Key Election Dates
Nominations Open In:
- Election Information Evening
- Nominations Open
- Nominations Close
- Executive Representative Hustings
- Sabbatical Officer Hustings
- Voting Opens
- Voting Closes
- Results Announced
- 24th January 2023
- 20th February, 2023 @ 09:00 hrs
- 24th February, 2023 @ 17:00 hrs
- 28th February, 2023
- 1st March, 2023
- 6th March, 2023 @ 09:00 hrs
- 8th March, 2023 @ 14:00 hrs
- 8th March, 2023 @ 17:00 hrs
What Positions Can You Run For?
The duties of each UCCSU Officer and Representative are set out in the UCCSU Constitution. You can click on the titles below to learn more about what you would be required to do if elected to one of the roles. As well as these duties, there are a number of mandates in the UCCSU Policy Booklet that individual members of the Executive have to action.
If you are interested in running for a position, we encourage you to reach out to the current Officer or Representative with any questions about their day-to-day duties! Their contact details can be found here.
President
The President, as the the principal representative for the UCC Student Body, is the chief spokesperson of the Union, a member of the University’s Governing Body and Academic Council, an ex officio member at all Union committees, and the principal delegate and spokesperson to the National Council and Annual Congress of the USI.
The President shall be responsible for:
- Coordinating all Union affairs.
- Protecting and upholding the terms of this Constitution.
- The implementation of Union policy, as well as supporting members of the Executive in their mandates, where necessary or appropriate.
- Encouraging and actively promoting a culture of widespread student representation on all relevant University committees and bodies and monitoring the attendance of all Officers/Representatives at their relevant committee meetings.
- The strategic development of the Union, along with the management and development of the Union’s services.
- Safeguarding of Union Finances.
- The adequate training of members of the Executive.
- Chairing meetings of the Executive and preparing written reports on the activity of the Union for these meetings.
- Oversight of the Union’s campaigns and events.
- The interpretation of this Constitution, subject to the provisions of this Constitution.
- The President, in consultation with the Vice-Presidents, is empowered to exercise plenary powers between meetings of the Executive; however, any members of the Executive may trigger a vote to overrule a decision made by the President at an Executive meeting
Communications and Engagement Officer
The Communications & Engagement Officer is responsible for the management of the Union’s communications both internally and externally and facilitating student civic engagement in social, local, national and international issues by organising demonstrations, events and information campaigns in coordination with any relevant parties within the Union/University and, where permissible, with third party groups. The Communications & Engagement Officer, shall be a primary spokesperson for the Union, always working in close collaboration with the Chief Spokesperson.
As a primary spokesperson of the Union, the Communications & Engagement Officer shall:
- Write, edit, produce and/or manage the distribution of content, including any Union publications, press releases, website content, short/long form video content, speeches, and other marketing material that communicates the Union’s activities, events, products and/or services.
- Establish and maintain effective relationships with journalists, and maintain a media database, with particular care to maintain a positive working relationship with UCC Student Media producers.
- Seek opportunities to enhance the reputation of the brand, and coordinate publicity events as required.
- Respond to inquiries from the students, the public and the media.
- Manage the Union’s branding and representations of the Union’s identity by producing posters and other printed/digital paraphernalia used to promote the Union’s activity.
- Ensure the maintenance and improvement of the quality of Union’s communication and actively work to develop new internal and external communication strategies.
- Archive relevant documentation of Union meetings, activities and campaigns as well as maintaining records of media coverage and collating useful analytics.
- The Communications & Engagement Officer is responsible for the coordination and ongoing development of the Student Community Support Service and actively working to develop a close and positive relationship between the Union and the local community.
Education Officer
The Education Officer is the primary representative for the academic interests and concerns of the UCC Student Body, is responsible for developing the academic related policies/stances of the Union and lobbying to implement these policies/stances in the University.
- The Education Officer, will run a listening, advice and referral service in relation to the academic concerns of the students and will work with the Communications & Engagement Officer to run campaigns and with the Entertainments Officer to run events relevant to providing academic support/information to students.
- The Education Officer will be responsible for mobilizing and coordinating with the College Representatives to ensure the election of Class Representatives to the Student Representative Council and will act as the Union’s Chief Liaison with the Council Chair.
- In coordination with the Communications & Engagement Officer, the Education Officer is responsible for updating students on changes in the education system or changes within the educational structure of the 18 University, which are relevant to students and ensuring that adequate information is available to students regarding the academic support structures in place for them to make avail of.
- The Education Officer shall sit on all relevant University committees and bodies in the pursuit of implementing Union education policy.
Welfare Officer
The Welfare Officer is the primary representative for the welfare needs of the UCC Student Body, is responsible for developing the welfare related policies/stances of the Union and lobbying to implement these policies/stances within the University.
- The Welfare Officer, will run a listening, advice and referral service in relation to the welfare concerns of the students and will work with the Communications & Engagement Officer to run campaigns and with the Entertainments Officer to run events relevant to providing welfare support/information to students.
- The Welfare Officer represents the interests of students in relation to accommodation by sitting on all accommodation related committees in the University and working with the Communications & Engagement Officer to provide information to students on housing/tenants rights and working to help students, as far as practicable, access accommodation.
