GETTING INVOLVED
Students are encouraged to take an interest in the UVSS, and can get involved with the UVSS Elections in numerous ways. All UVSS members are eligible to RUN for a position on the UVSS Board of Directors (see below for more information about all of the positions); WORK is available for students who want to assist in the organization and administration of voting as either a pollsitter or an Elections Officer; VOTE for candidates for the Board of Directors or for referendum questions using the Webvote system during voting.
Students interested in running for a position on the UVSS Board of Directors must complete and file a nomination form to the UVSS Elections Office (SUB B211) by the close of nominations (4:00pm PST on February 10, 2012).
NOMINATION FORMS can be downloaded by clicking here.
Download a document with all of the IMPORTANT DATES by clicking here.
STUDENT ELECTIONS
The University of Victoria Students’ Society (UVSS) is made up of the more than 17,000 undergraduate students at the University of Victoria including the twenty-one (21) members on the Board of Directors (BoD), who work on their behalf. Elections to the BoD take place in the Spring for the upcoming school year, and all student are encouraged to get involved and to vote. Sixteen (16) of the twenty-one (21) positions of the BoD are elected by all UVSS members; the Chairperson, the Director of Finance and Operations, the Director of Events, the Director of Student Services, the Director of External Relations, and the eleven (11) Director at Large positions. The other five seats are filled by Constituency Groups, elected by individuals who hold membership within those particular organizations.
Student elections are organized and supervised by the UVSS Elections Office. The Elections Office is an independent office of the UVSS whose mandate is to ensure that all elections matters are run democratically and in accordance with UVSS policy and bylaws.
POSITIONS
Of the 21 BoD members, five – the Chairperson, the Director of Finance and Operations, the Director of Events, theDirector of Student Affairs and the Director of External Relations – are Executive Directors (directors who have constitutionally allocated responsibilities, draw a stipend and work full time). There are also 11 Directors-at-Largeelected by the UVSS membership. In addition, the Women’s Center, the Pride Collective, the Society for Students with a Disability (SSD), the Students of Colour Collective (SOCC), and the Native Student Union (NSU) each elects one of their members to comprise the BoD’s Constituency Organization Representatives.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF DIRECTORS
All directors together shape policy, run campaigns, prepare the budget, resolve administrative decisions and generally deal with the business of the Society. The offices of the Executive Directors are found in the Resource Centre (SUB B103), which also houses research material about student and social issues gathered over the years.
CHAIRPERSON:
The chairperson is the Society’s spokesperson. He or she acts as liaison with the University administration, different levels of government, and coordinates with student representatives to the Senate and Board of Governors to advance student interests. The Chairperson regularly chairs BoD meetings, which must occur at least twice a month. The Chairperson also sits on the executive committee of the graduation class.
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS:
All society financial records, policies, contacts and statements are the responsibility of the Director of Finance, as is the Society’s annual budget. They oversee the administration of all UVSS operations, and are responsible for the development of financial policy and practice. The Director of Finance and Operations also acts as one of the liaisons between staff (both unionized and non-unionized) and the BoD, through the Personnel Committee.
DIRECTOR OF EVENTS:
The Director of Events is responsible for planning and coordinating all events for the UVSS. They assist the Director of External Relations with marketing and communication, and also act as the UVSS’s representative on all matters related to athletics, recreation, and on-campus housing.
THE DIRECTOR OF STUDENT AFFAIRS:
The Director of Student Affairs chairs the Course Union Council and acts as liaison with the Ombudsperson’s office. They are also the Chair of the Clubs Council, and are charged with facilitating the operations of new and existing clubs.
DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS:
The Director of External Relations is in charge of all aspects of UVSS communications and advocacy. They coordinate with all levels of government to advocate for student issues, and are responsible for keeping the BoD up-to-date on issues and policies that are relevant to members of the UVSS. The Director of External Relations also serves as the BoD representative on external organizations and committees, such as provincial and national student organizations.
DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE (11) and CONSTITUENCY REPRESENTATIVES (5):
The Directors-at-large and the Constituency Organization Representatives are responsible for both assisting the Executive Directors in carrying out their duties and for scrutinizing Executive Director activities. They assist in coordinating and implementing all levels of campaigns concerning education defense and must participate in at least two committees of the Students’ Society. The Constituency Organization Representatives are also responsible for meeting with their respective constituency organizations.
Specific duties of directors-at-large:
· Attend and contribute to Society Annual General Meetings;
· Attend and contribute to Board of Directors Meetings;
· Attend and contribute to at least two committees of the society including:
o Attending regular meeting times;
o Participate in decision-making;
o Carry out tasks delegated by the committee;
o Actively work to assist the executive directors in the performance of their duties;
o Scrutinize the activities of the Executive Directors;
o Sit on university committees when able and report back to the BoD on the actions of the committee;
o Police the constitution and by-laws of the UVSS;
o Police the policy of the UVSS;
o Constituency representatives also have the responsibility of liaising between the UVSS BoD and UVSSConstituency groups.