Class Rep Elections

This page is divided into three sections, one for Undergraduate Students, one for Postgraduate Taught (PGT) Students, and one for Postgraduate Research (PGR) Students. You'll find more information about the respective elections below. You can contact the Director of Education or the Academic Representation Coordinator for more information about current opportunities to engage in Academic Representation.

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Undergraduate Section

Postgraduate Taught Section

Postgraduate Research Section

Undergraduate Class Rep Elections

Class Representatives are the foundational change makers within academic Schools and Departments. They raise issues and create solutions with staff, they help plan events and socials for the School, and they learn about the inner workings of academia and student leadership.

Any undergraduate student in good standing is eligible to be a Class Representative, and elections for the roles start the first week of classes. Being a Class Representative is a great way to get involved at St Andrews, with an estimated time commitment of just one hour per week of work!

Students can run for any of the following roles: Class Representative (typically structured by year group or programme or study), Disability Representative, Sustainability Representative, Careers & Employability Representative, or Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Representative.

Nominate yourself! (Now Closed)
Nudge Someone to run! (Now Closed)
Vote using the Elections Portal!

Important Dates

Undergraduate Class Representative Elections, 2023

Date	Time	Event
4 September 2023	09:00	UG Class Rep Nominations Open
15 September 2023	17:00	UG Class Rep Nominations Close
19 September 2023	00:01	UG Class Rep Voting Opens
20 September 2023	17:00	UG Class Rep Voting Closes
21 September 2023	18:30	Science/Medicine Class Rep Training
22 September 2023	17:15	Arts/Divinity Class Rep Training

School Role Training Schedule

Date	Time	Event
25 September 2023	18:00	Sustainability Rep Training
27 September 2023	17:30	Disability Rep Training
28 September 2023	17:30	EDI Rep Training
29 September 2023	17:30	Careers Rep Training

About the Class Rep Elections

To be eligible to run for a position, students must be enrolled in modules in the relevant School/Department during the current Academic Year. Students who want to stand for a role in the elections must nominate themselves in the Elections Portal. Candidates must submit a current headshot photograph, a brief statement describing their experience and goals for the position, and contact information as part of the nomination process.

As ordinary members of the Students' Association, all matriculated students are eligible to vote for candidates standing as Representatives in their respective Schools. Students must cast their ballots through the centralised Elections Portal during the published election period. Students will only vote on the candidates relevant to to their area of study (School/Department).

Available Positions & Eligibility (UG)

The following roles are available to undergraduate students:

Class Representative
- Gathers feedback from peers; analyses feedback; works with staff to make changes based on themes from feedback; shares outcomes of action with students
- May also take on the Secretary Rep or Community & Events Rep Role
Sustainability Rep
- Works to embed concepts of sustainable development in the School's curriculumn
- Advocates for improvements to operational sustainability in the School (e.g. reducing waste)
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Representative
- Strives to develop a decolonised, anti-racist, and inclusive curriculum in the School
- Represent student interests related to equality, diversity, and inclusion to staff members
- Serve on the School's EDI Committee
Disability & Academic Support Representative
- Advocate for improvements to accessibility and reasonable accommodations related to the learning experience
- Signpost and promote support for disabled students in your School
- Serve on the School's EDI Committee
Careers & Employability Representative
- Embed employable skills and knowlege about career paths in your School's curriculum
- Build career events related to your area of study

More information about each role is available on the Class Representatives website.

To be eligible to stand for a Class Representative position, a student must meet the criteria indicated by the name of the role. For example, a student would need to be in their second year of study and enrolled in modules within the School of Mathematics and Statistics to be able to stand for the Second Year Maths & Stats Rep role. For other roles (Careers, Disability, EDI, and Sustainability Rep roles), students must be enrolled in modules in the School to be eligible to run for the post.

Frequently Asked Questions (Undergraduate)

What does a Class Rep do?

Class Representatives serve as the voice for their peers on all academic matters. Class Reps work to gather and synthesise student feedback and work with staff to make changes within their programmes and schools. Class Reps are essential advocates for students on key issues such as lecture capture, extension policies, and teaching quality.

For a further role description, or information about one of the other roles, please refer to the Class Representatives website.

