Elections

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 the Board of Directors

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 on the second Tuesdays of each month 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. Details for meetings of the standing committees can be found below. Candidates should be prepared to attend and participate in those committee meetings.

Campaigns Committee

The Campaigns Committee meetings are scheduled at times and dates set by a majority of the committee members and often take about one hour per week. This committee is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the annual Campaigns Plan for the Union. They are the people working hard to address issues that affect students at the Federal, Provincial, or Municipal levels such as student financial aid, institutional funding, public transit, and civic engagement. Members of the committee include:

  • Campaigns Committee Executive Member (1)
  • Campaigns Committee Representatives (2)
  • Members-at-Large (3)
  • Campaigns Coordinator
Equity Committee

The Equity Committee meetings are scheduled at times and dates set by a majority of the committee members and often take about one hour per week. This committee is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the annual Equity Plan for the Union. They are the people working hard to address structural oppression and inequity on and of campus. Members of the committee include:

  • Equity Committee Executive Member (1)
  • Accessibility Representative (1)
  • Indigenous Representative (1)
  • LGBTQ+ Representative (1)
  • Racialized Persons Representative (1)
  • Women’s Representative (1)
  • Members-at-Large (3)
  • Equity Coordinator (1)
Entertainment Committee

The Entertainment Committee meetings are scheduled at times and dates set by a majority of the committee members and often take about one hour per week. This committee is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the annual Entertainment Plan for the Union. They are the people working hard to bring you great campus life activities like the Back to School BBQ and the Common Voices Lecture Series. Members of the committee include:

  • Entertainment Committee Executive Member (1)
  • Entertainment Committee Representatives (2)
  • Members-at-Large (3)
  • Entertainment Coordinator (1)
Services Committee

The Services Committee meets every Tuesday from 1:30PM-3:30PM. This committee is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the annual Services Plan for the Union. They are the people working hard to oversee the Union’s student health and dental plan, the UPASS, and many other great services. The are also the individuals who adjudicate applications to the TRUSU Grants Program. Members of the committee include:

  • Services Committee Executive Member (1)
  • Services Committee Representatives (2)
  • Members-at-Large (3)
  • Services Coordinators (2)
University Affairs Committee

The University Affairs Committee meetings are scheduled at times and dates set by a majority of the committee members and often take about one hour per week. This committee is responsible for recruiting and resourcing student representatives on TRU committees and working within that system to seek changes within the university such as better food service, more flexible and affordable parking, and cheaper textbook costs through increased use of Open Textbooks. Members of this committee include:

  • University Affairs Committee Executive Member (1)
  • Graduate Representative (1)
  • International Students Representative (1)
  • University Affairs Committee Representatives (2)
  • Members-at-Large (3)
  • University Affairs Coordinator (1)

On-boarding 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. Orientation takes place on May 1-2 in the Students’ Union Building each year.  Attendance in person 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 a monthly honorarium for their hours worked to a maximum of 15 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.

Positions & Individual Responsibilities

There are 20 positions on the TRUSU Board of Directors up for election each year. Find out more about the individual responsibilities of each of those positions by clicking on the titles below.

Campaigns Committee Executive Member (1)

 

The Campaigns Committee Executive Member shall:

  1. Be a spokesperson for the Union;
  2. Co-Chair meetings of the Board of Directors;
  3. Communicate with all levels of government;
  4. Act as the liaison between the Union and its coalition partners;
  5. Oversee the campaigns wok of the Union;
  6. Act as a signing authority of the Union;
  7. Be responsible for maintaining and ensuring the implementation of the Constitution, Bylaws, and Policy of the Union and discipline Campaigns Committee members as deemed necessary;
  8. Coordinate and delegate responsibilities to the Campaigns Committee members and/or appointees as deemed necessary.
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.
Entertainment Committee Executive Member (1)

The Entertainment Committee Executive Member shall:

  1. Be a spokesperson of the Union;
  2. Co-Chair meetings of the Board of Directors;
  3. Co-ordinate the events of the Union;
  4. Oversee the entertainment work of the Union;
  5. Act as a signing authority of the Union;
  6. Co-chair meetings of the Board of Directors;
  7. Be responsible for maintaining and ensuring the implementation of the Constitution, Bylaws, and Policy of the Union and discipline Entertainment Committee members as deemed necessary;
  8. Coordinate and delegate committee responsibilities to Entertainment Committee members and/or appointees as deemed necessary.
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.
Equity Committee Executive Member (1)

The Equity Committee Executive Member shall:

  1. Be a spokesperson for the Union;
  2. Co-Chair meetings of the Board of Directors;
  3. Oversee the equity activities of the Union;
  4. Act as the liaison between the Union and campus equity groups;
  5. Act as a signing authority of the Union;
  6. Co-chair meetings of the Board of Directors;
  7. Be responsible for maintaining and ensuring the implementation of the Constitution, Bylaws, and Policy of the Union and discipline Equity Committee members as deemed necessary;
  8. Coordinate and delegate committee responsibilities to Equity Committee members and/or appointees as deemed necessary.
Accessibility Representative (1)

In order to run for this position, candidates must self-identify as a person with an accessibility issue.

The Accessibility Representative shall:

  1. Present a perspective of persons with accessibility issues to the Board of
    Directors and ensure that the Board of Directors is informed with regards to
    accessibility issues and rights;
  2. Represent the Union on campus and in the community with respect accessibility 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 (1)

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.
LGBTQ+ Representative (1)

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.
Racialized Persons Representative (1)

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 students 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.
Women’s Representative (1)

In order to run for this position, candidates must 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.
Services Committee Executive Member (1)

The Services Committee Executive Member shall:

  1. Be a spokesperson of the Union;
  2. Co-Chair meetings of the Board of Directors;
  3. Oversee the business operations and services of the Union;
  4. Act as the liaison between the Union and campus clubs and organizations;
  5. Act as a signing authority of the Union;
  6. Co-chair meetings of the Board of Directors;
  7. Be responsible for maintaining and ensuring the implementation of the Constitution, Bylaws, and Policy of the Union and discipline Services Committee members as deemed necessary;
  8. Coordinate and delegate committee responsibilities to Services Committee members and/or appointees as deemed necessary.
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.
University Affairs Committee Executive Member (1)

The University Affairs Committee Executive Member shall:

  1. Be a spokesperson of the Union;
  2. Co-Chair meetings of the Board of Directors;
  3. Act as the liaison between the Institution and the Union; 
  4. Oversee the University Affairs work of the Union;
  5. Act as a signing authority for the Union;  
  6. Be responsible for maintaining and ensuring the implementation of the Constitution, Bylaws, and Policy of the Union and discipline University Affairs Committee members as deemed necessary;
  7. Coordinate and delegate committee responsibilities to University Affairs Committee members and/or appointees as deemed necessary.
Graduate Student Representative (1)

In order to run for this position, candidates must be registered at Thompson Rivers University in a Graduate Program (click here for a list of all graduate programs at TRU). 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;
  4. assist the University Affairs Committee with the implementation of its work.
International Student Representative (1)

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.
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.
Submit a Nomination Form

Election Updates

When elections are called each year announcements will be made requesting nominations and outlining the election timeline those announcements will be listed below.

There are currently no updates for this year’s election. For previous year’s information click here. 

Upcoming Election Events

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