Candidate Resources

Welcome Candidates!

Congratulations on taking this exciting step in your student journey! Standing in the Full Time Officer elections shows real courage and commitment to making positive change on campus. Whether you're feeling nervous, excited, or a bit of both - that's completely normal. Remember, every successful candidate started exactly where you are now.

Over the next few weeks, you'll learn new skills, meet amazing people, and have the chance to share your vision for improving student life at GCU. This page will help you navigate your campaign journey, but always remember - your passion for helping fellow students is your greatest strength. You've got this!

Election Rules and attending the Candidates' Briefing

The Election Rules set out the parameters of the election and what you can and cannot do. They are really important to know!

The Candidates' Briefing will be an opportunity to hear straight from the Deputy Returning Officer (the person who organises the election and enforces the rules) what the rules are and what they mean in practice.

Candidates must attend! If a candidate (or their designated nominee) does not attend, they will be withdrawn from the election.

This year, the briefing will be delivered online via MSTeams.

The Candidates' Briefing will take place on Friday 21st February 2025 from 1pm to 3pm online Join the meeting now

Below is a short video produced several years ago. Most of what it covers is still accurate but there is a few changes (like there is now no campainging allowed in Caledonian Court). The most up to date info will be at the MANDATORY candidates briefing session.

Developing and writing your Manifesto

When you submit a nomination, you will be asked to provide a manifesto no more than 300 words long. This is what students will see on the voting platform (along with your picture). Your manifesto is your chance to share your ideas and vision with voters - think of it as your written pitch to fellow students explaining who you are, what you want to change, and why they should elect you as their representative.

Sounds daunting? Don't worry, fam, we got you! We will be hosting a Manifesto Training led by a former GCU Full Time Officer candidate and the Deputy Returning Officer on Wednesday 12th February at 2pm.

The training will be delivered hybrid. If you would like to attend the training in person, it will be in NH208 (second floor of the Students' Association Building). For those who cannot make it to the in-person session, it can be accessed via MSTeams Join the meeting now

To ensure fairness, we can only give insights on strategy and tactics during training events as they are open to all candidates. Attending training is highly recommended but optional.

Manifesto writing resources

Want to see examples of manifestos?

Visit www.GCUstudents.co.uk/resources and type 'manifestos' into the search box.

Equally, search 'Student Union manifestos' into a search engine.

Manifesto Planning & Preparation Activity Sheets

S.M.A.R.T Objective Worksheet

S.W.O.T Analysis Worksheet

National Union Of Students' Eight Manifesto Writing Tips

A Simple Manifesto Template

Developing your campaign skills

We've compiled a resource for Candidates about how to campaign. We'll also be hosting a Q&A session focused on campaigning called Spill the Elections Tea on Wednesday 26th Feb at 2pm. Bring your questions and expect frank and insightful answers!

Additional Trainings

Our Student Leaders Programme runs several workshops that potential candidates can pick and choose from to develop a bespoke training plan, and many past candidates have found these trainings valuable. The programme can help you prepare for running in the Election by allowing you to:

Deepen your understanding of how you can take up a leadership role in any context
Enhance your self-awareness and skills to support your development as an adaptable lifelong learner and leader
Improve your employability prospects by developing your ability to lead yourself, others and future change

Workshops running during the period between the close of nominations and the start of campaigning are:

Connecting with Empathy (in-person and self-guided module on GCU Learn)	It has never been more important to be able to connect and collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds, especially when speaking to the student body which is made up of so many unique groups and individuals
Strategic Thinking (in-person and self-guided module on GCU Learn)	It will equip you with practical planning and analysis tools and identify ways to measure success, crucial skills when creating campaign plans.
Systems Thinking (in-person)	Build a deeper understanding of how things influence one another as part of a whole. Learn practical tools and approaches to explore the linkages, relationships, interactions and behaviours among the elements that characterise a system – essential when working within a university with so many moving parts.
Managing Self (self-guided module on GCU Learn)	Knowing our strengths and values, and managing ourselves well is a critical element of doing well when working with different stakeholders such as students, committees, and senior members of staff.

There are many more workshops to choose from that run throughout February – you can sign up to the Student Leaders Programme HERE. Once you have done so, you can browse all Student Leaders Programme workshops HERE. These are open to all GCU students.

2025 Training Resources (will be uploaded after the session)

Manifesto Training 2025 Slides

Digital campaigning tips

This resource was put together during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although we are back to in-person campaigning, you may still find some of the information useful.

Understand how voting works at GCU

We use the single-vote transferable method for voting as this is the voting method used in Scottish Parlimentary elections. Ranking is important and many past Full Time Officers have won due to 2nd, 3rd and 4th preferences.

Returning Officers

A Returning Officer is the independent person responsible for overseeing the entire election process, ensuring it's run fairly and according to the rules, and making final decisions on any election-related matters or disputes. The Deputy Returning Officer assists and acts on behalf of the Returning Officer in managing the election, handling day-to-day decisions and ensuring all electoral rules are followed.

Returning Officer: Peter Robertson, Chief Executive of National Union of Students (NUS)
Deputy Returning Officer: Sara MacLean, Student Voice Team Leader - GCU Students' Association. elections@GCUstudents.co.uk

Make an Election Complaint

All elections complaints should be completed on the form below and emailed to the Deputy Returning Officer at elections@GCUstudents.co.uk. Complaints must be submitted no later than an hour after voting closes. It is always better to try and speak to the Deputy Returning Officer before submitting a formal complaint. If you want to know more about the complaints process, please see this flow diagram.

Download the Complaints Form

Claim expenses

All candidates in the elections must return a completed Expenses Form to the Deputy Returning Officer no later than an hour after the voting closes. This form must be returned alongside all receipts. Spending limits and rules around expense are detailed in the Election Rules. Candidates who do not return an Expenses Form by the deadline will not be able to claim back any money.

Download the Expenses Form

Being a Charity Trustee

If you are successfully elected as a Full Time Officer you will become a Trustee, as the Students' Association is a registered charity.

All successful candidates have been emailed a copy of the Charitable Trustee Declaration Form. This form must be printed, signed and returned to David Carse, Chief Executive.

Download the Being a Charity Trustee Presentation.

Keep up-to-date with Election Stats

Real-time overview of election statistics.

Key Dates

Nominations Open: Monday 3rd February 2025 at 10am.

Manifesto Training (optional): Wednesday 12th February 2025 at 2pm. Hybrid - Room NH208; Online - Join the meeting now

Nominations Close: Friday 21st February 2025 at 12noon.

Candidates Briefing (mandatory): Friday 21st February 2025 at 1pm to 3pm - online - Join the meeting now

Candidate Training (optional): Wednesday 26th February at 2pm - 4pm

Voting Opens: Monday 3rd March 2025 at 10am.

Voting Closes: Thursday 6th March 2025 at 5pm.

Results Announced: Friday 7th March 2025 at 6.30pm in Re:Union Bar.

Start Date for elected Full-Time Officers: Monday 2nd June 2025.

Representation