What does an [EDI, Sustainability, Disability, or Careers] Rep do?

Please refer to the Class Representatives website for more information about each role!

What does the workload and time commitment look like for a Rep position?

What does the workload or time commitment look like for being a Class Rep?

Class (and other kinds of) Representatives are generally expected to volunteer between zero to three hours per week. On average, the time commitment is as low as just one hour per week. This time is built around representatives’ schedules and is not fixed on a weekly basis. Representatives serve until the conclusion of the academic year.

How does being a Class Rep work if I am doing a Joint Honours Degree?

Students can run to be a Class Rep for any School/Programme they are enrolled in. For joint honours students, this means you can choose which role you want to run for, either in one School or both.

What materials will I need to nominate myself for the role of Class Rep?

The nominations portal will ask you to submit a recent photograph of yourself (preferably a headshot) as well as a brief description of any relevant experience and why you think you would be an effective representative. Candidates are also asked for their basic contact information, although this is not displayed to voters. All of this information is submitted via the nominations section of the Elections Portal.

Am I eligible to be a Class Rep if I hold another leadership role?

Yes! Class Representatives may hold other positions, in Societies, Union Subcommittees, and external organisations.

What support/training will I get as a Class Rep?

All elected Class Reps will receive a formal training session from the Students’ Association; this will include information about their role, about the meetings they attend, and how to escalate issues up to other leaders. Class Reps are also given access to a comprehensive Microsoft Teams area, where they can ask questions and interact with Academic Representation leadership, and collaborate on shared issues/events with other reps. Reps also receive a formal handover report from their predecessor to guide them in their new role. The Students’ Association also has several staff members, such as the Director of Education, the Academic Representation Coordinator, and the Education Advocate who are able to help prepare and guide Class Reps.

Who do Class Representatives report to?

Undergraduate Class Representatives report directly to their School President.

I think I’ve voted but I’m not sure. How can I check?

You should receive a confirmation email from the Elections Service. If you do not see this in your St Andrews email, you can log back into the Elections Portal to ensure you have submitted your ballot. If you still need help, contact [email protected].

Who can I talk to if I have more questions?

Email [email protected] for more information.

Postgraduate Taught Rep Elections

Postgraduates Taught Reps (PGT Reps) make changes within their departments and programmes and within the wider Postgraduate Community through a variety of leadership roles. ThePostgraduate Reps gather feedback from peers and work with staff to create solutions. They are supervised by another elected position, the PGT President, who also oversees and directs the projects of several special-focus PGT Officers. The time commitment for these roles varies, ranging from just 1 hour a week as a PGT Representative to approximately 10 hours per week as the PGT President.

Nominate yourself! (Now Closed)
Nudge Someone to run! (Now Closed)
Vote using the Elections Portal!

Any Postgraduate Taught student in good standing is eligible to be a PGT Representative (or run for PGT President or an officer role), and elections for the roles start the first week of classes.

Important Dates

Postgraduate Taught Representative Elections, 2023

Date	Time	Event
4 September 2023	09:00	PGT Rep Nominations Open
15 September 2023	17:00	PGT Rep Nominations Close
19 September 2023	00:01	PGT Rep Voting Opens
20 September 2023	17:00	PGT Rep Voting Closes
26 September 2023	17:15	PGT Rep Training

About the Postgraduate Taught Rep Elections

To be eligible to run for a position, students must be enrolled in the relevant School/Department during the current Academic Year. Students who want to stand for a role in the elections must nominate themselves in the Elections Portal. Candidates must submit a current headshot photograph, a brief statement describing their experience and goals for the position, and contact information as part of the nomination process.

As ordinary members of the Students' Association, all matriculated PGT students are eligible to vote for candidates standing as Representatives in their respective Schools. Students must cast their ballots through the centralised Elections Portal during the published election period. Students will only vote on the candidates relevant to their area of study (School/Department). Postgraduate students will also have the opportunity to vote on several university-wide positions (the PGT President, the PGT Officers, and the School Role holders).

