Starting this year, any students who are thinking of running for an elected position in the Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) will first need to complete a series of online leadership modules, as well as a knowledge quiz.

“We are committed to ensuring that our election process is fair and transparent, empowering students to elect the leaders they choose to represent them confidently,” said current FSU President Siddharth Singh. “These modules provide valuable insights into the FSU, my role, and other student leadership positions. Upon completion, students will receive a certificate, equipping them with the knowledge they need to decide whether to run in the elections.”

Every spring, the Fanshawe student body has the opportunity to elect a new FSU President and Board of Directors, who represent students on the Student Administrative Council. Only a small fraction of the student body votes in the elections (2,826 votes were cast last spring out of approximately 21,000 full-time students), and only a handful of students take the initiative to run for these positions.

But, if running for one of these positions is something you are considering, you will first need to go to the FSU website and complete the three leadership modules in order to give you more background on what exactly the FSU does, and ensure that you are prepared for the role for which you want to run. 

The first module is titled, “An Introduction to the Fanshawe Student Union” and takes potential candidates through the history of the FSU and the services it offers to students.

After that, students will watch the next module, which is “Student Governance.” This video lays out the operating structure of the FSU. It discusses the roles of the executives, the Student Administrative Council, as well as by-laws and the FSU’s strategic direction.

The third module is titled, “Fanshawe Student Union Elections” and covers everything related to how and when elections are held, including nominations, campaigning and debating.

Finally, potential candidates will need to complete a short quiz to prove they watched all three of the modules.

While the extra work of completing the modules may seem like a daunting new step, Singh believes it can help aspiring candidates to get a better idea of what exactly the job entails.

“We believe it is essential for students to be well-informed about their responsibilities, and we are here to guide Fanshawe College students every step of the way,” said Singh.

Helping to run a student union is not a simple part-time job, and many of the positions involve a great deal of work, as well as a serious time commitment. Visit fsu.ca/elections to learn more.