10 tips for new officers
Congratulations and welcome to an exciting year as a students union officer. You are now part of one of the most vibrant movements in the UK. With NUS you will spend the year ahead supporting your students, fighting for their rights and winning to make their lives better. It will be challenging, exciting and never dull and NUS will be with you every step of the way.
We have come up with 10 things to help you with the year ahead. If you take time now to do them it will hold you in good stead for everything you do over the next 12 months.
1. Register on Officeronline and explore the site
Officeronline is the current website for student officers. It includes news, resources, events data, the policies and guiding documents of your National Union and much more. To get the most out of the site you must register – which allows you to access certain areas of the web and also means we can keep you updated. From January 2009 you will have access to the extranet of our new website www.nus.org.uk. The student-focused side (aimed at getting students more involved in campaigns and their local union) will go live in August.
Once you are registered take time and explore. Officeronline includes a huge range of resources for NUS members to use. You may be using our officer handover briefing right now. Those with responsibility for Welfare will find the Welfare information sheets invaluable, and every officer will want to keep informed about our campaign work.
2. Become part of NUS Networks
NUS Networks are email lists set around specific areas of students’ union work. They are used to get information, disseminate best practice and advertise useful events and resources. There are eight different networks, each with specific tasks.
NUS also sends out updates on media and education, which can be accessed by emailing press@nus.org.uk and education@nus.org.uk respectively.
3. Sign up to NUS training
Every year NUS trains around 500 officers as part of its summer training programme, as well as several hundred more as part of union specific in-house courses. You may already be booked on one or more of our training programmes – you should ask outgoing officers or staff for details.
If not, or you want more information, have a look at our web page on the NUS training available.
4. Learn about NUS structures
As NUS is the largest student organisation in the world it has a large number of processes, events and people responsible for its work.
This can be confusing for students and officers, especially new delegates and those not used to complicated procedures.
Our Constitution page includes details of NUS current constitution and regulations, as well as the different ways policy gets passed, officers are held accountable and much more besides.
5. Learn about why and how we want to change – have your say
At the 2007 Annual Conference, you asked us to reform our structures. You gave us ideas of what you wanted; proposals were then developed, amended and then passed at an extraordinary conference in late 2007. But at Annual Conference 2008 they just missed the two-thirds majority necessary to be ratified.
So, we know they weren’t perfect – which is why we need your feedback. Our governance pages include details of the governance review so far and also an opportunity for you to have your input. (LINK TO )
Please use this as an opportunity to have your say on how your National Union operates and is led. For more information contact Democratic Service Co-ordinator Elaine Bruce.
Next six tips
Return to this campaign's homepage or view all articles in this campaign.