Available Positions & Eligibility (PGT)

The following roles are available to postgraduate taught (PGT) students:

PGT President
- Academic Representation Role
- One position for the the entire university
- Eligibility: open to any matriculated PGT student in good standing.
PGT Officers
- Four positions available
- Eligibility: open to any matriculated PGT student in good standing.
PGT Rep
- Position names and number vary by School/Department
Sustainability Rep
- One per School (excluding Graduate School)
- Open to all all undergraduates and PGTs
- See 'Positions and Eligibility (UG) above for more information.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Representative
- One per School (excluding Graduate School)
- Open to all all undergraduates and PGTs
- See 'Positions and Eligibility (UG) above for more information.
Disability & Academic Support Representative
- One per School (excluding Graduate School)
- Open to all all undergraduates and PGTs
- See 'Positions and Eligibility (UG) above for more information.
Careers & Employability Representative
- One per School (excluding Graduate School)
- Open to all all undergraduates and PGTs
- See 'Positions and Eligibility (UG) above for more information.

To be eligible to stand for a PG Representative position, a student must meet the criteria indicated by the name of the role. For example, a student would need to be in a Taught Programme and enrolled in the School of English to be able to stand for the PGT English Rep role. See above for the eligibility for other roles.

More information about the Postgraduate Representation System and the other School Roles are available.

Frequently Asked Questions (Postgraduate Taught)

What does a PG Rep do?

PG Representatives serve as the voice for their peers on all academic matters. PG Reps work to gather and synthesise student feedback and work with staff to make changes within their programmes and schools. PG Reps are essential advocates for students on key issues such as supervision quality, feedback, and teaching quality.

What do the other PGT Positions do?

The PGT President leads the PGT Representation System, including supervising the PGT Reps and PGT Officers. They serve on high level University Committees, including the Academic Senate, and Represent the PGT voice on the Student Representaitve Council.

The PGT Officers work on special projects identified and assigned by the PGT President.

Other roles (Sustainability, EDI, Disability, and Careers Rep positions) are described on the Class Rep page.

Who is eligible to run in these elections?

Ordinary members of the Students’ Association (i.e., students who have not opted out of the Students’ Association under the Education Act 1994) shall be eligible to stand and vote in these elections. This means all matriculated postgraduate students can run and/or vote in the elections.

What does the workload or time committment look like for these roles?

PGT Representatives are generally expected to volunteer no more than three hours per week. Often, the time commitment is lower, around one hour per week. This time is built around representatives’ schedules and is not fixed on a weekly basis.

The PGT President has approximately 10 hours per week of voluntary work and the PG Officers volunteer for approximately 5 hours per week.

Other roles (e.g. Sustainability Rep, etc.) volunteer roughly 1-3 hours per week.

All elected PGT roles serve from October until the following October (12 months).

What materials will I need to nominate myself for the role of PG Rep?

The nominations portal will ask you to submit a recent photograph of yourself (preferably a headshot) as well as a brief description of any relevant experience and why you think you would be an effective representative. Candidates are asked to provide contact information, though this is not displayed to voters. All of this information is submitted via the nominations section of the Elections Portal.

Am I eligible to be a PG Rep if I hold another leadership role?

Yes! PG Representatives may hold other positions, in Societies, Union Subcommittees, and external organisations.

You cannot, however, run for multiple positions during the PGT Elections (e.g. you cannot run to be both a PGT Officer and PGT President).

What support/training will I get as a PG Rep?

All elected PG Reps will receive a formal training session from the Students’ Association; this will include information about their role, about the meetings they attend, and how to escalate issues up to other people. PG Reps are also given access to a comprehensive Microsoft Teams area, where they can ask questions and interact with Academic Representation leadership, and collaborate on shared issues/events with other reps. Reps also receive a formal handover report from their predecessor to guide them in their new role. The Students’ Association also has several staff members, such as the Director of Education, the Academic Representation Coordinator, and the Education Advocate who are able to help prepare and guide Class Reps.

Who do PG Representatives report to?

Postgraduate Taught Representatives report to the PGT President, who leads the PGT Rep System.

I think I’ve voted but I’m not sure. How can I check?

Who can I talk to if I have more questions?

Email [email protected].

