Who is eligible to run in an election?
You need to be a current DMU student, and you will need to be a current DMU student througout your time in post (2022/23 academic year). As well as being a current DMU student, you must be a registered member of the corresponding Student Group.
What is the minimum number of committee members needed to run a student group?
Each group must have a minimum of 4 core roles, these are; Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary and Health and Safety Officer. Additional roles can only be added through an election or by-election hosted online by DSU.
What does each committee member do and what are their responsibilities?
Each committee member has their own responsibilities. We have put together a general responsibilities list for each core role here, but it is always best to contact the existing committee to confirm how the committee works best for your group.
How many positions can I hold?
You can hold 1 committee position in a student group.
You can hold up to 2 core positions in total across 2 groups.
There is no limit on the non-core committee positions you can hold but not within the same student group. We do not recommend more than 3 as this can become overwhelming to balance workload and coursework.
What happens if we haven’t filled all positions on our committee?
If you have not filled all your committee positions, you will have an opportunity to run a by-election. We will only run a by-election for additional roles once all core roles are filled.
If someone has not received the results, how can they access them?
All members of Student Groups receive the results of their election via the same email. Please search your inbox (both personal and university account) for an email from dsuopportunities@dmu.ac.uk. If you still can't find the results, then you can email the team.
When do the new committee members start their role?
We encourage outgoing committee members to start introducing their successor to the role from May - June, as they new committee members offically start their roles on the 1st July.
What support will I receive once elected into a committee position?
Every Student Group will be introduced via email to their main point of contact in the Students' Union. This will be one of our Student Opportunities Coordinators.
Throughout the year you will be invited in for a Committee Catch Up with your Student Opportunities Coordinator. This a chance for you to talk through how your group is going, and for your Coordinator to see how they can support you to achieve your aims for the year.
You also have access to an online Committee Hub full of resources to help the running of your group.
You and your fellow committee members will also be expected to support each other in order to have a successful, active year.
You will receive training via a new online training module on Blackboard. On top of this, we offer a training day in May and one-off sessions throughout your time in the role.
How do I raise a concern about the election?
If you would like to raise any concerns about a Student Group's committee election, please email dsuopportunities@dmu.ac.uk.
As a newly elected committee member, do I have to purchase a membership?
All memberships are annual, they run from 1st July until 30th June. This means that you will need to re-register for your Student Group membership for the new academic year after elections. You will need to register for your membership by the end of September at the latest or you may be removed from your role.