Position: Vice President
Duration of term: January to December 2009
Reports to: Accountable to students via the AuSM Executive Council
Note: The position of the Vice President is a part time paid position and is contracted through an employment agreement to work up to a maximum of 20 hours per week.
Purpose of position:
To represent the interests of current and future AUT students through secondary accountability for AuSM, its Officers, staff, resources, and services.
NB. Present employment agreement sets out terms and conditions of the role, including details of remuneration as decided by the Executive Council as per the AuSM Constitution.
Principal accountabilities:
To adhere to and act in accordance with the AuSM Constitution and AuSM policy.
- Your primary responsibility as Vice-President is to represent all students at AUT.
- To familiarise yourself with the effective operation and functioning of the Association.
- Be knowledgeable about education policies that impact on students.
- Submit a written report to the executive council at every executive meeting.
- Maintain communication with the President regarding issues relating to your portfolio.
- Report once a month to your employing agent.
- To be available for up to a maximum of 20 hours of general executive council duties each week.
STUDENT ADVOCATE/REPRESENTATIVE
- Assume responsibility for ensuring that all students are aware of AuSM representation, services and benefits.
- Actively listen to & canvas student opinions, maintain a good overview of how students think and feel on issues.
- Develop a sound understanding of the Association and attend any appropriate training, so that should the need arise you are able to assume the role and duties of the President.
- Ensure that you are fully conversant with the proceedings of any meeting that you are unable to attend.
- Attend meetings of AUT committees and decision-making bodies where relevant or as required to put forward AuSM's policies and constructively and confidently assist in representing student interests.
- Be the second representative of AUT students on any national body that AuSM is affiliated to and at any national conference or event as required throughout the year.
- Maintain an overview of AuSM student services' assess suggestions for improved services with Executive.
- Attend all student Senate meetings, and any other student related meetings that might arise. E.g. forums
- Attend disciplinary hearings delegated to you by the President, if unavailable to attend ensure that such is delegated to another Executive Member.
- Prepare and present class talks promoting AuSM's services and facilities to students.
EXECUTIVE
- Regularly liaise with Executive members and Office holders to ensure they are fulfilling their roles as per their job descriptions, advise president and staff members of any information relevant to their role.
- Be fully conversant with matters of importance before the Executive and to read all relevant papers before meetings.
- Assist in coaching and passing on knowledge to new members of Executive and guide where appropriate.
- Prepare and ensue all relevant papers are made available to the Executive Council, including preparing the agenda and maintain a database of Executive member's details.
- Prepare an annual performance and training plan for the President.
- Monitor the performance of the President via regular one to one meetings that use the performance plan as a vehicle for positive feedback.
OFFICE HOLDERS
- Regularly liaise with office holders provide support and form functional communication network between office holders.
- Coordinate focus weeks
- Disseminate information to president, and staff who can assist.
- Ensure they are fulfilling Job Description.
- Gauge Opinion on issues at AUT and Nationally
POLICY & STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT
Objective: To assist the Executive in formulating, developing and implementing AuSM policy.
- Regularly revise AuSM policy and update as necessary
- Be knowledgeable about education policies that impact on students.
- Actively seek to keep well informed on all aspects of the university and
education sector, regionally, nationally and internationally.
- Assist in providing guidelines and formulating policy for the Association and for the staff via the Executive Council.
- Aid the Association in any student action or reaction to changes in student issues.
- Formulate AuSM's reaction to AUT fee setting in conjunction with the president and assist with writing any proposals necessary
- Maintain any up to date list of internal and external contacts.
ASSOCIATION FINANCES/ADMIN
- Develop a sound understanding of the associations financial running including
- Setting of the budget,
- Monitoring associations finances,
- All policies with financial ramifications.
- Act as a cheque signatory for approved Association expenditure when required.
- Be the employing agent for the president, coordinate on performance appraisal on the president per semester and present them to the Executive Council.
- Attend the AuSM Finance Administration committee
- Assist wherever possible at official AuSM activities.
- Carry out any reasonable task as direct by your employing agent.
AuSM office standards of behaviour:
Team orientation
* Aware of team goals and objectives
* Seeks input from others and keeps them informed
* Works co-operatively, gives support to others when needed
* Is flexible around individual tasks and jobs
* Maintains good relationships, does not allow personality differences to intrude
Customer focus
* Commitment to meeting needs and expectations of students
* Aware of current AuSM services and resources
* Warm, friendly manner to students
* Gives options and choices in solving student enquiries and problems
* Deals appropriately with variety of situations and people
Communication
* Attentive and active listener, checks understanding
* Clear, concise, readable, and accurate written communication
* Is approachable, shares ideas with team, gives relevant feedback
* Is sensitive to the moods, feelings and motivations of others
* Communicates appropriately to situation, culture etc
Problem solving
* Identifies problems, prioritises critical issues
* Uses available resources to check information
* Identifies appropriate solutions
* Consults widely with team and students
* Anticipates future problems and takes action
Self-Manager
* Uses time effectively and is reliable and punctual
* Manages work to achieve objectives through prioritising
* Stays calm under pressure, and manages stress positively
* Accepts readily and adapts quickly to change
* Delegates where appropriate, asks for help where necessary
Achievement/improvement orientation
* Demonstrates seeing projects through, following up
* Maintains a positive approach in all situations
* Constantly looks for ways to do things better
* Actively promotes AUSM services and standards
* Pro-active in suggesting new ideas for services