Postgraduate Research Rep Elections

Postgraduates make changes within their departments and programmes and within the wider Postgraduate Community through a variety of leadership roles. From Postgraduate Reps (who gather feedback from peers and work with staff to create solutions), to supervisory roles like PGR President, or special projects roles like the Graduate Teaching Officer, there are opportunities for everyone to get involved. The time commitment for these roles varies, ranging from just one hour a week as a PG Representative to 10 hours per week as the PGR President.

Nominate yourself!
Nudge Someone to run!
Vote using the Elections Portal! (Coming soon!)

Important Dates

Postgraduate Research Representative Elections, 2023

Date	Time	Event
4 September 2023	09:00	PGR Rep Nominations Open
9 October 2023	12:00 noon	PGR Rep Nominations Close
10 October 2023	00:01	PGR Voting Opens
11 October 2023	17:00	PGR Voting Closes
12-13 October 2023	TBA	PGR President and Rep Training

About the Postgraduate Rep Elections

As ordinary members of the Students' Association, all matriculated PG students are eligible to vote for candidates standing as Representatives in their respective Schools. Students must cast their ballots through the centralised Elections Portal during the published election period. Students will only vote on the candidates relevant to their level (PGT/PGR) and to their area of study (School/Department). Postgraduate students will also have the opportunity to vote on several university-wide positions (the PGT/PGR President, the PG Officers, and the PG Activities and PG Development Officers).

Available Positions & Eligibility (PGR)

The following roles are available to Postgraduate Research students:

PGR President
- One position for the the entire university
- Eligibility: open to any matriculated PGR student in good standing.
PG Graduate Teaching Students Officer
- One position for the the entire university
- Eligibility: open to any matriculated PGR student in good standing who has current, previous, or scheduled Graduate Teaching or Lab Supervision responsibilities.
PGR Officer
- Two positions available
- Eligibility: open to any matriculated PGR student in good standing
PGR EDI Officer
- One position available
- ?Eligibility: open to any matriculated PGR student in good standing.
PGR Rep
- Academic Representation Role
- Position names and number vary by School/Department

To be eligible to stand for a PG Representative position, a student must meet the criteria indicated by the name of the role. For example, a student would need to be in a Research Programme in the School of International Relations and in their Second Year to be able to stand for the Year 2 IR PGR Rep role. See above for the eligibility for other roles.

Find out more about the postgraduate representation system.

Frequently Asked Questions (Postgraduate Research)

What does a PGR Rep or PGR Officer do?

PGR Representatives serve as the voice for their peers on all academic matters. PGR Reps work to gather and synthesise student feedback and work with staff to make changes within their programmes and schools. PGR Reps are essential advocates for students on key issues such as supervision quality, office spaces, and the overall quality of the PGR student experience.

The PGR President supervises and manages the PGR Reps and PGR Officers. They serve as the PGR student voice on several high-level University Committees, including the Academic Senate, and represent PGR issues on the Student Representative Council (SRC).

What does the workload or time commitment look like for being a PGR Rep?

PG Representatives are generally expected to volunteer no more than three hours per week. Often, the time commitment is lower, around one hour per week. This time is built around representatives’ schedules and is not fixed on a weekly basis.

The PGR President has approximately 10 hours per week of voluntary work and the PGR Officers volunteer for approximately 5 hours per week.

All elected PGR roles serve from October until the following October (12 months).

Who is eligible to run in these elections?

Why do PGR Elections take place later than undergraduate and PGT ones?

PGR students do not matriculate until the end of September. To ensure that everyone is eligible to stand for the right roles and to vote for their representatives, PGR students vote in early October of each year.

Why can't PGR students be an [EDI, Disability, Sustainability, or Careers] Rep?

Due to the election timing, PGR voting takes place later in October; as School Roles are elected earlier, unfortunately it means PGR students aren't eligible to stand for these roles.

Am I eligible to be a PG Rep if I hold another leadership role?

Yes! PG Representatives may hold other positions, in Societies, Union Subcommittees, and external organisations.

What support/training will I get as a PG Rep?

Who do PG Representatives report to?

Postgraduate Taught and Research Representatives report to the PGT President and PGR President respectively.

I think I’ve voted but I’m not sure. How can I check?

Who can I talk to if I have more questions?

Email [email protected].

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