Who are the Student Officers?
The student officers are eight students, elected by the whole student population, who work full time at the Students' Union for a year.
Running Your Campaign
Click here to view the Candidate Information Pack 2012
There is no golden rule for how to run an election campaign but here are some tips for you to think about:
- Read the available positions and arrange an informal chat with the current office holder. This will help you come up with some policies.
- Make sure you have designed your piece for the 'Official Guide To Candidates' before you submit your nomination form:
- Each candidate is allotted a space in the guide 87mm wide and 120mm long which can contain text and images. The booklet will be printed in full colour.
- Maximum file size 10MB.
- PDF or JPG at a resolution of at least 300dpi.
- Logos (.PDF) / Single logo (.JPG)
- Click here for examples of previous submissions.
- Re-read the election rules.
- Make sure you attend the compulsory briefing during week 2 that you signed up to on your nomination form.
- Think about your campaign message:
- People need to know who you are, what you are standing for and how people can vote for you.
- Think about how can you make your campaign memorable and stand out from other candidates.
- Come along to a campaign workshop during week 2 for more ideas.
- Order, if you want to, some printed publicity from the Copy Shop:
- All printed publicity must be ordered through the Students' Union Copy Shop.
- The order form is available here.
- Remember, you can only spend a maximum of £40 on your entire election campaign.
- Produce, if you want to, a candidate video:
- You can film/edit your own video and up-load it to YouTube.
- Email elections@sheffield.ac.uk the link to your video. These will be displayed when the nominations are published.
- Make sure you list the video as 'unlisted' and don't distribute it until campaigning starts (Monday 20th February 9am).
- You can borrow a camera from the Activities' Zone Information Desk, if you don't have one (email activities@sheffield.ac.uk or come along to the Zone to book a time).
- The Students' Union will provide a time for candidates who can not make their own video, to film their own basic video clip.
- Build a campaign team
- Find some friends and supporters who are willing to help you get elected.
- Think about how best to use these people e.g. don't have them all doing the same thing, at the same place, at the same time.
- Make sure they know the election rules just as well as you do.
- Go out and campaign
- There are loads of ways you can campaign, including:
- Making use of social media and the internet (check the relevant rules)
- Displaying publicity around the campus
- Attending meetings of student groups
- However, non are as good as actually talking to students
- Remember to come along to a campaign workshop during week 2 for more ideas.
- Enjoy the experience
- Running for election is one of the most unique and rewarding experiences you can have whilst at University.
- Make sure you look after yourself during the election and come to the morning briefings during week 3 & 4 to relax with some coffee and pastries before the day ahead!
- Drink lots of water (not energy drinks – they keep your brain from working at its best) and eat proper meals as you need to keep your energy levels up.
- Get some sleep. Seriously.
