Information and FAQs
If you are considering running for a Sabbatical position, certain rules and conditions apply. An information pack for candidates can be downloaded here.
The Returning Officer for Sabbatical Elections is Mel Lonsdale, NUS South West Regional Organiser. The Deputy Returning Officer (DRO) is Ian Robinson, BUSU Chief Executive. Any queries or complaints should be made to the DRO in the first intance by email at sureturningofficer@bath.ac.uk
Speak to the current sabbatical about their post. If you have any general queries, please contact the Chair of Elections Committee, Tom Major: tfm20@bath.ac.uk
Running for Sabb: FAQs
Who can be a Sabbatical Officer/Trustee (Sabb)?
Any registered student at the University of Bath
Can an international undergraduate of postgraduate student become a Sabbatical Officer?
Yes. All EU and overseas students, undergraduate and postgraduate students are allowed, and encouraged, to become Sabbatical Officers. International students account for approximately 30% of all students and nearly 30% of all students are postgraudates, so it's really important that their voice is heard! The Students' Union is the only body representing students, both undergraduate and postgraduate.
What are the benefits of becoming a Sabb?
- Improve your career prospects
- Be a voice for other students
- Influence decision makers
- Gain skills, training and experience
- Network within a national organisation
Who votes in the elections?
You can download a demographics report of the voters from last year here: Demographics Report 2009
What do future employers think about Sabbatical Officers?
Because of the enormous range of leadership skills gained as a Sabbatical Officer, previous Sabbatical Officers have gone on to work in a wide variety of professions from large multinational companies, including BP, KPMG, PWC and IBM to areas as divers as human resources, teaching, politics, the police and the army.
www.guardian.co.uk/money/2007/oct/20/workandcareers.graduates1
See what previous Bath Sabbatical officers have to say about what they gained from their year in office.
Has an international student ran for sabb before?
Yes. See below for George Charonis' experiences. George is an international student from Greece.
http://www.bathstudent.com/runforsabb/internationalsabb/
Will I get any training?
Yes. All Sabbatical Officers get a two week handover from their predecessor and also attend both internal SU and external training events throughout the summer to help them fully understand their roles and responsibilities. There will be opportunities for further training over the course of the Sabbatical year.
There is also a training session before the campaigning period begins when you will be given tips on how to campaign.
I am not from the EU; do I need a visa?
Yes; you will need a Tier 4 student visa
The International Office can help you to apply for this. For further information please see here:
www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/working_after_studies.php#student_union
If you have sponsorship, you must have written consent from your sponsor. Please book an appointment with an International Student Adviser for further advice.
If you have a student visa, the Home Office must be informed that you are now working full-time as a Sabbatical Officer.
How long would I be a Sabb for?
Sabbatical Officers are elected to their post for one year but can stand for re-election for a second year. They cannot hold post for more than two years.
How do I become a Sabbatical Officer?
The post of Sabbatical Officer is an elected post.
First you have to nominate yourself by the publicised deadline. You submit your nomination along with a manifesto, which explains in a set number of words why you think you could do the job and why other students should vote for you. You will also campaign amongst other students to try to persuade them to vote for you and you may be supported in this by a campaigns team.
When can I nominate myself?
You can take a sabbatical year mid-way through your studies or at the end of your studies. If you take a break from your studies you will need to obtain permission from your Director of Studies.
Nominations open on Monday 8th February 2010. Voting starts on Monday 8th March 2010 and finishes at 16.00 on Friday 19th March 2010. Further dates can be found here.
Here are some general guidelines to the Elections process. Please note, the full Rules and Notes which all candidates must read and abide by are in the Candidates Pack.
General Rules
Elections and the conduct of the candidates are overseen by the Returning Officer, Deputy Returning Officer and Elections Committee. Elections Committe is made up of ordinary students and its chair this year is Tom Major, a postgraduate member of Academic Executive.
Candidates' Meeings are compulsory and you may be disqualified if you do not attend without having first got permission for your absence from the Deputy Returning Officer.
Candidates are responsible for the actions of anyone acting on their behalf.
Candidates are responsible for ensuring that their supporters know what the Rules are and that they abide by them.
Candidates
All candidates must be ordinary members of the Students' Union and must be proposed and seconded by ordinary members on an official nomination form.
Any student can take a year out of their studies but you will need to obtain permission from your Director of Studies in order to do so.
Forms must be submitted by 12.00 noon on Tuesday 10th March 2010.
Manifestos
Manifestos are submitted online along with a photograph. they also need to be submitted with a Nomination form, no later than 12.00 noon on Tuesday 10th March in the ballot box in SU Reception.
Manifestos must be no longer than 500 words and may not contain graphics. If they are longer than 500 words they will be cut short at 500, whether or not they then make sense.
Campaigning
You are not allowed to campaign in any form before 8.00 a.m. on Friday 13th March 2010.
No individual club or society may endorse or support the campaign of any candidate or group of candidates in any way.
You must respect the privacy of other students and so may not campaign in private areas such as work places or individual bedrooms, though you can visit kitchen groups.
Publicity
The normal regulations covering posters are relaxed to some degree during the Sabbatical elections period. However, this is subjec to agreement from the University and this agreement might be withdrawn if there is abuse of this tolerance.
Sellotape and blu-tac damage the surgaces of the buildings and pillars and, therefore, are not allowed. Posters must be attached by means which do not cause damage, such as string.
Please endeavour to keep the Parade tidy during the Elections period.
Questions to Candidates (Hustings)
Questions to Candidates allow voters to see and hear the candidates. Some questions will be pre-set and some will be taken from the floor.
Questions are put to all candidates to ensure fairness.
Candidates must attend their Question to Candidates session unless prior leave is given by the Deputy Returning Officer
Finances
In the interests of fairness, there is a strict allowance set for all candidates, so that wealthier or more privileged candidates do not have an advantage because they have more money or other resources to throw at their campaigns.
Candidates should be very careful about what they define as 'blagged'. If Elections Committee and/or the Returning Officer feel that abuse has occurred a candidate may be disqualified. Always check first with Elections Committee and/or the Deputy Returning Officer.
Computers and the web
This is another area which has the potential to attract complaints from other candidates and possible disqualification. Candidates should be very careful and make sure hat they and their supporters do not infringe the Rules. Remember, candidates are responsible for the actions of their supporters. If in doubt, always check with Elections Committee and/or the Deputy Returning Officer.
Responsibilities
'Negative campaigning' i.e. actions likely to intentionally or unintentionally damage another candidate's campaign is not permitted.
All parties concerned must undertake to act in the interests of a fair election.
Members of Elections Committee will be available at all lunch times during the campaigning period, in 1 East 3.10, and the Deputy Returning Officer can be contacted either in the above office or by email: sureturningofficer@bath.ac.uk
Candidates Information Pack
Follow this link to the Candidates Election pack which will tell you everything you need to know about the elections process from how to nominate yourself, key dates and the Rules.