Update: Having your say on changes to our Full-Time Officer roles
Earlier this term we told you about plans to update your union’s Full-Time Officer roles, along with an all-student vote on the changes that were due to take place this term.
We have now decided to postpone this vote until next term because it has taken a bit longer than we expected to finalise options for the future structure of your union.
It’s really important that we get this right, which is why we don’t want to rush it through.
We’re going to take more time to consider and consult, to make sure your elected officers provide the representation you want, need, and deserve.
What’s happening and why?
For a range of reasons, we have been reviewing our elected, paid, Full-Time Officer roles (Sabbatical Officers).
At the moment we have five Full-Time Officers: President; Academic Affairs; Welsh Culture & UMCA President; Opportunities; and Wellbeing.
This term we started looking at plans to switch to a four-officer team, streamlining the union and diverting the financial saving to student activity.
Following extensive consultations, the union Trustee Board has gone a step further and proposed moving to a three-officer structure.
This will free-up more resources than we expected which will be used to pay some student leadership roles, but also means more work is needed to finalise proposals for the new roles.
Alongside considering potential officer team structures, we also need to make sure we’re clear on other aspects of the changes, such as which officer will be responsible for chairing our Trustee Board.
What will the new team look like?
You told us clearly during our consultation that you want to keep the role of Welsh Culture & Llywydd UMCA.
The Trustee Board has already confirmed that this role will feature in any structure that is presented for an all-student vote.
We’re working on options for the remaining two roles, and we will be able to share these with you soon.
What happens next?
We aim to be able to share options for the new officer structure with you early next term.
There will be opportunities to give your initial feedback, before a vote to choose your preferred officer team structure at our Annual General Meeting in the Main Room on March 10.
All current members of the students’ union will be eligible to attend the AGM and vote.
When will the new structure be introduced?
Following your decision at the AGM, we will start working on plans to implement your chosen officer structure.
The first elections under the new arrangements will take place in the spring of 2026, with the new three-officer structure in place from the 2026-27 academic year.
Got questions?
If you would like to know more about the process, we’d love to hear from you. Please email your questions to union@aber.ac.uk