

Running
Why you should consider running in the SU General Election
Are you an effective leader? Do you want to make a true difference in your campus community? Does the idea of representing your faculty peers excite you? If you answered “yes” to these questions then you should consider running for a position with your Students’ Union (SU). Through the SU’s annual General Election all undergraduates at the University of Calgary have the opportunity to run for seats on the Student Legislative Council (SLC). The SLC is the SU’s highest governing body and is authorized to make bylaws and policy regarding membership, elections, governance structure, meetings, membership fees, the management and operations of assets, appointment to committees and any other matters that students care about. SLC is currently made up of a total of twenty-four (25) SLC Members:
- Twenty (20) members are Faculty Representatives, who are elected by students of their specific faculty. The number of faculty representatives per faculty coincides with the size of the appropriate faculty;
- Five (5) members are Executives, elected by students at-large;
Students also elect (1) University of Calgary Board of Governors Representative and two (2) Senate representatives.
Elected officials serve for a period of one academic year (May 1 – April 30)
Seeking a nomination to run in the SU General Election
The SU General Election occurs every academic year from February – March. If required, a By-Election is held in September-October to fill any vacant positions. Early in the New Year (or in September for the By-Election) your SU will post a notification asking for nominees interested in running for an elected position with the Students’ Union. This nomination procedure includes a detailed nomination package that can be accessed online or by visiting the SU office (MSC 251). Before deciding to run you should also consult our SU Election Documents section section on this site as well as the Position Descriptions page.
Workshops
Pre-Election Orientation sessions are generally held two weeks prior to Nomination days in January for the General Election. The CRO conducts these workshops for potential candidates to provide them background about the Students’ Union (SU), Students’ Legislative Council (SLC), expectations as an elected official, various aspects of running in a student election and about what happens if you’re elected. All prospective Candidates and Campaign Groups are strongly encouraged to attend at least one Pre-Election Orientation session before running in the Election.
The Orientations are scheduled at the following times:
Tip sheets
Can’t attend the workshops? Check out the tip sheets below or email the CROs!
FAQ
Once the Notice is up, the Nomination package is available. This package has all the information and forms you need as a candidate. It can be downloaded from the SU website during the Nomination Period.
You can also attend SLC as a gallery member any Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. to see how the council works as a team to make decisions. Currently, SLC meetings are held over Zoom video-conferencing. To get the link for the meeting, please contact reception@su.ucalgary.ca.
To register as a candidate you must meet with the Election staff on one of the three posted dates to deliver your Nomination Package. Pay close attention to all the requirements – the CRO will only register you if all of the forms are filled out correctly and you have brought all your supporting materials. Currently, Nomination Days are occurring over Zoom video-conferencing and the link is posted on SU social media and our website closer to the dates.
These three days are a busy time and there is often a line. Make sure you come early and set aside enough time! The CRO will go through all your forms with you and may have questions. Anyone who has not submitted their package by the deadline on the last day is not considered an official candidate and is not permitted to campaign.
After the final Nomination Day you will receive an email confirming that you are officially a candidate for the SU Election. The CRO will give you information on next steps such as attending the All Candidates Meeting.
The SU pays for all candidate expenses. Candidates are expected to either apply for an Election Grant to receive the funds ahead of the Campaign Period, or are reimbursed once the Election is over. All expenses must be receipted.
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