Each fall, members elect a new president to lead the UWSA operations team. The successful candidate will serve as president-elect for one year and assume the role of president the following November, followed by one year as past president.
Members also elect new directors to help govern the association for the following three years.
Presidents and directors make a real difference to the association and its members.
- The president sets short-term and advocacy priorities, supervises the UWSA's day-to-day activities, and sets the tone for the association.
- Directors set long-term goals for the association, provide important financial and governance oversight, and safeguard the UWSA's future.
Any member can run
UWSA leadership is a great professional development opportunity.
You’ll learn a lot about how the university works, and you’ll meet people you normally wouldn’t from all across the university, including senior leadership. You’ll also get training in non-profit governance, meeting facilitation, leadership, and more. Presidents spend a year supervising three full-time staff and are encouraged to take UW's leadership training workshops.
What the president does
The president has overall strategic and operational responsibility for the UWSA’s employees, its programs and services, and the execution of its mission and strategic plan. The complete term is a three-year commitment with three distinct roles:
Year 1: The president-elect continues in their regular campus role while also working closely with the president, who helps prepare them for the role. This may include training to bridge any gaps in knowledge or skills.
Year 2: The president position is a full-time one-year secondment to the UWSA during which the president receives their regular UW salary plus a stipend equivalent to 10% of USG 13 job value.
Year 3: The past president supports the president and provides continuity, while returning to their regular campus role.
The president-elect and past president each get three days a month of release time from their regular duties to attend to UWSA business.
Some of the benefits of serving in this role include better understanding how the University works, building cross-campus relationships, and developing leadership capacity.
What directors do
Collectively, the Board of Directors guides the high-level strategic direction of the UWSA and provides financial and policy oversight.
Individually, directors are expected to actively participate in meetings; bring their best ideas to the table by considering each topic at hand and establishing a perspective; and participate in training and development activities. Directors serve on at least one standing committee, and any director may eventually fill an important officer role: secretary, treasurer, chair, or vice chair, which have additional responsibilities.
Directors are also currently the pool from which many staff representatives on the Staff Relations Committee (SRC) and Provost's Advisory Committee on Staff Compensation (PACSC) are selected. These are two important committees that shape our working conditions and compensation, and some directors will serve in this capacity, separately from their role on the board.
Directors receive one day a month of release time from their regular work duties to attend to UWSA business. Officers receive additional release time.
Some of the benefits of serving as a director include getting training in governance principles and developing working relationships with colleagues from across campus, including senior members of University leadership.
The election process
Start watching for information about the board and president roles over the summer. Election information sessions will take place in September.
The nomination period is typically about two weeks in September. Once nominations close, we'll hold a "meet the candidates" event in early October.
Voting runs for about two weeks in mid-October, closing a few days before the annual meeting, where results are announced.
How to run in UWSA elections
The nomination process is the same for director and president roles. You need to do three things:
- Find three UWSA members to support you. They'll affirm their support of your nomination by filling out an online form.
- Submit your Candidate Nomination Form. This is typically due late September.
- Fill out out a candidate profile to be posted on the UWSA website.