What roles are up for election?
There are six roles available in the upcoming Leadership Elections: one Students' Union President, one Academic Experience Officer, one Welfare Officer, one Activities & Events Officer, six NUS National Conference Reps and six NUS Liberation Conference Reps.
The Students' Union President, Academic Experience Officer, Welfare Officer, and the Activities & Events Officer are all full-time paid roles. NUS Conference Reps are voluntary short-term roles that attend a 2-day conference in April.
What does the Student Officer Team do?
The Student Officer Team represents Leeds Beckett students both on a local and national level. They lobby for your interests in university spaces and work on local and national campaigns on student issues, including everything from student welfare, education, sustainability and beyond.
Each Student Officer role has different responsibilities, but they all work together to make positive change and improve the lives of students here at LBU. Learn more about what it's like to be an officer at LBSU.
In the past, Student Officers have worked to support students during the Covid pandemic, secured free sexual health and period products for students from the Students’ Union, campaigned for gender-neutral toilets on campus, and worked with the University to secure a cost-of-living package to support students this year. Find more examples here.
How are candidates campaigning?
Candidates will campaign to win your vote and convince you that they are the best person for the job. You’ll start to see lots of active campaigning soon – from social media messages to banners and posters around campus, and more.
Candidates will also outline their policies and positions in a manifesto so that you can easily see what platforms the candidates are campaigning on. All these things will help you to decide who you’d like to vote for!
How can I vote?
Voting opens at 9am on Monday 26 February. It’s easier than ever to vote – you can either cast your vote on campus at our polling stations or head over to our website at www.leedsbeckettsu.co.uk/elections! Simple!
For more information on the Leadership Elections, candidates, and voting you can head over to our Leadership Elections webpage.
Why should I vote?
Voting in the Leadership Elections ensures that your voice is heard! By casting your vote for your favourite candidates, you’re helping make sure that Leeds Beckett Students’ Union is led by the strongest team possible and by a team that reflects your priorities.
By voting for the candidate whose policies you support the most, you can also help to ensure that your student representatives reflect the diversity of the student body.
The Leadership Elections at LBSU are also one of the smaller elections you will have the opportunity to vote in and that means your vote could be the difference between a candidate winning or losing!
When are the results announced?
The Leadership Elections results will be announced first in the Students’ Union at our Results Celebration on 29 February. You can also keep an eye out on our social media channels for updated results as they’re announced on the night!
Can I run if I’m in my first or second year?
Yes! If you are interested in a full-time Officer role you should speak to your School first to see whether taking a year out of your studies is right for you. If you are interested in an NUS Conference Rep role, these roles are carried out alongside your studies.
Can I run if I’m in my final year?
Yes – in fact most candidates for full-time officer roles are in their final year of studies but you can also stand for election to the NUS Conference Rep roles.
Can I run if I’m a postgraduate student?
Yes! The Students’ Union represents all students at Leeds Beckett University and students at any level can stand for election as long as they meet the eligibility criteria for the role they are standing for and can fulfil the responsibilities and time commitments of the role.
Can I run if I’m an international student?
To be appointed as a full-time Officer you must be eligible to work in the UK. All international students considering standing for election should contact the Student Immigration Advice & Compliance team on siac@leedsbeckett.ac.uk to seek advice from a qualified adviser before submitting a nomination.
You can find out more about the immigration requirements you may need to meet in order to stand as a full-time officer here.
What is a Full-time Officer?
Full-time Officers are students who are elected and paid to lead and steer the direction of the Students’ Union in order to promote, defend and extend the rights of students. These are full-time paid roles and the successful candidates will take up their posts in July and represent the student body until June the following year. These roles are paid £24,992 per year and the contracts are for twelve months. Students can be a full-time Officer for a maximum of two years but must be elected for each year.
What is an NUS Conference Rep?
NUS Conference Reps are elected volunteers who attend either the NUS National or NUS Liberation Conference to represent the views of Leeds Beckett students at a national level. The main purpose of the conferences is to scrutinise the current work of the NUS and their elected Officers and set the priorities of the NUS for the following year through consensus discussion on the key issues affecting students nationwide. Any Leeds Beckett student is eligible to become and NUS National Conference Rep. NUS Liberation Conference Rep roles are only available to students who identify as Black, Women, LGBT+ or Disabled.
Who are the current student leaders and why are they leaving?
You can see who your current Full-time Officers and Student Community Leaders are here
These roles have a set term of office, so the role automatically ends after a period of time with a new election taking place each year. Students can be a full-time Officer for a maximum of two years but must be elected for each year.
I don’t know which position to go for!
If you’ve read the information above and are still unsure, you can contact a member of the Student Voice & Insight team to discuss which position would suit you. Contact them at studentvoice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
Can I stand for more than one position?
Unfortunately you cannot stand for more than one full-time position, however you can stand for a full-time officer role, NUS National Conference Rep and, if you are eligible, NUS Liberation Conference Rep!
Isn’t it just a popularity contest? How do you count the votes?
Not at all. As long as you have great ideas for improving the lives and experiences of students at Leeds Beckett then you’ll make a great candidate.
We use two voting systems called 'alternative vote' for single seat elections (Full-time Officers) and 'single transferable vote' for multi seat elections (NUS National / Liberation Reps). It means voters get a bit more of a say, by ranking candidates from most to least favourable. So, if your top choice doesn't win, there's a good chance someone you like will and no votes are wasted.
You can read more about single transferable vote here.
How do I write a manifesto?
Your manifesto or election statement should be divided into three parts:
- Part 1 - outline who you are, your experiences and what makes you the right person for the role.
- Part 2 – what is the main thing you would like to achieve for students if you were elected to this role? Think big, but achievable, this can be the project you work on over the course of a year.
- Part 3 – anything else you think students need to know in order to help them decide to vote for you. This might include any smaller ideas you have.
If you’ve set up any social media pages for your election campaign, don’t forget to include the links to these too!
After the Candidate Briefing you will be able to add your manifesto to your election profile on the SU website.
What if I don’t have any ideas?
As a student you will be familiar with your own experience of your time at Leeds Beckett University – what changes would have made your experience even better?
You may also have course or house mates who have shared their experiences with you or can help you to develop ideas for how life at Leeds Beckett could be improved.
Do I get a budget?
Yes, you do! You will be informed of how much you can spend on your election campaign at the Candidate Briefing. This amount is the maximum you may spend and will be reimbursed by LBSU.
What happens if I win?
If you win a full-time officer election, you will spend time during the next academic year working on projects and campaigns that improve the lives of Leeds Beckett students. Full-time Officers work 35 hours per week from July to June. If you are elected to an NUS Conference Rep role, you will be invited to a briefing before you attend the conference so that you are prepared.