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► Non-Portfolio Officers

Non-Portfolio Officers

The Non-Portfolio or ‘Issue’ Officer roles exist at each of the main campuses, with vacancies for up to three at both Carlisle and Lancaster and up to two at Penrith. These positions allow each campus a level of independence in defining their elected officer roles in relation to the specific needs of the local student community. Basically a non-portfolio role can be anything (within reason and cannot replicate an elected position already existing for that campus), allowing candidates to stand to reflect a particular issue felt strongly by the students of that site.

Non-Portfolio roles may be along the lines of old officer titles, (e.g. Welfare or Sports), or could be entirely new in nature (Communications or Off Campus Students) or even highly specific relating to narrow campaign goal (Night Bus Campaign or Better Lighting On Campus). There are some restrictions on what can be chosen, which are centred on not being able to replicate the responsibilities of existing officials/staff or bringing the Union into disrepute, but other than that it is entirely open to the candidates to define what their local student community needs and reflect that in their ‘Issue’ title.

There are a set number of vacancies for each campus and the candidates with the highest vote totals fill the positions in order. There is a minimum vote required of 25 to show that the ‘issue’ is indeed one that is felt by the local electorate, so any successful candidate must receive at least 25 votes to win a position even if they are unopposed. Once elected the Issue Officer holds office for one year, and may re-stand again subject to the same restrictions as above.

The full role description for Non-Portfolio Officers as they are currently defined in the proposed policy documents is as follows:

8.1 Non-Portfolio ‘Issue’ Officers

8.1.1 There shall be a set number of vacancies for Non-Portfolio Officers at each main campus of the University, as defined in Clause 3.4 of the Election Policy.

8.1.2 There shall be a minimum quota of votes for all Non-Portfolio Officers as defined by Clause 3.13 of the Elections Policy. This minimum quota is to ensure that the single topic that the candidate is campaigning on is a genuine local issue.

8.1.2 Non-Portfolio officers shall campaign and be elected on a single ‘issue’ that is:

8.1.2.1 Representative or campaigning in nature and;

8.1.2.2 Within the scope of the Students’ Union Objects as defined in Clause 3 of the UCSU Constitution (post 2010 version) and;

8.1.2.3 Within the range of the Students’ Union Powers as defined in Clause 4 of the UCSU Constitution (post July 2010 version).

8.1.2.4 The ‘issue’ may be local or global in nature, however each Non-Portfolio officer is elected by and from their local campus to be a local representative.

8.1.3 Non-Portfolio Officers may not exercise responsibilities and powers reserved for the following individuals or groups except where so granted by the relevant democratic mechanism (i.e. by an extraordinary act of Trustee Board, change to Policy or Trustee approved Union Council/Referendum outcome):

i. Trustees (including Officer Trustees/Sabbatical Officers)

ii. Executive Committee or other sub-committee of Trustee Board

iii. Union Council, any Assembly or local Group

iv. Any elected Students’ Union official as detailed in all of Clause 3.4 of the Elections Policy

v. Any peer-selected Group Chair as detailed in Clause [xx] of the Groups Policy

vi. Staff member of the Union

8.1.4 Non-Portfolio Officers shall have reasonable access to the resources, support and assistance of the Students’ Union in pursuing their ‘issue’, as long as:

i. The ‘issue’ is within the Objects and Powers of the Students’ Union and;

ii. Any necessary requests for resources or staff time is made through the accepted channels, with reasonable lead-time and can be audited in terms of democratic accountability and financial prudence and;

iii. The impartiality and professionalism of Students’ Union staff is respected.

8.1.5 Non-Portfolio Officers may not be elected solely to campaign against the Constitution (either elements thereof or the totality of the Constitution) and they may be elected solely to campaign on repealing constitutionally protected policies, as per Clause 2.6.

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