About us > Full-time Officers

About us

The University of Sussex Students' Union aims to make the lives of its members better by providing opportunities such as sports clubs and societies, advice and support services on issues such as housing and coursework and student-friendly shops and bars on campus.

► Full-time Officers

Full-time Officers

Full-time elected officers, or 'sabbatical officers' are elected every February and lead the Union for a year. There are six positions, each one has responsibility for different areas of Union activity.

Students often run for full-time officer positions in their final year of study, but students from any year of study can 'intermit' (suspend their degree course) to become a full-time elected officer. Full-time elected officers get paid a basic wage, and are still classed by the Students' Union as students whilst they are in office. Anyone can stand for any of the positions in our annual elections, find out more at www.sussexstudent.com/elections.

The officers' complete job descriptions can be found in the Students' Union Constitution plus you can find out more about the other elected positions in the Students' Union and how we make decisions using the menu on the right.

Full-time officers 2011/12

Our full-time officers all have offices in Falmer House so feel free to pop in and see them. They are also available via phone or email and have profiles on Facebook and Twitter so you can find out what they've been up to.

Full-time officers The full-time officers

Activities Officer - James Hickie

The Activities Officer is responsible for sports clubs, societies and volunteering projects and opportunities organised by the Students' Union.

I also help organise some of the bigger events in our calendar, such as Freshers Week and the Gradudation Ball.

I plan to expand the Union's influence in the local community. Brighton is such a vibrant, exciting city, and I want to make sure we're making the most of it, by getting societies more involved in local events and encouraging our students to take part in regular volunteering projects.

Email: activities@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Phone: 01273 67 8155

Office: Activities Centre, Falmer House. The best time to pop is Wednesday 2-4 during term-time

>> Find out more about James and his plans

>> Find out what James has been working on

Facebook: James Hickie Activities-Officer

Twitter: @ActivitiesUSSU

Welfare Officer - Indi Hicks

The Welfare Officer is responsible for any non-academic concerns students have. These range from issues with campus accommodation to problems paying fees or complaints.

I'm keen to increase student representation within the Students' Union, support student parents and set up a 'buddy scheme' between new international students and students already at the university.

I'll be working with the Union’s Liberation groups. This will include raising the profile of the Students Against Sexual Harassment Campaign (SASH) and continuing to lobby the University for the provision of gender neutral toilets.

Email: welfare@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Phone: 01273 87 3354

Office: Advice & Representation Centre, Falmer House

>> Find out more about Indi and her plans

>> Find out what Indi has been working on

Facebook: Indi Hicks Welfare-Officer

Twitter: @WelfareUSSU

Communications Officer - Ariel Cohen

The Communications Officer is responsible for ensuring the membership are adequately informed about the Union in order to foster student engagement.

In my manifesto I pledged to increase the accessibility and transparency of the Union through Q&A type sessions and with Union tours, these will be incorporated into wider plans to improve democracy at the Union. I will be working to help implement these plans.

I will also be working with the part time Media Development Officer to improve Student Media and building on work to introduce a students academic journal.

Email: communications@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Phone: 01273 87 3347

Office: Top floor, Falmer House

>> Find out more about Ariel and his plans

Facebook: Ariel Cohen Comms-Officer

Twitter: @CommsUSSU

Education Officer - Poppy Firmin

The Education Officer is responsible for advice and representation for students on all academic matters.

I'm also responsible for the Student Rep scheme, which is a great way of identifying academic problems within the University.

My key plans are to work to acheive better representation and academic support for all Sussex students, but particularly International students who are currently under attack from the government, and taught postgraduate students who are significantly underrepresented at Sussex

Email: education@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Phone: 01273 87 3324

Office: Advice & Representation Centre, Falmer House

>> Find out more about Poppy and her plans

>> Find out what Poppy has been working on

Facebook: Poppy Firmin Education-Officer

Twitter: @EducationUSSU

Operations Officer - Becca Melhuish

The Operations Officer is responsible for overseeing the Union’s finances and ensuring that we're financially sustainable. I'm also responsible for overseeing the Union’s commercial services and ensuring that the Union is operating in an ethically and environmentally sound way.

The Operations Officer is also responsible for overseeing the Union's democratic processes, to make sure that elections and policy-making are operating smoothly and are easily accessible to everyone.

My key plans for the year include continuing to improve the Union and University's environmental impact and providing lots more opportunities and support for students to shape the direction of the union’s services, finances, social spaces and events.

Email: operations@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Phone: 01273 87 3353

Office: Top floor, Falmer House

>> Find out more about Becca and her plans

>> Find out what Becca has been working on

Facebook: Becca Melhuish

Twitter: @OperationsUSSU

President - David Cichon

The President is responsible for representing the Union and the views of the students at Sussex on several University committees as well as being the Union's spokesperson to the local and national media.

I am also responsible for organising and coordinating national campaigns and negotiating with the University management on any issues that might arise. You can contact me with any issue or question you may have!

My key plans for the year are to continue supporting the student movement against tuition fees and the privatisation of education, improving our internal democratic structures and organising events to celebrate the University and Union's 50th anniversary!

Email: president@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Phone: 01273 87 3350

Office: Top floor, Falmer House

>> Find out more about David and his plans