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► Education Officer
Josh Jones - current Education Officer
Education Officer is one of the most varied and exciting jobs I can think of. You’ll be an advocate, a campaigner, a representative, and an executive, all within the space of a year. You’ll have to juggle your work supporting individual students with your work on local and national campaigns. You’ll be the best-informed person in the union on education policy, and will attend a number of panels and meetings matched only by the President. What makes the role interesting and engaging is that it involves a combination of these things. If you’re wondering what each part of the job entails, let me describe the four areas briefly.
Being an advocate is, at the end of the day, the reason why you are an Education Officer. You act kinda like a lawyer, helping students in trouble with their grades, progression, essays or exams. You help them by giving them the advice they need to get through the often-complex University processes. Moreover, you’ll actually go with students into panels and hearings, help defend their case, and ensure they get a fair hearing. Unlike being a lawyer – no offence to Law students! – you don’t have to lie or cover-up a student’s actions. Your role is to ensure students get the fairest chance possible in the system, and that can involve helping them to present a defence case to a panel, or getting in touch with Uni staff on their behalf to try and resolve issues outside the formal process. It’s far and away the most rewarding part of the job, being there for students in need and helping them step-by-step.
As a campaigner, you’ll be part of a team that has to ensure the Union runs and supports campaigns that address the concerns of the student body. No-one will force you to take part in a campaign, or to join one – it’s up to you to take the initiative. Helping to run a campaign may involve organising events, dealing with the press, negotiating with relevant parties, but most of all talking to lots and lots of fellow students.
As a representative, you’ll be sitting on over a dozen university meetings and panels each term. you’ll have to read up the papers in advance and do research where necessary. This part of the role will really boost your confidence speaking in meetings, as you have to talk in order to represent your students. Sometimes you’ll find you’re the only voice in the room defending a certain opinion – this is daunting at first but it’s a part of the job. You’ll also create some great working relationships with university staff and have the opportunity to feed into new projects.
As an executive you’ll have the responsibilities of the other five Full-Time Officers in ensuring the Union is running smoothly. This includes everything from helping to run elections and big democratic events, to informing decisions about the financial strategy of the union, to helping run events in Freshers’ Week. It sounds a bit daunting but you’ll be amazed by what you can achieve if you are organised and committed.
The most important and time-consuming part of this job, without a shadow of a doubt, is being an advocate. I know you’ll probably ignore this, or tell yourself that it’s an exaggeration – I did when my predecessor told it to me. But I’ll say it now anyway, at least so that I can say ‘I told you so!’ when we chat over the summer. :)
MOTIVATED STUDENTS WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
We are looking for a team of Full-Time (Sabbatical) Officers to run the Union for 1 year alongside our dedicated staff. There are 6 positions including President, Finance Officer, Communications Officer, Activities Officer, Welfare Officer and Education Officer.
All students are able to run for election in February 2010, either at the end of, or intermitting in the middle of, a course. Those elected will start their induction and training on 28th June 2010.
In return you can receive a basic wage and invaluable experience
To find out more, contact communications@sussex.ac.uk
JOB DESCRIPTION
-PRESIDENT
Be an ambassador for the Students’ Union (USSU) by:
o Understanding and promoting student issues and concerns, and lobbying on students’ behalf
o Promoting positive student involvement in the Union, and informing them of the Union’s work
o Having an understanding of, and empathy with the Students’ Union
o Having a genuine commitment to equal opportunities and our values
Be an effective and supportive Full-Time Officer by:
o Working closely with Officers and Staff to make informed, democratic decisions for the Union
o Working effectively within the Union’s democratic systems, to uphold its beliefs and values
o Act as a Trustee of the Union and exercise those duties properly and effectively
o Attend all relevant meetings, events, conferences and training, unless apologies are given
PERSON SPECIFICATION
In order to perform this role, you should be:
• Committed to, and enthusiastic about working on behalf of students
• Motivated and motivational when working with teams, individuals, and alone
• Superb at listening, coordinating information and speaking articulately
• Able to organise and prioritise a high and diverse workload
• Able to solve problems quickly and calmly in pressured situations
• Able to control situations in an assertive, respectful manner
• Respectful of others people’s needs views and experiences
• Respectful of the role and values of the Students’ Union
PROCESS
We suggest you talk to current officers and Union staff, as well as reading full details in the Union’s Constitution. We hope you will then put yourself forward to join us as part of a full time officer team.
1. Nominate Yourself
2. Campaigning: You will receive help, advice and financial support to enable you to campaign effectively. There is then a short but usually intensive period where nominees can campaign for votes.
3. Elections: Voting will take place in Febrauary 2010, with ballot boxes set up around campus.
