Board Positions

There are sixteen positions on the Board of Directors. The term lasts from May to April the following year. The positions are:

Executive Officers:

  • President
  • Treasurer
  • Member Services Officer
  • Internal Relations Officer
  • External Relations Officer
  • University Relations Officer

Faculty representatives:

  • Applied Sciences
  • Arts & Social Sciences
  • Business Administration
  • Communication, Art & Technology
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Health Sciences
  • Science

Two (2) At-Large Representatives

Role of the President

The President is a representative of the Board and Society, and is involved in public relations issues. The President participates in all formal activities of the Society, and leads large scope operational tasks such as contracts and legal consultations, and also supports the duties of the IRO. This position has the most contact with University administrators and departments, and takes care of general issues involving the university. There is a degree of flexibility to the projects the President undertakes.

According to the SFSS Constitution, the President shall:

  • Have the power to convene the Board or Forum at any time.
  • Be an ex-officio voting member of all Board and Forum committees.
  • Be a signing officer.
  • Represent the Society on formal occasions.
  • Undertake all other duties usually falling to the office of President of a Society.

Role of the Treasurer

The Treasurer’s primary responsibility is to keep track of the Society’s finances. This includes the budget breakdown, allocation of funds, investments, and a broad perspective on leases, contracts, and legal issues for Society services. The treasurer also signs cheques, manages payroll, and keeps track of time sheets. Furthermore, the treasurer sits on all Society committees. Communication is an important aspect of this position, and it would be an asset for candidates to have experience managing finances as they will be responsible for a multi-million dollar organization.

According to the SFSS Constitution, the Treasurer shall:

  • Ensure that all Society funds are deposited in an appropriate account at a financial institution selected by the Board.
  • Keep careful account and be responsible for all monies received and disbursed by or on behalf of the Society. The Treasurer shall not disburse funds except as provided for in these By-Laws, or by regulation.
  • Render, upon request of the Board and within fourteen calendar days, a detailed written report on the Society’s financial affairs.
  • Prepare a detailed written report on the Society’s financial affairs for consideration at the Annual General Meeting.
  • Coordinate the preparation of the budget of the Society.
  • Coordinate the commercial and legal affairs of the Society.
  • Be a signing officer.

Role of the Member Services Officer

The Member Services Officer is responsible for the services offered by the Society, and acts as the main liaison for students. The top priority for the MSO is to ensure that services such as the health plan, night line, food & beverage services, and other services jointly funded with the University operate smoothly. The MSO is also involved in administrative tasks such as the negotiation of agreements with the University and with external entities for services. As a liaison and often first point of contact for students, the MSO must be familiar with the operations of the Society, especially the General Office.

According to the SFSS Constitution, the Member Services Officer shall:

  • Assume and carry out the rights, duties and obligations of the President during
    her or his absence or in the event that she or he should resign, be impeached or
    abandon office.
  • Act as a liaison between the Board, Forum, and other student groups at the
    University.
  • Oversee the establishment and maintenance of Unions, and act as a liaison
    between the Board and these Unions.
  • Coordinate the compilation of the Annual Report of the Board for consideration
    at the Annual General Meeting.
  • Coordinate and facilitate activities and services for the members of the Society.
    Be a signing officer.

Role of the Internal Relations Officer

The Internal Relations Officer acts as a manager for the Society, and as such is the most demanding position of the Board of Directors. The IRO is the representative of the Board in front of Society employees, participates in negotiations, and manages the Human Resources database. This position requires a good understanding of labour relationships, human relationships, and management-union relationships, negotiation skills, and time and stress management. If this position is replaced by a general manager following this term, the incoming IRO would also be responsible for development of the general manager position, allocation of responsibilities, and assisting in the transition to a general manager.

According to the SFSS Constitution, the Internal Relations Officer shall:

  • Act as a liaison between the Board and its employees.
  • Coordinate all staff relations functions, activities, and policies.
  • Ensure compliance with and enforcement of all relevant Collective Agreements,
    employment contracts and staff relations policies.
  • Be a signing officer.

Role of the External Relations Officer

The External Relations Officer is a position to advocate for the society, and chairs the Advocacy Committee. The ERO runs campaigns, such as the current Student Debt campaign, communicates with SFU groups such as Senate, Governors, the Graduate Student Society, and other student groups, and also maintains contact with outside organizations including direct contact with the government and also networking with other universities and student societies around the country. This position is not involved in the administration of the Society as much as in public relations, and involves some flexibility in the projects the ERO chooses to undertake.

According to the SFSS Constitution, the External Relations Officer shall:

  • Be responsible for keeping the Board informed of plans or actions of external
    organisations, outside the University, and federal and provincial governments
    that have a direct bearing on the Society or its members.
  • Be responsible for Society business related to, and shall organize Society
    representation at conferences held by external organizations, other than the
    University, in which the Society may have membership or interest.
  • Act as a liaison between the Society and other student unions.

Role of the University Relations Officer

The University Relations Officer is the liaison between the Society and the University. The URO must be well acquainted with University leaders, such as the President, vice-presidents, Board of Governors, and Senate, etc. The URO will sit on the Space committee, as well as the Joint Services Committee which is responsible for services offered jointly by the Society, Health Services, and Student Services. This position involves frequent communication to coordinate programs such as the Upass, and the URO is expected to keep track of the progress of the Society to facilitate communication.

According to the SFSS Constitution, the University Relations Officer shall:

  • Act as a liaison between the Board and the University.
  • Coordinate student representation on all University committees to which the Society nominates or appoints.
  • Coordinate student involvement in University community affairs and activities.

Role of Faculty & At-Large Representatives

The main responsibility of Faculty Representatives is to communicate with theirs and others faculties, so Faculty Representatives must maintain good relations with the Departmental Student Unions and forum representatives within their faculty. There is no specific prescribed duties for this position, which is determined by your area of interest (e.g. advocacy/events/etc), but Faculty Representatives are generally expected to help with Society events and aid executives on projects and decision-making.

At-Large representatives have a large degree of flexibility to take on projects and join committees that interest them. They also support executive directors on Society operations, holding events, and launching campaigns.

Orientation

Elected Board members will be provided on-the-job training to acclimate to the roles and responsibilities of a student society directorship. This will include Robert’s Rules, committees, the pace of the society, and other essential elements of the job. Candidates are strongly encouraged to approach current Board members in order to familiarize themselves with the responsibilities of each position, as well as reading through the Board and committee meeting minutes to gain a better understanding of the state of the Society.

The elected Directors will play a crucial role in the proper functioning of the Society and its services to the student body.