Each year the Thompson Rivers University Students’ Union holds elections to select a new Board of Directors. Elections are called by the Board of Directors and overseen by an independent electoral committee and must take place before March 31. The newly elected board takes office on May 1st and maintains office until April 30 each year. 

Joining the TRUSU Board of Directors is a great way to serve your fellow students and develop your skills; however, it is also a serious time commitment. To find out more about whether this position is right for you please read the information below outlining the commitment you are making and the expectations of each of the positions on the TRUSU Board of Directors.

Expectations of All Board of Directors Members

Members of the Board of Directors have a number of common responsibilities. You can find out more about those responsibilities outlined below. 

Meeting Attendance

Board of Directors meetings take place once every two weeks on Tuesdays at 4:00 PM and are approximately two hours in length. All board members are expected to attend all Board or Directors Meetings. Scheduled classes or work are not an excuse for missing a Board Meeting. All candidates for election must be prepared to attend all Board of Directors meetings.

In addition to Board of Directors meetings each representative is a member of at least one standing committee. Committee meetings are scheduled at times and dates set by a majority of the committee members and often take about one hour per week. Candidates should be prepared to attend and participate in those committee meetings regularly.

Onboarding and Orientation

Each year the TRUSU holds a mandatory orientation for all board members. This orientation provides each representative with an overview of the organization, an understanding of their legal responsibilities as a director, and an opportunity to begin the planning process for the upcoming year. The orientation is between two and three days in length and is scheduled prior to the election process each year. Attendance at the board orientation is mandatory for all elected representatives. If you are unable to attend the Board Orientation you should not nominate yourself for consideration in the election.

Student Status

Members of the Board of Directors must maintain their status as students at Thompson Rivers University for all regular terms that they serve on the Board of Directors (Fall and Winter Semesters). Students are not required to take summer classes in order to be eligible for the Board of Directors.

Honoraria

Members of the Board of Directors are eligible to receive bi-weekly honoraria for their hours worked to a maximum of 20 hours per week for members of the executive and 10 hours per week for all other members of the board.

Activities that are eligible for honoraria include:

1. Attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors that take place during the biweekly period;
2. Attendance at meetings of the standing committee(s) to which they are elected that take place during the biweekly period;
3. Activities of the standing committee(s) to which they are elected approved in the committee(s) annual plan that take place during the biweekly period;
4. Activities of the standing committee(s) to which they are elected not included in the committee(s) annual plan but that fall within the scope of the committee(s) terms of reference and that are approved in advance at a meeting the of the committee(s) that take place during the biweekly period;
5. Participation in delegations of the Union approved in advance at a meeting of the Board of Directors that take place during the biweekly period and for which a post-activity report has been received;
6. Appearances of the Union approved in advance at a meeting of the Executive Committee during the biweekly period and for which a post-activity report has been received.

Individual Responsibilities

Each member of the Board of Directors has some specific responsibilities based on their position. These are outlined below. Click on the ℹ️ icon for more explanation. 

President

The President shall:

1. Be the spokesperson of the Union;  ℹ️<p>The president is responsible for most of the interview requests from media outlets.</p>
2. Chair meetings of the Board of Directors;  ℹ️<p>The president facilitates participation and discussion at Board of Directors meetings. They do not participate in that discussion or vote unless it is required to break a tie</p>
3. Act as the liaison between the Institution and the Union;  ℹ️<p>The president attends most meetings with members of the University unless it relates better to another representatives’ portfolio (eg. International representative, graduate representative)</p>
4. Act as a signing authority for the Union;  ℹ️<p>The president is one of five individuals who can sign contracts or cheques for the organization</p>
5. Act as the liaison with the staff of the Union;  ℹ️<p>If an employment-related issue arises from staff, the president is one of the individuals tasked to deal with the issue</p>
6. Be responsible for maintaining and ensuring the implementation of the Constitution, Bylaws, and Policy of the Union and discipline of Board of Directors members and/or appointees as deemed necessary;  ℹ️<p>The president must be familiar with these documents and make sure that there is a plan in place to follow these guidelin</p>
7. Coordinate and delegate responsibilities to Board of Directors members and/or appointees as deemed necessary; ℹ️

   The president is responsible for ensuring that work that doesn’t fall within a specific portfolio has been tasked to the right place.

8. Chair the Student Caucus. ℹ️

   The president is responsible for ensuring that work that doesn’t fall within a specific portfolio has been tasked to the right place.

Vice President Services

The Vice President Services shall:

1. Oversee the business operations and services of the Union; ℹ️

   The president is responsible for facilitating discussion and ensuring attendance at student caucus meetings.

2. Act as the liaison between the Union and campus clubs and organizations; ℹ️

   The Vice President Services will attend official meetings between recognized clubs and the Union

3. Chair the Services Committee of the Union; ℹ️

   The Vice President Services is responsible for facilitating discussion and ensuring attendance at Services Committee Meetings.

4. Act as a signing authority of the Union; ℹ️

   The Vice President Services is one of five individuals who can sign contracts or cheques on behalf of the organization.

