SU Elections Position Descriptions

Students’ Union, University of Calgary

SU Elections – Position Descriptions

If you are thinking of running for an elected position with your Students’ Union you should be familiar with the demands and priorities of that position. The following is an overview of the responsibilities, time commitments  and duties of elected officials of the Students’ Union (SU).

Positions for which to run

Each March, undergraduate students elect the members of the Students’ Legislative Council (SLC).  Five positions on the SLC are the Executive (President, VP Student Life, VP Academic, VP Operations and Finance, VP External). Members of the Executive are voted by any undergraduate student.

The remainder of SLC consists of Faculty Representatives whom are voted onto SLC by registered undergraduates of their faculty. The number of Faculty Representatives sitting on SLC corresponds with the number of students in a given faculty.

All undergraduates also vote for a University of Calgary Board of Governors Representative and two Senate Representatives.

Election Term

Representatives elected through the SU General Election sit on the Student Legislative Council (SLC) for a term of one year (May 1st to April 30th of the following year).

Elected Officials Responsibilities

As student representatives, Student Legislative Council (SLC) members are responsible to represent students’ best interests. To ensure accountability, all SLC members are provided with a number of formal responsibilities of which they must fulfill. These include:

  • Express and support all Student Union (SU) policy and interests when representing the SU in an official capacity;
  • Attend and participate in SLC meetings, SLC committee meetings, and meetings of other bodies to which they are appointed by the SLC;
  • Hold in strict confidence, unless required by law to disclose, all confidential information acquired in camera or in the course of the member’s duties; and
  • Hold each Executive and fellow SLC members accountable according to SU policy.

Faculty Representatives

Along with the responsibilities outlined for all SLC members, Faculty Representatives are accountable for responsibilities particular to his or her role including:

  • Report to students of their faculty the policies, positions and programs of the SU;
  • Report to their faculty itself (e.g., Dean’s Council) the policies, positions and programs of the SU;
  • Represent student constituents of their faculty at SLC;
  • Represent student constituents of their faculty on university committees; and.
  • Report to the VP Academic on matters of academic importance within their faculty.

SU Executive

SU Executive (President and Vice Presidents of External, Academic, Student Life and Operations and Finance) members have a number of particular responsibilities as the leaders of the student government including:

  • Represent the SU by understanding and communicating all policies and positions of the Union;
  • Report at each SLC meeting significant information which may affect SU operations or its membership subject to confidentiality or reason of law;
  • Make human resource decisions as a member of the Cabinet;
  • Develop executive goals in accordance with the SU Strategic Plan and the approved annual budget;
  • Maintain regular office hours which shall normally include a minimum of thirty five (35) hours in a week; and
  • Participate in the orientation of their successors.

For further details on Executive positions visit the SLC Executive page.