part-time officers

Part-Time Officers

Part-Time Officers hold unpaid elected positions, which take a far smaller time commitment than Full-Time Officer positions and are usually carried out alongside the officer's regular study schedules. Each position has a specific portfolio (area of responsibility), and it is the responsibility of each officer to promote that portfolio in the activities of the Students' Union. 

The role’s time commitment varies according to how much students wish to commit, as an estimate, it could be anywhere from one to five hours a week. Beyond your own work on your portfolio,  you are required to attend regular meetings with the whole officer team. Two Part-Time Officers also have the opportunity to be trustees of the union, elected through an election within the meeting of all officers during their first term in office.

Part-Time Officers shall begin their term in office on July 1st and end it on June 30th the following year. A handover period will be organised with the previous office holder in the period between their election and their taking of office.

Who can be a Part-time Officer?

Any student who will still be a student during the following academic year can put themself forward as a candidate. You must identify as a member of a group to represent them, e.g. only students who define themselves as women can nominate themselves for the Women Students Officer role.

All students can vote for the Part-Time Officers.

What support do the Part-time Officers get?

Part-time Officers have an induction programme to help them learn about the Union and their role. There are opportunities for additional training throughout the year.

Part-time Officers work with Students' Union staff and officers on relevant projects.

All the roles have great opportunities to learn and develop skills, work with enthusiastic peers and change life at the University for the better.

We reimburse travel expenses incurred by our volunteers including elected officers (subject to our policies).

Funding for projects is available through a request to the full officer team who either accept or reject to request. 

KEY TRAINING DATES FOR PART-TIME OFFICERS (These are mandatory so take into consideration)

• Mandatory Training: 25-26th April
• Residential: 8th-10th July
• SOC Refresher: 12th Sept

See below for a breakdown of the individual roles.

Environment Officer shall:

Liaise with the University over internal environmental matters;

Provide a link between relevant societies and the Student Officer Committee;

Improve awareness of environmental issues and be responsible for relevant campaigns;

Work on improving internal recycling facilities.

Ethical Issues Officer shall:

Liaise with the University over internal ethical matters;

Provide a link between relevant societies and the Student Officer Committee;

Improve awareness of ethical issues and be responsible for relevant Campaigns;

Work on maintaining and enhancing the ethical status of the Union and the University.

Non-Portfolio Officers shall:

Fulfil all the duties as outlined in their manifesto, subject to Union policy and the strategic plan; and

Not undertake any duty that infringes upon or overlaps with the job descriptions of other officers of the Student Officer Committee.

At least two of the Non-Portfolio Officers must self-define as women or non-binary.

Women’s Officer shall:

Self-define as a woman+ (self-identifying woman, partially identifying or non-binary person);

Represent the interests of women students and be their voice on the issues they face as women students at university;

Engage with the University and other relevant organisations to achieve improvements for women students on the issues they face as women at university; 

Liaise with the members of the relevant clubs, societies or peer support groups; and

Be the Union’s delegate to the NUS Women’s Conference.

LGBT+ Officer (Open Place) shall:

Self define as  lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, transgender, non-binary, intersex and/or another group within the LGBTQIA+ community;

Represent the interests of LGBT+ students and be their voice on the issues they face as LGBT+ students at university;

Engage with the University and other relevant organisations to achieve improvements for LGBT+ students on the issues they face as LGBT+ students at university;

Liaise with the members of the relevant clubs, societies or peer, support groups.

LGBT+ Officer (Transgender and Non-Binary Place) shall:

Self define as transgender, non-binary, intersex and/or another group within the trans community

Represent the interests of LGBT+ students and be their voice on the issues they face as LGBT+ students at university;

Engage with the University and other relevant organisations to achieve improvements for LGBT+ students on the issues they face as LGBT+ students at university;

Liaise with the members of the relevant clubs, societies or peer, support groups.

Students with Disabilities Officer (Physical Disabilities Place) shall:

Self define as a student with a disability;

Be one of two Officers that represent the interests of students with disabilities and be their voice on the issues they face as students with disabilities at university;

Engage with the University and other relevant organisations to achieve improvements for students with disabilities on the issues they face as students with disabilities at university;

Liaise with the members of the relevant clubs, societies or peer support groups; and

Be the Union’s delegate to the NUS Disabled Students Conference.

Students with Disabilities Officer (Invisible Disabilities Place) shall:

Self define as a student with a disability;

Be one of two officers, that represents the interests of students with disabilities and be their voice on the issues they face as students with disabilities at university;

Engage with the University and other relevant organisations to achieve improvements for students with disabilities on the issues they face as students with disabilities at university;

Liaise with the members of the relevant clubs, societies or peer support groups; and

Be an observer to the NUS Disabled Students Conference.

Black Students’ Officer shall: 

Self define as a Black student;

Represent the interests of black students and be their voice on the issues they face as black students at university; 

Engage with the University and other relevant organisations to achieve improvements for black students on the issues they face as black students at university; 

Liase with the members of relevant clubs, societies, or peer support groups; and 

Be the Union’s delegate to the NUS Black Students’ Conference if the Ethnic Minorities Officer cannot or chooses not to attend. Otherwise, the Black Students’ Officer will attend as an observer with speaking rights.

The People of Colour Officer (Open Place)

Represent the interests of students of colour (African, Asian, Caribbean, Latinx, and Indigenous) and be their voice on the issues they face as students of colour at university;

Engage with the University and other relevant organisations to achieve improvements for students of colour on the issues they face as students of colour at university;

Liaise with the members of the relevant clubs, societies, or peer support groups;

Be the Union’s delegate to the NUS Black Students’ Conference if the Black Students’ Officer cannot or chooses not to attend. Otherwise, the People of Colour Officer (Open Place) will attend as an observer with speaking rights.

Mature Students Officer shall:

Be a mature student (Over 21 when starting their course);

Represent the interests of mature students and be their voice on the issues they face as mature students at university; 

Engage with the University and other relevant organisations to achieve improvements for mature students on the issues they face as mature students at university;    

Liaise with the members of the relevant clubs, societies or peer support groups; and

Be the Union’s delegate to the NUS Mature Students Conference.

The International Officers (Non-EU and EU) shall:

Be an International student (EU or Non-EU);

Represent the interests of international students and be their voice on the issues they face as international students at university;

Engage with the University and other relevant organisations to achieve improvements for international students on the issues they face as international students at university;

Liaise with the members of the relevant clubs, societies or peer support groups;

The Union’s delegate to the NUS International Students Conference shall be elected by the international student body.

Election of Part-time Student Officers as Trustees

In addition, two of the Part-time Student Officers shall be elected from their number to be Trustees of the Union (where eligible in charity law) having legal responsibility for the Union.

4.24 Election of Part-time Student Officers by self-defined constituencies  

The LGBT+ Officer (Open Place), the LGBT+ Officer (Trans and  Non-Binary Place), Women’s Officer, Students With Disabilities  Officer, Ethnic Minorities Officer, International Students Officers (Non-EU and EU), Mature Students Officer and Postgraduate Officer shall be considered Equal Opportunities Officers and shall be elected by ordinary members who self-define as members of the constituency that the Equal Opportunity Officer represents.