The Open University Students Association (OUSA)
in the West Midlands


Executive Committee composition

Corporate responsibilities of the Executive Committee

The Executive Committee has the corporate responsibility for the execution of all aspect of the Association's affairs between Conference. It is bound by the provisions of the Constitution and is charged with the responsibility for upholding both the Constitution and all Conference resolutions as the only clear mandate for executive action. Any deviation from these provisions necessary to take account of particular circumstances arising during the year must be justified at the next meeting of Conference.

Whilst detailed responsibility for the management of the Association's affairs is specifically delegated to the Vice Presidents and their Standing Committee the ultimate responsibility rests with the President and the Executive Committee. This provision also holds good for sub-committees of the Executive Committee.

President
VP Finance
Executive Committee Members for Regions and Sub Regions
Deputy President
VP Representation
Societies' Standing Committee Representative
Vice Presidents
VP Student Support
The Executive Committee Member for Student Academic Links (SAL's)
VP Constitutions
VP Equal Opportunities
Elections
VP Education
Member of Council
View the current post holders


President: The President is the elected head of the Students Association and is, therefore, personally responsible to the Conference for the conduct of the Association's affairs between Conferences. In this sense the President carries the ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the corporate responsibilities of the Executive Committee, as defined above, are met. The President must, therefore, make any final decision on which matters require to be determined by the resolution of a meeting of the Executive Committee. The President shall lead all delegations/working parties/negotiations with other organisations except where this function if expressly delegated to another member of the Executive Committee. The President shall chair the Appointments Committee and will also move Honorary Life Membership and Honorary Vice Presidency at the Conference unless this function is expressly delegated to another member of the Executive Committee. The President is ex-officio a member of University Boards and Committees

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Deputy President:
The Deputy President assists the President and automatically becomes President if that office becomes vacant between meetings of the Conference. In addition the Deputy President:

a) is Chair of the Staffing Committee, whose terms of reference are approved by the Executive Committee;

b) on behalf of the President, approves the payment of expenses claimed by Executive Committee Members;

c) shall be consulted when the President decides to use the emergency powers (provided under section 13 of Addendum 2 to Standing Orders) to take action on behalf of the Executive Committee;

d) is the Chair of the Sub-Committee with responsibility for Communications within the Association.

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Vice Presidents

Common Responsibilities

Vice Presidents are elected by Conference and are responsible to Conference and to the Executive Committee for the discharge of their responsibilities. Each Vice President is acting on behalf of the President and is, therefore, responsible to the President between meetings of the Executive Committee. They are required to act as Chair of their respective Standing Committees and to nominate the membership of their committees for appointment by the Executive Committee.

It is the duty of the Vice Presidents to promote the activity of the Association within their area of responsibility, in accordance with policies laid down by Conference. It is also their responsibility to work in collaboration with the Association's representatives on University boards and committees towards the achievement of OUSA's policies within the University.

Vice Presidents are required to report regularly to the Executive Committee and to submit an annual report to Conference. They should also submit, through the Executive Committee, motions for debate by Conference with the purpose of amending, extending or clarifying Association policy within their areas of responsibility.

A Vice President may delegate authority to another person to act in a specific manner but nonetheless remains responsible for the outcome.

Vice Presidents should develop effective links with Regional Forums and participate in a co-ordinated programme of Regional visits by the Officers of the Association.

Vice Presidents are responsible for the approval of expenditure against their budgets. They are also responsible for the provision and maintenance of information papers relevant to their respective areas.

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VP Constitutions:
1. Guidance on the interpretation of the Constitution and Standing Orders.
2. Revision of the Constitution and Standing Orders in the light of amendments approved by Conference.
3. Conference Steering Committee - organisation and preparation of Conference business.
4. Approval and monitoring of the Constitutions of Societies seeking affiliation or affiliated to OUSA (authority delegated by the EC).
5. Ensuring that all Association documentation added to the official OUSA Handbook is consistent and in “User Friendly” formats.

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VP Education:
1. Consideration of the University's educational programmes and related matters.
2. The conduct of research into factors which promote or inhibit study within the University.
3. With the support of the EC Member for Student Academic Links, ensuring an effective system of communications and feedback with Student Academic Links in the Regions.
4. Student representation within the University - operation, monitoring and development.
5. General oversight of progress of Association policies through student representation.
6. Initiation of election and appointment procedures for representatives on Boards and Committees.
7. Communications to, from and between representatives on Boards and Committees and the preparation of periodic reports for publication in the Branch Bulletin.
8. Responsibility for briefing student members of Senate
9. Maintenance of the Association's Register of Decisions and the allocation of responsibility for acting on or progressing individual policies.

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VP Finance:
1. Development and implementation of a programme of action to achieve the objectives of the Association's Equal Opportunities policy.
2. Advice to the Executive Committee on action necessary to implement or promote equal opportunities within OUSA.
3. Co-ordination and liaison with other OUSA representatives and post holders to ensure that OUSA's policies on equal opportunities are effectively pursued within the University.

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VP Representation:
1. Provide support and assistance to EC Members for Geographical Areas.
2. Provide support and assistance to Regional Forums.
3. Maintenance and revision of Associations documentation for Branches, Regional Forums and appropriate sections of the EC manual.
4. Co-ordination of training of all Association activists with input from other Officers and Executive Committee Members as appropriate.
5. Representation at Residential Schools and other events.

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VP Student Support:
1. Provision of central assistance and services to students, where required, to enable them to overcome problems seriously affecting their ability to study in the University.
2. The encouragement, co-ordination and oversight of similar services at Regional and Branch levels.
3. Fund raising for OUSET.

Responsible for OUSA's network of Student Support Links (SSL's) who deal with individual student issues, for fundraising for OUSET and a range of services to the student body (e.g. Open Day and representation at Residential Schools).

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VP Equal Opportunities:
1. Development and implementation of a programme of action to achieve the objectives of the Association's Equal Opportunities policy.
2. Advice to the Executive Committee on action necessary to implement or promote equal opportunities within OUSA.
3. Co-ordination and liaison with other OUSA representatives and post holders to ensure that OUSA's policies on equal opportunities are effectively pursued within the University.Responsible for taking forward OUSA's Equalities Action Plan.

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The Executive Committee Member for Student Academic Links (SAL's):
Responsible for promoting the role of Student Academic Links in the Regions and Sub-Regions. The post holder is also responsible for, when relevant and in conjunction with other appropriate OUSA office holders, ensuring that academic based issues of significance to the whole faculty are represented at OUSA Executive Committee.

Responsible for co-ordinating, supporting and developing the network of SAL's who provide students with a point of contact for academic issues.

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Executive Committee Members for Regions and Sub Regions:
Are responsible for the proper representation of OUSA in their Regions and for ensuring adequate representation, with Branches and Regional Forums (RF's).

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Societies' Standing Committee Representative:
Responsible for the promotion and development of activities by the affiliated Societies within the objectives of OUSA. The Societies' Representative is also responsible for liaison between the Executive Committee, Regional Forums and the Societies Standing Committee on matters of concern to the affiliated Societies. The Societies Representative on the Executive Committee is elected by the Societies Standing Committee AGM.

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Member of Council:
The student elected as the member of the University Council. Serves for a period of two years.

View the current post holders by clicking here

Elections

Conference

Executive Committee
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