► The Basics
VOTING OPENS WEDNESDAY 10am
What are these elections about?
The Sabbatical Elections allow you to take control of your student experience and choose the person that you think best represents your needs, views and concerns. You can directly influence the issues that affect you. Every student has the opportunity to vote - it’s your voice, use it.
What is the Students’ Union?
The Students’ Union is central to your student experience, representing and supporting the student body on a day to day basis. But what is a Students’ Union? Not only is it a busy building of entertainment and activities, but the Union exists all around you- it is the students’ voice and presence on campus. The Students’ Union is run by the student officers elected by students- it voices your opinions, facilitates your clubs and societies, gives you entertainment opportunities, development opportunities and provides support if things get tough.
What is a Sabbatical?
The Students’ Union has five sabbatical officers. A Sabbatical Officer is elected by the student body, whilst a student at the University to act as their voice and represent them on issues that affect education, welfare, societies, culture, sport and overall student experience. The five ‘sabbs’ are responsible for the daily running of the Union, and work alongside a dedicated team of permanent staff to make sure that your student experience is the best it can be. The sabbs are accountable to all students due to their position being held as a direct result of a democratic process. Their responsibilities are to push for the interests and benefits of students and to lead the student movement forward.
With the positions lasting one year the sabbatical elections take place every February, and the new sabbatical team take office in July. These are full time, paid positions, which can be taken up by those graduating this year or students seeking to take a gap in their studies to represent the student body. On some occasions a sabbatical year has been used as a placement year with the agreement of academic departments.
The year in office is a lot of fun and you will learn a lot, but it also requires hard work, enthusiasm and dedication. It will be tiring and challenging at times, but you the experience is one that you will never forget.
What are the benefits of being a Sabbatical?
There is no limit to the amount of experience that can be gained from being a Union officer, or the activities that you may be involved with during the year. A sabbatical officer leads, develops, creates ideas, and works as part of team to see these ideas through. Being a sabbatical is what you make of it, and you will find your year is packed with new situations, experiences, challenges, hard work and fun.
While you may not automatically get your graduate job handed to you on a plate, the experiences gained in the year will prepare you for future challenges, enabling you to rise up the ranks quicker than some of your colleagues who have not been sabbaticals. Jack Straw was a sabbatical (who also went on to be President of the NUS), which shows how being a sabb can benefit you in the future.
What else do I need to know?
If you would like to stand for a sabbatical position you need to be a registered Student at the University (now) and be available from the beginning of July to start your post. If you have any questions about the roles and what is involved please contact the Union. Details of each position can be found in the booklet (click here) and instructions for nominees will be online or avaliable from the Union soon. You may also find it useful to look at the USSU website – www.ussu.co.uk/yourunion
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