The Students’ Union is run by students for students – that means we’re completely dedicated to representing students at Staffs and helping provide what they want from their student experience. That covers everything from advice and support, great venues and events to representation, sports clubs, activities and even a dedicated student media service.
We’re constantly striving to ensure the best possible experience for all students at Staffs and free membership of the Students’ Union is automatic on enrolling at Staffordshire University. That means our students get to have their say in what we do and how we do it.
Staffordshire University Students’ Union is a democratic organisation, working entirely for the benefit of students.
The Students' Union sponsors and supports a diverse range of student-run groups. These include both competitive and recreational sports groups, special interest groups, academic societies and some that we are unable to categorise! You can find out contact details and any info the groups have posted by following the links below.
The Student Advice Centre (SAC) offers confidential and impartial advice on a variety of issues, such as: student finance, academic affairs, student housing, debt management etc. In addition, there are a number of online self help materials which you can access from the Advice Guide.Find out more...
Academic Reps can raise issues when something is wrong or tell the University what works for you and your student experience. If you need advice regarding your course then contact your Academic Rep.Find out more...
Money Doctors is part of the Students’ Union Student Advice Centre. It is free, independent, impartial and confidential. Click on the logo to see how we can help you keep your finances healthy and make your money achieve what you want it to.Find out more...
You can feel safe in the knowledge that the University has a Cop Shop with a friendly campus police officer who is around to answer any questions. You can speak to him about anything from the security of your property, your personal safety or to report a crime.Find out more...
LRV is the Stoke Campus nightclub and holds our regular clubnights such as the ever popular Gobble on a Wednesday night and Super Friday. LRV is the Union’s largest venue with 1300 capacity.Find out more...
Legends and The Lounge are the Union's Beaconside campus venues. The Lounge is a recently refurbished, stylish bar serving great food and coffee as well as the traditional bar refreshments seven days a week. Legends is the Stafford Campus's nightclub and holds our weekly clubnight Mukky Duck as well as regular live music performances. Find out more...
The Ember Lounge is Staffordshire University Students' Union second Stoke Venue. Winner of Best Late Night Venue Midlands and Wales and a Best Bar None award, the Ember Lounge offers something for everybody. Whether it's an early morning espresso to get you ready for the day, a great value lunch or a night of cocktails and entertainment, we aim to deliver. Find out more...
The Squeeze Box has a delicious menu for both breakfast and lunch. For those wanting something healthy, yet tasty, Squeeze Box caters for all with options big and small. There is also a wide variety of hot drinks, with Fairtrade products being used where possible. Find out more...
Verve is Stoke’s newest venue offering students a funky place to relax and enjoy a tasty burger and the creamiest milkshakes. Open all day, students can pop in for food and drink, listen to some music, catch up on the latest magazines and just take a break from the world outside. Find out more...
The Students’ Union is a student-led organisation, and in that spirit endeavours to hire students and harness their skills where possible.
The latest video updates from the officer team about their work on behalf of the students at staffordshire University
The Shopping Cart will tell you what products you have purchased.
Whenever the Deputy Returning Officer (DRO) or Returning Officer (RO) makes a ruling on something concerning the elections, which is not already mentioned in the rules we will let you know by emailing you and updating this page.
So far... 1. NOMINATE YOURSELF ONLINE: Tuesday 7th February 10am – Tuesday 21st February 10am 2. E-VOTING OPEN: Friday 2nd March 10am - Friday 9th March 10am 3. HAND IN RECEIPTS/BUDGET: Friday 9th March 12pm 4. CANDIDATES MEETING: Friday 9th March 2pm (Location TBA) 5. RESULTS: Friday 9th March (Location/time TBA)
This year your Returning Officer is Nick Bell, who is Chief Executive of Staffordshire County Council and also a member of Staffordshire University Board of Governors. The Returning Officer is external and independent and is an impartial person nominated from outside of the Students’ Union to oversee the election process and deal with any appeals. The Returning Officer ensures that elections are carried out in a fair and democratic manner and conform with the Constitution of the Union and all relevant legal requirements. Your Students' Union also has a Deputy Returning Officer appointed by the NUS (National Union of Students).
Candidate Question Time is an opportunity for students to ask you questions and for you to promote yourself as a candidate and convince students to vote for you.
The Students’ Union is keen to encourage and support candidates with their campaigning for student representative positions. You will be allowed a budget of £40 to run in the Election and you must not exceed this amount, either as actual funds or support in kind or sponsorship. Candidates must account for anything given, received or bought.
The aim of this is to encourage creativity and to create a level playing field of campaign resources (i.e. one candidate isn’t spending hundreds of pounds on their campaign or having a friend printing their publicity for free). The £40 funding provided by the Union is for the sole purpose of sponsoring your campaign, and can only be spent as such. This can be collected once your nomination is confirmed, or if a candidate can afford to, they may spend this amount, and claim it back from the Students' Union after the results are announced.
