Elections to the MCR Committee

Elections to the MCR Executive Committee are held in Michaelmas term of each academic year, usually early in November. See the section headings below for more information about how the elections are held, which positions are elected and what to do if you would like to be on the committee:

Election timetable

The MCR Committee Secretary will open nominations two weeks before the elections. Notice of this will be sent to all MCR members via the mailing-list.

If you would like to stand for any position, submit your nomination via email to the Returning Officer who is in charge of carrying out the elections stating why you would like to run. Nominations must be seconded by members of the MCR and nominations close seven days before the election.

Once all the nominations have been collected, manifestos for all the candidates will be put up on the website for MCR members to peruse. The manifestos from the last election can be seen here as examples if you need any guidance for writing your own.

The elections are then held on-line over two days and the results are usually announced at the MCR Black Tie dinner in November. All posts run until the following November, but those on one year courses can still run and be elected. Volunteer committee members will then be co-opted to fill those positions over the Summer Break.

Positions available

The committee generally comprises of the positions described below. Further positions may be co-opted by the committee.

Executive Committee

President

The President shall be the Chief Executive of the MCR. They shall be responsible for coordinating the work of the Committee, and for the long-term planning of the MCR. The President, or, in their absence, their deputy or another Executive member shall chair Open Meetings. The President shall take the chair or appoint a member of the Executive to chair Committee Meetings. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President or another member of the Executive shall chair. The President shall represent the MCR at Governing Body meetings, College council meetings, Master’s and Tutors’ Committee, the Emmanuel Society meetings, CUSU Council, GU Council and other meetings as appropriate.

Vice President

The Vice-President shall act as the Deputy for in the President’s absence or at the President’s request. They shall be required to share the workload of the President as required by the President in agreement with the Committee. The Vice-President shall represent the MCR at any meetings agreed by the President and the Committee.

Secretary

The Secretary shall set the agenda for, and take minutes of all meetings.The Secretary shall also be responsible for giving notice of Open Meetings (Including the Annual General Meeting), and of elections. They shall also be responsible for maintaining the MCR membership list.

Treasurer

The Treasurer shall administer the financial affairs of the MCR.

Computer Officer

The Computer Officer shall be responsible for the MCR website. They shall liaise with college and University computing services, with the aim of improving services for members.

Welfare Officer

The Welfare Officer shall represent the welfare needs of the students. They shall lead and co-ordinate the work of the Welfare Team. If a position on the Welfare Team is vacant, the Welfare Officer shall aim, within their means, to represent the welfare needs of that group. They shall liaise with the Welfare Officer of CUSU, the GU, the NUS, or any like body of Cambridge students, as well as members of college staff with Welfare responsibilities.

Social Secretary

The Social Secretary shall be responsible for all MCR social events. They shall lead and co-ordinate the work of the Ents Team, whose aim shall be to provide entertainments for all members of the MCR, which will appeal to all members. They shall be required to share the workload of the Ents Team Officers where necessary. If a position on the Ents Team is vacant, the Social Secretary is responsible for ensuring the duties of the vacant position are fulfilled. They shall ensure the full Committee fulfil their responsibilities for social events, as agreed in the Committee Guidelines.

Education & Careers Officer

The Education & Careers Officer shall represent the academic interests of the members of MCR and liaise with the Education and Access Officers of CUSU, the Academic Affairs Officer of GU, the relevant Officers of the NUS, or their successors in title, or any like body of Cambridge students. They shall arrange events such as Grad Talks and any other events which meet this aim. They shall also be the MCR representative on the Library Committee.

Accommodation & Environment Officer

The Accommodation & Environment Officer shall be responsible for ensuring that the quality of College Services is high and has minimal impact on the environment. They shall deal with student complaints about College buildings and services. They shall be an MCR representative on the Buildings and Services Committee, and Catering Committee. They shall represent student interests on issues of Accommodation, Rents and Food. They shall represent green issues in college and raise awareness of recycling and energy efficiency, especially with regard to college policy. They shall also represent other ethical affairs issues in college.

Welfare Team

Womens' Officer

The Women’s Officer shall co-ordinate the affairs and represent the interests of members of the MCR who identify as woman or non-binary, and liaise with the Women’s Officer of the CUSU, the GU or the NUS, or their successor in title, or any like body of Cambridge students.

LGBT+ Officer

The LGBT+ Officer shall co-ordinate the affairs and represent the interests of members of the MCR who identify as LGBT+, and liaise with the LGBT+ Campaign of CUSU, or their successor in title, or any like body of Cambridge students.

Minorities Coalition Officer

The Minorities Coalition Officer shall co-ordinate the affairs and represent the interests of members of the MCR who identify as a minority, including (but not limited to) a racial, ethnic or religious minorities, and liaise with the BME Campaign of CUSU, or their successor in title, or any like body of Cambridge students.

Disabled Students' Officer

The Disabled Students’ Officer shall co-ordinate the affairs and represent the interests of members of the MCR who self-define as having, or as having had, a visible and/or invisible disability, including (but not limited to) physical disabilities, chronic illness or mental health problems. They shall liaise with the DSO of CUSU, or their successor in title, or any like body of Cambridge students.

International Officer

The International Officer shall co-ordinate the affairs and represent the interests of international members of the MCR, and liaise with the International Students Campaign of CUSU, the International Officer of the GU, or their successor in title, or any like body of Cambridge students.

Families' Officer

The Families’ Officer shall co-ordinate the affairs and represent the interests of members of the MCR with families and liaise with the Families Officer of the GU, or their successor in title, or any like body of Cambridge students.

Entertainment Team

Internal Events Officer

The Internal Events Officer shall be responsible for organising and/or co-ordinating social events primarily for the entertainment of MCR members, including (but not limited to) MCR formal dinners, after dinner ents, and non-drinking events. They shall be required to share the workload of the other Ents Team Officers where necessary. They shall be assisted where necessary by the full Committee, in accordance with the Committee Guidelines.

External Events Officer

The External Events Officer shall be responsible for liaising with other Cambridge colleges (and the MCR’s sister college Exeter, Oxford) to organise and/or co-ordinate intercollegiate social events, including (but not limited to) dinner and bar swaps. They shall be required to share the workload of the other Ents Team Officers where necessary. They shall be assisted where necessary by the full Committee, in accordance with the Committee Guidelines.

Sports Officer

The Sports Officer shall be responsible for organising and/or co-ordinating sporting activities for the MCR, including (but not limited to) internal sporting events and intercollegiate competitions. They shall also be responsible for organising inductions to the College Fitness Suite. They shall be assisted where necessary by the full Committee, in accordance with the Committee Guidelines.

General points about being on the committee

Although each job obviously has its particular responsibilities the whole committee helps out at MCR dinners and other big events. Being part of the MCR committee is a good laugh and also gives you the opportunity to put something back into College life.

Do consider being on the committee if:

• You enjoyed taking part in Freshers’ week events and MCR stuff since then and want to get more involved this time round.
• You have lots of new and exciting ideas re: dinners/meetings/events/accommodation/all of the above.
• You like organising parties etc. and want find out more about the college, learn the names of the porters/chefs, get keys to the cellars, dine at high table...
• You fancy meeting a whole new bunch of people and getting dragged to lots of events kicking and screaming.
• You think you can do better than the outgoing MCR committee.
• You like standing up and making a fool of yourself in front of 120 people.

Don't get involved in the MCR Committee if:

• You just want points on the CV.
• You haven't got the time to spare because you are a Blues rower/manic workaholic/manic socialite with 5,000 engagements each week.
• You can’t commit to attending committee meetings every two weeks during term time.