Vice President External

The Vice President External shall:

1. Communicate regularly with all levels of government; ℹ️

   The Vice President External is responsible for attending most meetings with government representatives at the municipal, provincial and federal level

2. Act as the liaison between the Union and its coalition partners; ℹ️

   The Vice President External is responsible for attending meetings with groups that we work on campaigns with

3. Oversee the campaigns work of the Union; ℹ️

   The Vice President External is responsible for ensuring that an annual plan of campaigns iniatitves is served to the Board of Directors and implemented by the Campaigns Committee throughout the year.

4. Chair the Campaigns Committee of the Union; ℹ️

   The Vice President External is responsible for facilitating discussion and ensuring attendance at Campaigns Committee Meetings.

5. Act as a signing authority of the Union. ℹ️

   The Vice President External is one five individuals who can sign contracts or cheques on behalf of the organization

Vice President Internal

The Vice President Internal shall:

1. Co-ordinate the events of the Union;
2. Chair the Entertainment Committee of the Union; ℹ️

   The Vice President Internal is responsible for facilitating discussion and ensuring attendance at Entertainment Committee Meetings.

3. Oversee the entertainment work of the Union; ℹ️

   The Vice President Internal is responsible for ensuring that an annual plan for entertainment activities is served to the Board of Directors and implemented by the Entertainment Committee throughout the year.

4. Act as a signing authority of the Union. ℹ️

   The Vice President Internal is one of five individuals who can sign contracts or cheques on behalf of the organization.

Vice President Equity

The Vice President Equity shall:

1. Oversee the equity activities of the Union; ℹ️

   The Vice President Equity is responsible for ensuring that an annual plan for equity initiatives has been served to the Board of Directors and is implemented throughout the year.

2. Act as a liaison between the Union and campus equity groups; ℹ️

   The Vice President Equity is responsible for attending meetings with Equity groups on campus and in the community

3. Chair the Equity Committee of the Union; ℹ️

   The Vice President Equity is responsible for facilitating discussion and ensuring attendance at Equity Committee Meetings

4. Act as a signing authority of the Union. ℹ️

   The Vice President Equity is one of five individuals who can sign contracts or cheques on behalf of the organization.

Graduate Representative

In order to run for this position, candidates must be registered at Thompson Rivers University in a Graduate Program. The Graduate Representative shall:

1. present a perspective of graduate students to the Board of Directors and ensure that the Board of Directors is informed with regards to graduate student issues and rights;
2. represent the Union on campus and in the community with respect to graduate student issues and rights;
3. be a member of the University Affairs Committee of the Union.

LGBTQ+ Representative

In order to run for this position candidates must self-identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. The LGBTQ Representative shall:

1. present perspectives of a diversity of gender and sexual constructions and orientations to the Board of Directors and ensure that the Board of Directors is informed with regards to gender and sexuality issues and rights;
2. represent the Union on campus and in the community with respect to gender issues and rights;
3. be a member of the Equity Committee of the Union;
4. assist with the implementation of the equity initiatives of the Union.

Indigenous Representative

In order to run for this position, candidates must identify as Indigenous. The Indigenous Representative shall:

1. present an Indigenous perspective to the Board of Directors and ensure that the Board of Directors is informed with regards to Indigenous issues and rights;
2. represent the Union on campus and in the community with respect to Indigenous issues and rights;
3. be a member of the Equity Committee of the Union;
4. assist with the implementation of the equity initiatives of the Union.

International Representative

In order to run for this position, candidates must be registered as an International Student at Thompson Rivers University. The International Representative shall:

1. present a perspective of international students to the Board of Directors and ensure that the Board of Directors is informed with regards to international student issues and rights;
2. represent the Union on campus and in the community with respect to international student issues and rights;
3. be a member of the University Affairs Committee of the Union;
4. assist the University Affairs Committee with the implementation of its work.

Women’s Representative

In order to run for this position, candidates must self-identify as a woman. The Women’s Representative shall:

1. present a feminist perspective to the Board of Directors and ensure that the Board of Directors is informed with regards to gender issues and rights;
2. represent the Union on campus and in the community with respect to gender issues and rights;
3. be a member of the Equity Committee of the Union;
4. assist with the implementation of the equity initiatives of the Union.

Racialized Persons Representative

In order to run for this position, candidates must identify as a visible minority. The Racialized Persons Representative shall:

1. present a perspective of racialized persons to the Board of Directors and ensure that the Board of Directors is informed with regards to racialized student issues and rights;
2. represent the Union on campus and in the community with respect to racialized student issues and rights;
3. be a member of the Equity Committee of the Union;
4. assist with the implementation of the equity initiatives of the Union.

Campaigns Committee Representative (2)

The Campaigns Committee Representative shall:

1. be a member of the Campaigns Committee;
2. assist the Campaigns Committee with the implementation of its work.

Services Committee Representative (2)

The Services Committee Representative shall:

1. be a member of the Services Committee;
2. assist the Services Committee with the implementation of its work.

Entertainment Committee Representative (2)

The Entertainment Committee Representative shall:

1. be a member of the Entertainment Committee;
2. assist the Entertainment Committee with the implementation of its work.

University Affairs Committee Representative (2)

The University Affairs Committee Representative shall:

1. be a member of the University Affairs Committee;
2. assist the University Affairs Committee with the implementation of its work.

Election Updates

When elections are called each year announcements will be made requesting nominations and outlining the election timeline. Click the button below to check for current announcements

Election News

If you would like to receive a email reminder when the nomination period starts please add your name and email below.

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