- In coordination with the Communications & Engagement Officer, the Welfare Officer is responsible for updating students on changes in the welfare system or changes within the welfare structure of the University, which are relevant to students and ensuring that adequate information is available to students regarding the student wellbeing support structure in place for their use.
- The Welfare Officer shall sit on all relevant University committees and bodies in the pursuit of implementing the Union welfare policies/stances.
Entertainments Officer
The Entertainments Officer is the primary representative for the entertainment interests/needs of the UCC Student Body and is responsible for enhancing the student experience through the organisation of high-quality events that cater for the wide and varied spectrum of interests and cultures of UCC students.
- The Entertainments Officer will run an advice and referral service for any University Club, Society and/or student group interested in holding an event on/off campus and will lend their expertise to help other Officers and/or Representatives in the organisation and coordination of their events.
- The Entertainments Officer will be the primary organiser, coordinator and liaison for all the main student event weeks including, but not limited to, Raise & Give Week and Freshers Week.
- In respect of the valuable contribution to the student experience offered by the University’s Clubs and Societies, the Entertainments Officer will actively work to build a positive relationship with these groups and seek to maximise their involvement and participation in all main student event weeks.
Commercial and Fundraising Officer
The Commercial & Fundraising Officer is responsible for developing, managing and promoting a diverse range of commercial and fundraising activities/projects to support the Union’s income generation and maximise the Union’s annual charitable contributions.
The Commercial & Fundraising Officer is expected to;
- Identify and develop new potential sponsorship agreements with external businesses, and service/retain these sponsorship contracts in order to secure long term and increased funding for the Union and offset any cost of Union events, activities and services.
- Develop the Union1 s Commercial strategies, services and policies.
- Maintain and consistently update a database of local, national and international commercial contacts.
- Provide regular updates to the Chief Executive Officer regarding the Commercial Activity of the Union.
- Work in partnership with the Entertainments Officer to develop and promote a diverse range of fundraising activities and projects to support the Union’s charitable contributions.
- Facilitate on-campus promotions for external business looking to promote on the University campus.
- Utilise the Union social media, with oversight from the Communications & Engagement Officer, for paid advertisement.
College of Arts Celtic Studies and Social Sciences Rep
The four College Representatives will be elected by students of their respective colleges in the Union’s General Election and shall represent the views, opinions and interests of their constituents at the Executive Meetings and assemblies of the Council.
Each of the College Representatives are required to:
- Work with the Education Officer facilitating the election of Class Representatives.
- Proactively endeavouring to establish a productive working relationship with the staff employed within their specific college.
- Ensure that, as far as practicable, an open line of communication is established between themselves and the Class Representatives in their College.
College of Medicine and Health Rep
The four College Representatives will be elected by students of their respective colleges in the Union’s General Election and shall represent the views, opinions and interests of their constituents at the Executive Meetings and assemblies of the Council.
Each of the College Representatives are required to:
- Work with the Education Officer facilitating the election of Class Representatives.
- Proactively endeavouring to establish a productive working relationship with the staff employed within their specific college.
- Ensure that, as far as practicable, an open line of communication is established between themselves and the Class Representatives in their College.
College of Science Engineering and Food Science Rep
The four College Representatives will be elected by students of their respective colleges in the Union’s General Election and shall represent the views, opinions and interests of their constituents at the Executive Meetings and assemblies of the Council.
Each of the College Representatives are required to:
- Work with the Education Officer facilitating the election of Class Representatives.
- Proactively endeavouring to establish a productive working relationship with the staff employed within their specific college.
- Ensure that, as far as practicable, an open line of communication is established between themselves and the Class Representatives in their College.
College of Business and Law Rep
The four College Representatives will be elected by students of their respective colleges in the Union’s General Election and shall represent the views, opinions and interests of their constituents at the Executive Meetings and assemblies of the Council.
Each of the College Representatives are required to:
- Work with the Education Officer facilitating the election of Class Representatives.
- Proactively endeavouring to establish a productive working relationship with the staff employed within their specific college.
- Ensure that, as far as practicable, an open line of communication is established between themselves and the Class Representatives in their College.
Environmental and Sustainability Rep
The Environmental Representative shall:
- Work closely with the Executive to ensure that the Union and the University meets it’s joint vision for creating a more sustainable campus.
- Encourage the environmentally friendly purchasing activities of the Union, the University and the UCC Student Body.
- Work closely with the Executive on all campaigns related to environmental and sustainability issues.
- Make a contribution to the overall strategic direction of the Union in relation to sustainability
Equality and Diversity Rep
The Equality Representative’s primary role is to establish, develop and chair an Equality Working Group, which shall act as a forum for the discussion of issues faced by any student minority group. This may include, but is not limited to, students with a disability, LGBTQ+ students, students of Faith Groups, Student Carers, Student Parents, racial and ethnic minority students and HEAR Scheme recipients.
The Equality Representative shall represent the opinions and stances of members of the Equality Working Group at Executive Meetings and shall work with the Executive to campaign to secure equal treatment for all students within the University.
Ionadaí Gaeilge agus Cultúir / Irish Language and Culture Rep
The Irish Representative shall be responsible for the Union’s promotion of Irish culture and developing the use of the Irish language amongst the UCC Student Body.