Class Rep Elections

Class Representative and Postgraduate Elections have now CLOSED for the 2021/22 Academic Year.

Read the Elections Report from 2021-2022

You can contact the PG Academic Convenor and the Academic Representation Coordinator for more information about current opportunities to engage in Academic Representation.

Important Dates

Elections

Date	Event
September, 2022	Undergraduate Nominations and Elections
October, 2022	Postgraduate Nominations and Elections

As ordinary members of the Students' Association, all matriculated UG and 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 election period. Students will only vote on the candidates relevant to their level (UG/PG) and to their area of study (School). Postgraduate students will also have the opportunity to vote on several university-wide positions (PGT/PGR President and the PG Officers).

Postgraduate (PGT and PGR) Class Representative Elections for 2021/22 have now closed.
Undergraduate Class Representative Elections for 2021/22 have now closed.

Elected representatives must attend the mandatory training session (hosted on Microsoft Teams) associated with their position (see key dates above).

Nominations

Students who want to stand in the PG or Class Representative elections as an Academic Rep or as a Sustainability Rep 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 their top priority if they were elected to be a class representative.

If you know someone who would make a great Class Rep or Sustainability Rep, you can encourage them to run by submitting a Nudge! Students who are nudged are notified anonymously, in order to encourage nominations without bias.

Postgraduate (PGT and PGR) nominations for the 2021/22 Class Representative Elections are open from 9am 7th October 2021 (Thursday) until they close at 5pm on the 13th October 2021 (Wednesday).

Available Positions

The School Sustainability Representatives (SSR) underpin a pillar in the University’s strategy to become net zero carbon by 2035. They bridge between the Environmental and Sustainability Board, the Environment Team, and the Student Association to promote, drive, and support sustainable change in their academic school. The SSRs are line managed by the School President and supervised by the Environment Team’s Sustainability Coordinator. The SSRs meet with the Environment Team monthly and report back to the School President to liaise about best implementations in the particular school.

SSRs are responsible for running sustainability themed events, campaigning for sustainability in the curriculum, and being an agent of change in their schools. Their work can include everything from panel events, to workshops, analysis on school energy efficiency, liaising with estates and the council, and creating green reading lists.

They have the chance to network with professionals, academic staff, and students from across the university and will gain experience in event organisation, campaigning, and become educated in being an agent of change for sustainability.

All currently matriculated students, registered for Academic Year 2021/22 are eligible to stand for Class Representative positions. Undergraduate students may only stand for undergraduate Class Rep roles. IEI students may only stand for roles specific to their programme or pathway. Likewise, postgraduate students may only stand for postgraduate representative roles.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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

Class 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. Representatives serve until the conclusion of the academic year.

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 students can run and/or vote in the elections.

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, but you cannot run for multiple roles.

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 asked to distinguish their top priority or issue they would like to focus on, if elected. 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 people. 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. 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?

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 doed@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Who can I talk to if I have more questions?

For any questions related to Class Rep nominations and elections, please email your School President (undergraduates) or the Postgraduate Academic Convenor (postgraduates).

You can also contact the Director of Education (doed@st-andrews.ac.uk) or the Academic Representation Coordinator (cmg9@st-andrews.ac.uk) for any questions related to Class Rep Elections.