EXECUTIVE BY-ELECTION GUIDE
WHO SHOULD RUN?
Impactful student leaders are students who:
- enjoy meeting and engaging with other students
- are interested in enhancing the post-secondary experience for all students.
- are confident in raising concerns regarding issues impacting students
- are interested in developing leadership skills
- are passionate about driving change to improve the student experience
- have an interest in governance and policy
Important Notes:
- All nominees must be enrolled for the entirety of the Executive Council term of office (2026 Fall Semester and 2027 Winter Semester).
- All SPSA General Council members must be 18 years of age or older when they assume their role.
- Students who have a co-operative work term during any portion of the 2026-27 academic year are not eligible to run for an Executive Council position.
THE PERKS!
- Receive governance and leadership training.
- Learn how to advocate for issues impacting students.
- Network and make connections with students on campus and throughout the province.
- Develop or improve interpersonal and communication skills.
- Gain valuable experience to apply to your resume upon graduation.
- Receive a monthly remuneration.
BY-ELECTION TIMELINE
- September 8 & 9 – Election Info Sessions
Sept. 8 – 4pm CST via Teams and Sept. 9 – 12pm CST via Teams. – Register Here - September 14 – Nominations Open – 8am CST
This is your time to complete all the necessary steps to become a nominee. - September 18 – Nominations Close – 4pm CST
All documentation must be submitted online or to an SPSA Office no later than 4pm on September 18. - September 21-22 – Nomination Verification Period
The SPSA uses this time to verify collected signatures and documentation to ensure those running for elected positions are eligible students. The SPSA will reach out to you once you have been verified. This will take time, please be patient. - September 23 – All Nominees’ Meeting – 4pm CST – Virtual Meeting
All nominees wishing to become valid candidates must attend the All Nominees’ Meeting. - September 24-25 – Campaign Materials Submission – Closes at 4pm CST
Any campaign materials candidates wish to use, either print or digital must be approved by the SPSA during this window. - September 28 – Campaign Period
The time when all verified candidates are eligible to promote themselves and their platform with previously approved campaign materials. - October 7 – By-Election Day
All valid Moose Jaw Sask Polytech students will be sent an email to their Sask Polytech inbox with a digital voting key. Voting closes at 8pm. All candidates will be notified following the close of the By-Election.
ELECTION CONTACTS
- SPSA General Election Email – spsa@spsa.ca
- Election CRO – Prasiddha Ghimire – president@spsa.ca
LET’S GET STARTED
It is recommended that you read through all steps to ensure nothing in missed in your nomination package.
STEP 1: Bylaws and Policies
It is the responsibility of all nominees to read through the SPSA Bylaws and SPSA Election Policies. This is a vital step in the election process. Please take some time to read through all the bylaws and policies. If you have questions, make notes and forward your questions to spsa@spsa.ca.
STEP 2: Job Descriptions and Expectations
VP Campus
VP Campus – Term October 8, 2026 – April 30, 2027
There are four VP Campus positions available, one for each of the four main campuses. A successful candidate must be registered to the campus they wish to represent. For example, a student registered to the Moose Jaw campus, can only run for VP Moose Jaw.
As per SPSA Bylaw 7.2.a.x – The term of office shall be one academic year with the term ending April 30th. Candidates must be enrolled in an on-campus core program, either full-time or part-time for the entire duration of the term. Students who have a co-op placement during their term not eligible to run for an Executive Council position.
Below is a brief description of the roles and responsibilities of a VP Campus.
- As per SPSA Policy – Gov 6 – Executive Remuneration, VPs can choose between a 9-hour or 15-hour work week at the start of their term. Vice President’s are expected to abide by their chosen work hours all-year round. Hours can be flexible per week, however the total hours per month should be met.
- All SPSA General Council members must be 18 years of age or older when they assume their role.
STEP 3: Mandatory Meetings
All Nominees must attend the All Nominees’ Meeting to become a verified candidate. This meeting will be held virtually on September 23 – 4pm CST.
Important Dates:
SPSA General Council Meeting –
STEP 4: Campaign Message and Photo
Nominees are required to submit a photo, short biography and campaign message in order to complete their nomination.
Campaign Photo: You will be required to upload a campaign photo to complete your Election Checklist. The official photo should be a high resolution image and preferably not a selfie. The photo orientation should be portrait with dimensions of at least 750 pixels wide and no large than 2000 pixels wide.
Campaign Message: You will also be required to upload a campaign message to complete your Election Checklist. This is an opportunity for voters to get to know you. You may wish to include some personal background information, such as where you grew up and your hobbies, along with why you are running for your selected position and what you hope to achieve should you be successful in the election. Your message should be no more than 250 words.