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How to Become a Full Time Officer

Every year we elect four students to be the voice of GCU students. It's a lot of work (full time!) but also a great opportunity to stretch your skills while making a difference to the people and place you care about - GCU. 

Plus, it's a great first career job as well! In fact, it pays the UK graduate average (£24,500), has a dizzyingly amount of annual leave (46 days! - way more than the 28 standard days), lots of say over your areas of work and great training and networking opportunities. 

So jetpack over the early career slog or get the skillset for that NHS leadership-management position you'll be eyeing up mid-career. You can do it at the end of your degree or during (will need to take a year out - but the skills and friendships you come back with will set you up for a great finish). 

 

Nominations

Nominations Open: Monday 5th February 2024 at 10am. You will need to be logged into our website to nominate yourself.

 

Quick overview of the role

 
Pay

You’ll receive £24,500, salaried for 12 months with 46 days annual leave. The pay is on par with the UK average for recent graduates whilst the annual leave is way more than the standard 28 days.

Training

The role of Full Time Officer comes with extensive training opportunities. Over the summer, you'll take part in NUS's Lead and Change training where you will get to meet other Officers from all around the UK as well as in-house training and an away weekend with the rest of the Full Time Officer team to Aviemore. 

Mentoring

Throughout your year in office, you’ll be mentored by our team of staff who will support, challenge and motivate you to get the most from your experience.

Agency

In collaboration with the other Full Time Officer, you will create a bespoke remit area. So if you're passionate about societies, sports, or sustainability, for example, you can lead the work in these areas not just make the tea or put together the pitch deck for your boss. 

Values based organisation

Work in an organisation that shares your values and is dedicated to improving your fellow students' lives. 

Experience

Experience will include: leading campaigns and projects, managing budgets, communicating and team building skills.

Trusteeship

In your role as a trustee of the charity you’ll not only gain invaluable insight into how our organisation works, you’ll also make real decisions that shape our future. Find out more about our Trustee Board

Employability

Leading an organisation with a £700,000 budget, before you’ve left university, puts you in a great position. Past officers have found their experience in the role of great benefit when applying for graduate careers.


 

Election Leaflet


Full Time Officer Recruitment Pack
This recruitment pack provides more information on what you will gain from being a Full Time Officer and benefits of the role

 

What does a Full Time Officer do?

 

The Full Time Officer role at GCU is unique in Scotland in that each Vice President leads a school instead of one Vice President Education looking after the whole university. This means that you will be engaging with students and representing their interests to the leadership of the School. Beyond working with students and staff to enrich the academic experience, the Full Time Officers also represent students and develop initiatives in their remit areas which are collaboratively decided upon by the Officer team. From championing representation networks for marginalised students to working on sports development on advocating for better mental health and wellbeing support - you will be able to work across a wide range of areas. 

Be inspired by some of the campaign wins of previous Full Time Officers. What could you achieve while in office?

Jodie takes us through a Day in the Life of a Full Time Officer. 
 

 

Adil, Tabitha, Susan and Yetunde (former FTOs), talk about their experiences being a Full Time Officer at GCU Students' Association.

 


Can I be a Full Time Officer?


Any registered GCU student studying a programme from the Glasgow or London Campus and has completed at least one trimester at GCU is eligible to stand to be a Full Time Officer. 

You don’t need to be in your final year, in the past many officers have taken a year out to lead the Students’ Association before returning to finish their degree. In fact, this might be the better option for those studying on professionally registered courses.

A student from the London Campus has previously been elected. However, any elected Full Time Officer will be required to work from the Glasgow Campus.

We have had several international students elected to be a Full Time Officer in the past. To be eligible, you need to be currently on a registered GCU programme of study (note: not including the "grace period"  on your visa after your course has finished to enable resits etc. We use the registration data from GCU to determine eligibility). The University would be required to sponsor any international student with a visa. International students may be required to pay for their visa costs, this includes if an international student takes a break from their studies to be a Full Time Officers and wishes to return to their studies. More information about immigration requirements is provided by UKCISA here and potential candidates who are subject to visa requirements are encouraged to speak to the GCU VISA Team. We encourage any international student to email elections@GCUstudents.co.uk with any questions.

If successfully elected as a Full Time Officer you will become an employee and trustee of the organisation. This means that you’ll need to meet a small number of legal requirements outlined in the Charity Trustee Declaration Form


How do I become a Full Time Officer?

Like any job, there is a selection method for choosing the right person for the role. As this is a leadership position representing GCU students, it's up to GCU students to decide who is best to represent them. Whilst standing in an election can be daunting (like any job interview!), it can also be a rewarding process in itself. Whether you win or not, you’ll gain great experience through running your election campaign which is an excellent CV booster—demonstrating motivation, determination and hopefully creativity too!


1. Deciding to stand

Take a look at the Role Description and speak to the current Full Time Officers about their experiences.

Our Full Time Officers Officers get to decide on which areas they'd like to work on at the start of their term of office so also consider which aspects of the Students' Association interests you the most. 

Find out about campaigning in the Full Time Officer Elections.
 

2. Nominating yourself

Nominations open on Monday 5th February 2024 at 10am for the Full Time Officer Elections 2024.

You will need to be logged into our website to nominate yourself. You are required to submit a headshot photo of yourself and your manifesto text when you submit your nomination. A manifesto is what you hope to achieve whilst in the role and why people should vote for you. 

If you have any questions or problems submitting your nomination then email elections@GCUstudents.co.uk well before the close of nominations on Friday 23rd February 2024 at 12noon, to give us a chance to resolve any issues.

3. Getting elected

To be successful you’ll need to convince your fellow students that you’re the best person for the role. That might sound daunting, but there’s plenty of support on offer to you.

Previous Full Time Officers have overcome all sorts of challenges whilst campaigning—don't let the election myths stop you from standing!

We’ll be putting campaign advice online to help you start planning, and all candidates will need to attend a Candidates’ Briefing as well as optional manifesto writing and campaign training. 

You will also get up to £30 from us to fund your campaign.

 

Key Dates

Nominations Open: Monday 5th February 2024 at 10am.

Manifesto Training (optional): Wednesday 14th February 2024 at 1pm

Nominations Close: Friday 23rd February 2024 at 12noon.

Candidates Briefing: Friday 23rd February 2024 at 1pm to 3pm - online Click here to join the meeting

Candidate Training (optional): Thursday 29th February at 1pm -  3pm

Voting Opens: Monday 4th March 2024 at 10am.

Voting Closes: Thursday 7th March 2024 at 5pm.

Results Announced: Friday 8th March 2024 at 6.30pm in Re:Union Bar.

Start Date for elected Full-Time Officers: Monday 3rd June 2024 

 

Documents


Election Rules

Full Time Officer Role Description

Charity Trustee Declaration Form

FTO Nominations Open Slide

All students at Glasgow Caledonian University are automatically members of GCU Students' Association.
This membership is free for current GCU students.

 

     


GCU Students' Association, 70 Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 0BA.

Tel: 0141 331 3886 | Email: hello@GCUstudents.co.uk | Messenger: m.me/GCUstudents