Officers have trustee responsibilities, team responsibilities and their role-specific responsibilities. Below are the current 2021-2022 responsibilities:

Officer Trustee Responsibilities

• To ensure the GSA complies with and fulfils its legal obligations.
• To contribute to the development and implementation of the GSA’s strategic plan.
• To engage in collective decision-making regarding resources and finances of the GSA, ensuring financial stability.
• To ensure that staff of the GSA are well-supported and supervised so that they may do their job efficiently and effectively.
• To ensure that all decisions taken are in the interest of postgraduate students and will not harm the image or reputation of the GSA.

Officer Team Responsibilities

• The Sabbatical Officers receive their mandates from their manifesto pledges.
• Leading the GSA on all postgraduate related matters and acting as an positive ambassadors for the GSA;
• Representing the views, needs and interests of postgraduate students at University, GSA, local and national levels;
• Proactively campaigning on postgraduate issues;
• Researching, creating, writing and proposing policy or strategy;
• Acting as a Trustee and Directors to the organisation;
• Acting as a signatory on the GSA bank account and manage relative budgets in agreement with the CEO and other GSA officers;
• Ensuring effective channels of communication with all stakeholders, including postgraduate students, fellow officers, GSA staff and University as required;
• To work to engage the membership with relevant feedback mechanisms at the University and promote that subsequent action is taken on any feedback;
• Supporting relevant events run by the GSA throughout the year.

President

• Be the recognised leader and spokesperson for the organisation and the membership;
• Lead on overseeing policy and governance development within the GSA, including the GSA strategy, Articles of Association and democratic processes, putting the membership at the heart of everything the GSA does;
• Ensure the GSA represents and advocates the needs of the diverse membership including, but not limited to, international, EU and home students on estates, campus development, accommodation, finance, employability and environment;
• Work closely with members of the University Executive Board as well as other stakeholders (including Trade Unions) on all new policy and decisions particularly in relation to  estates, campus development, accommodation, finance, employability and environment;
• Work to establish good relationships and networks with the Careers department, Estates, Colleges (being the Main Colleges representative), Academic Registrar’s Office, Student Services in order to effectively represent the views of the membership;
• To work to engage the membership with relevant feedback mechanisms at the University and promote that subsequent action is taken on any feedback;
• To consult with the membership on matters affecting students on a local and national level with reference to any changes that may affect them;
• Lead and support the relevant Part-Time Officers and Association Council;
• Help to coordinate and support the Part-Time Officer Training training;
• Communicate regularly with the University Executive Board, University Council, University Court about the work of the GSA;
• Participate in the University’s strategy, recruitment and alumni activity.

Vice-President Academic

• Lead on overseeing academic policy within the GSA and the University, representing students accordingly;
• Ensure the GSA represents the membership on academic related matters including teaching, learning, supervision, research and education;
• Work closely with members of the University Executive Board as well as other stakeholders (including Trade Unions) on academic related matters, influencing academic policy, resources, support and related decisions affecting the membership;
• Work to establish good relationships and networks with the library, professional services and academic departments, including Graduate Board of Study Chairs, in order to effectively represent the views of the membership;
• To work to engage the membership with relevant feedback mechanisms at the University and promote that subsequent action is taken on any feedback;
• To consult with the membership on academic related matters affecting students on a local and national level with reference to any changes that may affect them;
• Ensure that the GSA has systems in place to effectively represent Graduate Teaching Assistants and students studying on online programmes and distance learning courses;
• Lead and support the Part-Time Officers, Faculty Representatives and Academic Representatives;
• Coordinate and support the academic representation system including convening regular faculty forums, online learning students’ forums and academic representative training;
• Assist the University with departmental reviews, ensuring postgraduates are receiving quality teaching, supervision and support, where required.

Vice-President Wellbeing & Community

• Lead on overseeing wellbeing and community related matters within the GSA and the University, representing students accordingly;
• Ensure the GSA represents the membership on wellbeing and community related matters affecting them including funding, accommodation matters, mental health provision, decolonising work, misconduct and complaints, etc.;
• Work closely with members of the University Executive Board as well as other stakeholders (including city and local community) on wellbeing and community related matters, influencing wellbeing policy, resources, support and related decisions affecting the membership;
• Work to establish good relationships and networks with relevant University staff and departments,  in order to effectively represent the views of the membership;
• To consult with the membership on wellbeing and community related matters affecting students on a local and national level with reference to any changes that may affect them;
• Ensure that the GSA has systems in place to effectively represent liberation groups and run campaigns;
• Lead and support the relevant Part-Time Officers, the Welfare Subgroup and Network Coordinators;
• To influence community development within the GSA such as Welcome Week, Networks, volunteering opportunities, the GSA Community Fund, sports, trips and any other relevant activities;
• To support the organisation of GSA Awards;
• To support development of the GSA Mental Health Strategy and influence the offering of the GSA Welfare and Advice Services.

By-Law 10: Elections

Deputy Returning Officer
Martin Marko (GSA Representation & Democracy Coordinator)
representation@yorkgsa.org