On top of this, candidates can also claim back reasonable travel costs for two journeys to the Stoke or Stafford campus; whichever one you are not normally based at. Please have a look at this video Liverpool Campaign Video, for ideas on what you could do during your campaign!
Candidates must submit Campaign Funding Receipts by 12pm Friday 9th March and attend a Candidates Meeting at 2pm before the count can take place. Candidates must also take down all of their campaign material before this meeting. You can request a Campaign Funding Receipt by emailing elections@staffs.ac.uk. This form should be filled in, signed and have all the mentioned receipts attached to it, with any change from the £35 handed in. A realistic estimate should be made on any in-kind support (i.e. 100 A3 B&W posters printed = £6).
All students are advised that Staffordshire University Policies and Regulations apply at all times, and can be found at www.staffs.ac.uk/about_us/publications/policies_and_regulations/, paying particular attention to the Student Behaviour and Health & Safety policies. The Staffordshire University Students’ Union Constitution & Bye-Laws also apply to all candidates and can be found here http://www.staffsunion.com/constitution/, paying particular attention to Bye-Law Seven: Elections, Referenda and Petitions.
The four key principles of the elections are Fair, Safe, Legal and Positive, as interpreted by the Returning Officer.
If you work within these core principles you will be on the right track to running a successful campaign!
In order to be a candidate in these elections you must put yourself forward at www.staffsunion.com/elections between 7th – 21st February 2012.
You must get the agreement of 12 current Staffordshire University students to support your nomination and provide their details when nominating yourself. It also advised that you upload a photograph and statement for students to read.
The voting period runs from 10am 2nd March – 10am 9th March 2012.
Campaign posters are allowed on campus between 2nd - 9th March 2012, as agreed with the University.
Campaigning is not permitted around any assisted polling station.
Candidates must not provide a voting platform for voters (e.g. a smart phone, laptop, iPad etc), as such action could be deemed as intimidation of voters.
Candidates are responsible for maintaining Facebook and/or any social networking groups they have set up.
The campaign budget for candidates is £40. This can be collected once your nomination is confirmed, or if a candidate can afford to, they may spend this amount, and claim it back from the Students’ Union after the results are announced. On top of this amount candidates can also claim back reasonable travel costs for two journeys to the Stoke or Stafford campus; whichever one you are not normally based at.
A campaigning budget is set so that there is a level playing field for all candidates; candidates cannot go over this budget under any circumstances. Candidates must account for anything given, received or bought.
If candidates stand as part of a team (i.e. a slate) in an election, they must accept that if one member of the slate breaks the rules, the whole of the slate may be sanctioned.
A group of candidates may pool their campaign budget up the maximum of four lots of campaign budget, i.e. 4 x £40= £160. This does not limit the amount of people allowed as a group, but you will have to inform the Students’ Union you are running as a slate before picking up your campaign budget in order to adhere to the above rule.
No candidate may receive financial or other material assistance from any external body e.g. political organisations.
Candidates must hand in any campaign budget left over and receipts’ for all campaign purchases to the Students’ Union by 12pm on Friday 9th March 2012.
Candidates are encouraged to have a group of friends to help them campaign, but must accept that they are responsible for the behaviour and actions of this group. All people campaigning on behalf of a candidate must be students of Staffordshire University.
Student staff must not campaign or promote any candidate whilst they are at work or in work clothing.
During the elections period there will be opportunities for candidates to promote themselves such as Candidate Question Time. It is recommended you take advantage of these opportunities to promote yourself to students.
Breaking any of the above rules can result in, but is not limited to; a warning; a fine from and up to the full amount of the campaign budget and disqualification from the election.
These rules are put in place so that each and every candidate in Students’ Union elections has an equal opportunity to take part. Your Students’ Union does not endorse any candidates running in any election.
IF IN DOUBT – ASK!
If there is something you are planning to do and you are not sure if it is within the rules, please just ask! This is much simpler than breaking the rules and risking being excluded from the election! The Students’ Union will not tell anyone about your plans and will advise you how to go ahead without breaking the rules. Ignorance is not an excuse!
For all contact regarding the elections please email elections@staffs.ac.uk.
A copy of the Election Rules and Regulations 2012 are available here.
The results will be announced on Friday 9th March. If you are successfully elected the Students' Union will be in touch to let you know what to do next. If you are elected as a full time officer, your term will start with a handover period with the current full time officer team during July 2012.
Examples of online manifestos from Warwick Union
- uploaded leaflet
- picture based page
- videos and links
How to Upload a Manifesto (1min 2 secs in)
NUS Presenation - How to Get Elected! This presentation has been put together by NUS and has lots of great advice for running in a Students' Union election!