► What do Trustees Do?

The Students’ Association is a Registered Scottish Charity, and once elected, you will be subject to certain legal obligations that come with being a Trustee.  These include being legally responsible for the financial affairs of the Union and being accountable to the members of SAUWS (all the rest of the students!).  As well as the democratic and legal stuff of running the Unions, the Trustees share the responsibility for ensuring the representational and welfare needs of the students.  They do this by sitting on University committees, Senate and Court, reporting to the Student Councils, representing SAUWS to external bodies including NUS and by running campaigns throughout the year.  On an individual basis, each position also has it’s own areas of responsibility. 

President—the senior representative of SAUWS with ultimate responsibility for implementing and progressing the democratically decided views and policies of SAUWS within UWS and to outside bodies.  The President is also responsible for the provision of social, cultural and any trading services at the Paisley Campus and acts as the line manager for the senior staff member of SAUWS.  The President leads and supports sabbatical colleagues in their roles and campaigns, particularly in the areas of welfare, education and representation. 

Depute President (Education & Welfare) - deputises in the absence of the President.  DPEW is responsible for coordinating all matters relating to the welfare, equality and campaigns of students according to SAUWS policies.  DPEW coordinates the filling of vacancies on University committees and is the convener and Chair of the Paisley Student Council. DPEW also advises / represents students going through academic appeals, complaints and disciplinaries and would liaise with appropriate external bodies and agencies on behalf of individual students.

Sports President—has overall responsibility for the affairs of all sports clubs and general societies affiliated to SAUWS.  In addition to supporting and coordinating the activities of sports clubs on all campuses, SP liaises with Scottish Universities Sports and British Universities Sports Association and represents SAUWS to any outside or University bodies regarding sports.

These 3 sabbatical positions are all based on the Paisley campus, but serve students throughout UWS on all its campuses. 

There is also a sabbatical position based on each of the Hamilton and Ayr Campuses and these are called

Campus Presidents—deputise in the President’s absence, and if so delegated, in matters relating to their own Campus.  They represent members on their own campus to University bodies and management, as well as convening and chairing the Students’ Council.  They are responsible for the provision of social, cultural and any trading services as determined by their Students’ Councils.  They also have responsibility for the provision of societies on their own campus. After the President, they are the senior representatives of the members on their own campuses. 

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