The officer year
Every officer will have a different experience, and it is impossible to know what will come up in the time ahead. You may be called to respond to news stories, unexpected strikes or a change in local government. That said, we can divide the year into four sections that are relatively similar from one officer term to the next to help you prepare for the flow.
Summer to Autumn
The summer months are where officer teams learn about their roles, plan the year ahead and learn to work together.
Officers should: Take time to plan and train, get to know each other and rest ready for the first term.
Autumn to Winter
The first section of the academic year is the busiest and where most campaigning work takes place. After the excitement of welcome week, officers often find themselves in the middle of their manifesto projects and activist work. Volunteers need training and first years need inducting.
Officers should: Support each other in this busy period, ensure they take some time off and work as a team throughout.
Winter to Spring
The election season brings challenges for officers. It can move students’ focus anyway from campaigns and projects and can be difficult for officer teams who lose focus leading to a build-up in tension.
Officers should: Make sure they are talking through issues with each other; that elections are enjoyable and exciting for all and that campaigns from autumn are followed up.
Spring to Summer
This term is full of summer events and parties as well as exams. It’s a good time to be lobbying the institution, preparing new officers and recruiting new officers for the year ahead. On a personal note, officers should prepare themselves for what’s next for them.
Officers should: Tie up loose ends from campaigning, support elects with a solid and well-prepared handover and create plans for themselves after they finish their term of office.