Ravensbourne Students’ Union Elections 2017
Guide to Role Descriptions for Officers
Role descriptions are there to provide guidance and help you in deciding whether to run for election. They show what you may reasonably be expected to do in your role.
Vice Presidents – Content/Design/Fashion/Production/Further Education/Post Graduate Studies
Honorary: £150 per month
Hours: flexible
Duties:
- Act as the lead representative for the department and represent the department within the SU and other activities;
- To take on the role of Vice President with the responsibility of either overall student welfare, education, sustainability, activities and participation, campaigns, and equality and diversity as agreed at the first executive meeting;
- To attend relevant meetings attached to the department and to provide a student perspective and knowledge of the student experience by representing the view of the students within the department;
- Build and maintain professional working relationships with the academics within the department and use these links to promote the interests of students at that department;
- Ensure that you are accessible and known to students as the Students’ Union representative at your department;
- Lead lobbying on student issues affecting student at that department;
- Liaise with the Associate Dean of that Department and SU Coordinator or equivalent to ensure that Student Course Representatives are elected in all courses and they are trained;
- Work with Student Reps based at that department ensuring that they have support and input to the Student Liaison Committee and other activities;
- To promote and actively participate in Students’ Union events, activities and campaigns;
- Ensure that you act according to the Ravensbourne Students’ Union Constitution and comply with the Duties and Responsibilities section of it.
Key meetings:
- Board of Studies
- Student Liaison Committee (SLC)
- Other appropriate meetings
Further responsibilities
The Executive Committee of the Students’ Union will assign responsibility of overall student welfare, sustainability, education, activities and participation, campaigns, and equality and diversity to individual Vice Presidents at the first Executive Meeting of the term. Each Vice President will need to undertake one of the six responsibilities detailed below.
Activities and Participation
- Take the lead Officer role on activities and events projects and encourage students to become involved in the Union;
- Take a lead role in increasing participation in Students’ Union election both in terms of candidate and voter numbers;
- Work with the President and Student Parliament Chair to ensure Student Parliament members attend all meetings and quorum is always met; • Ensure policies agreed at Student Parliament meetings are implemented;
- To consult with students both formally and informally on their experience of and aspirations for student activities of all kind, so as to inform future strategy.
Campaign
- Take an active lead on planning and implementing campaigns;
- Devise a campaigns plan for SU to work to and report to the Executive Committee and Student Parliament for approval;
- Lead the Students’ Union election campaign;
- Promote NSS and other Student Surveys;
- Assist with the observation of Black and LGBT History Months.
Education
- Act as the lead officer in relation to the student academic experience, teaching and learning, Union campus activities and Student Course Representatives;
- Take the lead on all issues dealing with and relating to education and quality;
- Identify and oversee education priority development areas and related campaigns;
- Ensure students are represented and involved in the development of all elements of their academic experience, taking seats on the Ravensbourne Committees;
- Represent student views/opinions on the student academic experience to the Institution to enable continuous improvement;
- Work to improve academic representation for postgraduate, mature, FE and international student groups;
- To attend the Academic Board and Learning, Curriculum and Student Experience Committee (or equivalent) and other appropriate meetings as the student representative.
Equality and Diversity
- Act as the lead officer on equality and diversity matters;
- Represent the concerns and views of students from all groups facing racism, unfair discrimination and harassment, and campaign for necessary/appropriate action;
- Ensure all students are treated equally, regardless of their race, gender, sexuality, disability, age, ethnic origin religion or creed;
- Liaise with the Institution to ensure an input into the development, monitor and review of the equal opportunity procedures;
- Continuously promote positive involvement of all students who face discrimination to the Students’ Union and Institution, through setting up stalls, distributing leaflets and putting on events to champion this.
Sustainability
- Act as the lead officer on sustainability matters;
- Be a member of the Ravensbourne Green Steering Group;
- Complete the Green Impact workbook and submit it for NUS Green Impact Award;
- Ensure that all operations of the Union and Institution are sustainable for the environment;
- Encourage members of the Union to reduce energy usage;
- Lead campaigns concerning sustainability and ethical issues.
Welfare
- Act as the lead officer on student welfare concerns and community relations;
- Identify and oversee welfare priority development areas and related campaigns;
- Lead DrinkAware, SafeSex, housing and student finance, Nightline and other welfare campaigns;
- Support and facilitate the LGBT+, Mature Students, and International Students Associations;
- Develop relationships with the local community;
- Attend any relevant training and briefing days for Students’ Union Welfare officers.
Executive Committee and Student Parliament Meetings
All officers are required to attend Executive Committee and Student Parliament meetings. Any Officer who does not attend three consecutive Executive Committee Meetings will cease to be an Officer after the conclusion of the third meeting unless the Student Parliament determines otherwise following a report of the matter to the following Student Parliament meeting.