STV.

How does STV affect campaigning?
The most important aspect of STV is that a voter ranks candidates in order of their preference. This means if you speak to a student who has already decided not to vote for you as their first choice, then you can convince them to make you their second choice. It could make all the difference when determining the result if their favourite candidate is eliminated before you.

What does an open position mean?
This means that the GSU officer roles have not been defined into set remits (yet) and candidates run with the goal to be elected as one of the four Full-Time Officers.

How are they elected?
All candidates will run for a GSU Officer role (four elected) and the four candidates with the highest number votes through STV (Single Transferable Voting) will be elected.

How are remits decided?
Once elected, the GSU Officer team will decide during the first month as to which remits each of them would like to take on; matching their manifestos, interests, experience and skills. The remits will encompass education, student activities and welfare.

How is the President selected?
The GSU Officer candidate who receives the most votes in the election will be offered the remit of President. All candidates will be asked when nominating if they would accept this remit if they received the most votes. The final decision on who accepts this remit will not be made until after the results and the GSU Officer team meeting.

Directing a charity with a multi-million-pound turnover
The Students’ Union is a registered charity and exists to makes students’ lives better at Greenwich University, by offering services which include: representation, support, development and entertainment.

Representing nearly 20,000 student members to the University as well as locally and nationally
GSU Officers represent the concerns and views of individuals, groups or the whole student body on issues such as welfare, academic, social and financial. GSU Officers will need to work on “Student Priorities” that have been set by students for the SU to work on. Please see the 2020/2021 Student Priorities that were identified by members through research and selection from all campuses.

Making up the majority of the Students' Union Board of Trustees
Along with three external trustees, the GSU Officers are members of the Students' Union's Board of Trustees and have legal and financial responsibilities.

Developing the strategic direction of the Union
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the broad direction of the Union and works with the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive to ensure a successful long-term approach to the development of the Union. The SU is currently in its second year of the 2017-2020 plan.
Please see The Big Plan which entails the values, mission and objectives of the Students’ Union.

GSU Officers
Yes. This is a full-time paid position of £24,725, where if elected, you take a year out of your studies (or afterwards if you run in your final year) from June 2020 to June 2021 to undergo the role.

NUS Delegates
No. This a voluntary position, which if elected, you will attend a multi day online conference (6th to the 8th of April) this academic year.

Yes!
As soon as you are elected, we will start getting you accustomed to your role (Don’t worry, we make sure this fits in with your studies).

All GSU Officers and NUS Delegates will get extensive training to understand more about their role, the SU and their team. Further to this, all GSU Officers receive training opportunities throughout the summer.

GSU Officers will have an induction period for the first month of their role and in July go on an extensive four day Residential to understand more about their role as trustees of the Students' Union.

I am a Postgraduate/Part-time Student
We highly encourage Postgraduate students to run in elections, especially considering that you make up a large proportion of the student population. The SU will always try and accommodate postgraduates standing for GSU Officer roles. If you are doing a PG (Taught) you may, with permission from your supervisor, be able to defer until after your sabbatical year as a GSU Officer. If you are a PG (Research), you will have to speak to your supervisor and Head of Department, in the first instance. The University is supportive of the Full-time Officer posts (recognised in the Education Act 1994), and considers interruptions for students who are funded by the University. If your funding is from a research council or other external organisation, you will have to contact that agency to discuss a funding and research break. You should, of course, establish that the University and funder are happy before standing. The SU can provide advice, support and guidance to achieve help you stand. Please reach out to suadvice@gre.ac.uk for guidance and support through this process.

I am an International Student
Yes. If you are elected into the post as a GSU Officer, you can get an extension of your Tier 4 visa without having to return home.
You can get further information and guidance from the Advice Team by e-mailing suadvice@gre.ac.uk

I am a Student Parent
The SU prides itself on supporting staff with caring responsibilities through its childcare benefits package, flexible working hours and 25 days of annual leave (excluding bank holidays and extended Christmas leave). If you have any issues, please speak to a member of the Elections team by e-mailing elections@gre.ac.uk, or a member of the Advice team by e-mailing suadvice@gre.ac.uk

I am about to go on placement
The SU can support you with training and assistance to fit around your work commitments. You will need to make sure your employer is flexible in allowing you to attend National Conference if you are running for NUS Delegate. If you are thinking of running for a GSU Officer role you will need to ask if your placement can be deferred for a year as you will be working full-time (37.5 hours a week). If you have any issues, please speak to a member of the Elections team by e-mailing elections@gre.ac.uk, or a member of the Advice team by e-mailing suadvice@gre.ac.uk.

I am a Student Parent
The SU prides itself on supporting staff with caring responsibilities through its childcare benefits package, flexible working hours and 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays and extended Christmas leave. If you have any issues, please speak to a member of the Elections team by e-mailing elections@gre.ac.uk, or a member of the Advice team by e-mailing suadvice@gre.ac.uk

I am an International student
Yes. If you are elected into the post as a GSU Officer, you can get an extension of your Tier 4 visa without having to return home. You can get further information and guidance from the Advice Team by e-mailing suadvice@gre.ac.uk

I am a Nursing Student
If you are a studying a nursing degree, please get in touch with your head of department and the SU Advice service on how the Full-Time Officer role could be done without affecting your NMC qualification.
You can e-mail a member of the Advice Team at suadvice@gre.ac.uk

I’m still not sure?
Please feel free to get in contact with us at elections@gre.ac.uk to discuss your situation.

Represent nearly 20,000 students members of Greenwich Students' Union at the annual National Conference of NUS.
The team of 5 delegates represent the concerns and views of students on the national level along with representatives from every student union in the country that is a member of the NUS. You have a chance to debate national policy such as student fees, liberation and national injustices within education. This will post is for the sole purposes of attending the online conference. Policy passed last year requires that the President of GSU automatically takes 1 of the delegate positions. Additionally only a maximum of 2 GSU officers can attend the conference as delegates.