Here you'll find the latest updates on the 2021 Sabbatical Race including sabbatical roles, how to run and any info you'll need for the race!

What do I need to know?

Sabbatical elections for the 2021/22 academic year run from March 1st and end on March 11th, during the last 3 days of the campaign period, voting will take place. Due to ongoing restrictions, we will be running all voting via our online election system.

You can register to vote in these elections here: https://forms.gle/eg7EAW7n1MXwbxWe6

 
Candidate information will be made available on this page on the 1st of March!
 
You can find schedule 3, TCDSU's election regulations, updated for the 2021 election here. If you're running, it's crucial that you become familiar with our election regulations!
 
 You can find the Archive from our Sabbatical Election Information Session here.
 

What does the TCDSU President do?

  1. I Represent the student voice on committees such as Board, Finance, and in regular meetings with the Provost.

  2. I collaborate on and organise a variety of campaigns weeks on causes and important issues throughout the year.

  3. I lobby college to continually improve Zón Mac Leinn and services, ensuring the college puts students first. I’m currently lobbying for the construction of a Student Centre.

  4. I connect with USI and other Student Unions to work on National Campaigns for Education, Housing, and other important student issues. 

  5. As the CEO and CAO of TCDSU, I’m responsible for the day-to-day business of the Union from managing the Leap Card office to chairing Union Forum (the executive committee of TCDSU).

What Does the Education Officer do?

1. The Education officer is the Union’s Chief Academic Officer and Deputy President. The primary representative for the academic interest of the members of the Union and maintains and improves academic support services and educational standards in College.

2. Completes ‘casework’ and offers academic related support and advice for any students who need it. This includes assistance with course transfers, any difficulty with your course, exam failure or applications for extensions, deferrals, appeals etc. The Education officer must hold 2 hours office hours a week available to all students. 

3. Manages the Class Rep structure, Chair of the Education Committee and Secretary to and a non-voting member of the Electoral Commission.

4. Representative for the national Academic Affairs working group with the Union of Students Ireland. 

5. Represents all members of the Union on College committees including but not limited to: College Board, University Council, a variety of Sub-Committees and advisory groups, and a variety of relevant external bodies.

What Does the Welfare and Equality Officer do?

Casework

My role is a supporting role. A large part of my role involves casework. Be it issues with accommodation, financial hardship, mental health difficulties, stress management, the Welfare and Equality Officer is here to help.

Committees

My role is also an advocacy one. The Welfare and Equality Officer is responsible for platforming the student voice on a host of College committees. I spend 15 hours on average in meetings each week.

Campaigns

My role also involves raising awareness and campaigning to promote important student issues. There is lots of flexibility here, this role allows you to be adaptive and reactive to the social climate of the time.

Welfare and Equality Committee

This role is also a leading one. The Welfare and Equality Officer chairs the Welfare and Equality Committee (WEC), a group of dedicated individuals elected to represent specific cohorts of students to ensure the optimal wellbeing of the student community. 

Training Opportunities

This role is an opportunity to upskill. Although therapeutic training was part of my social work degree, don’t worry, it is not a prerequisite for this role! Throughout the year you will have the opportunity to engage in lots of training.

What Does the Comms and Marketing Officer Do?

  1. Manage all Union public relations including social media management, composing press statements and coordinating the SU’s digital presence. Also field and handle all media enquiries.

  2. Manage and develop Union sponsorships and partnerships, handling bisdev, sales, delivery and account management for all Union partners, bringing in crucial income for the SU

  3. Write, supervise, edit and layout the weekly email every week of term ensuring that students are kept in the loop on Union activities, ongoing campaigns and available supports.

  4. Responsible for Union publications such as the SU Diary and Calendar, and a variety of other, non-annual, publications such as the SU Cookbook and the Living in Dublin Guide.

  5. Work closely with the sabbatical team to ensure that their work gets publicised and the Union’s supports and services are regularly signposted to the student body. Making sure that students who need assistance know where to find it when they need it.

What Does the Ents Officer Do?

  1. Organise and co-ordinate one of the biggest weeks in the student calendar, Freshers Week!

  2. Host regular and enjoyable events that appeal to everyone in the student body

  3. Play a vital role in the organisation of Europe's largest private party, Trinity Ball

  4. Manage the Ents committee and ensure they assist in your duties as well as enjoying their own time on the team
  5. Be adaptable! In a year where not a single night club has been open for the entire Ents term, adaptability and creativity as an Ents officer is essential to Ents' success.

What Does the University Times Editor Do?

  1. The Editor of The University Times is responsible for the overall and day-to-day operations of Ireland’s largest student newspaper, which produces year-round, daily content and nine print editions a year

  2. As the person in charge of The University Times, the Editor must always be on call to cover and react to breaking news as well as to assist all of the newspaper’s editors. The Editor must ensure that daily content is produced at all times of the year, and that year-round coverage of the important issues is maintained. The Editor must also make sure that the paper secures regular advertising income.

  3. The Editor appoints and oversees an editorial staff of over 70 writers, acting as a mentor to them and making sure that their sections are on track. The newspaper aims to publish 40 articles a week and normally produces a 20-page broadsheet print, a 24-page print magazine and 20-page culture supplement once a month. 

  4. The Editor also writes and sources content for each section, and much of the day is spent following up on stories, writing pieces yourself or editing other people’s pieces. The Editor must have an in-depth understanding of College governance structures, TCDSU, the GSU and the third-level sector, and must also have experience cultivating and maintaining sources – often at the highest levels of Trinity 

  5. Being in charge of The University Times is a round-the-clock job. No matter where you are or what you are doing, if a story breaks or one of your writers needs urgent assistance, you have to drop everything. It can be stressful and the hours are long and inconsistent – as is the case for any Editor of a newspaper. However, it is also an incredibly rewarding job.
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