Student Governance
and Elections

Student Governance

Student governance at the CSA works like this: CUE students elect 9 of their peers to represent them as General Councilors representing specific faculties, programs, and athletics alongside four to serve as the Executive Councilors. Together, they form the General Council. The General Council is the highest governing body within the Students’ Association. Along with student consultation, they set the CSA’s direction through bylaws and policies. The Executive Council oversees the CSA Executive Director In addition, each member of the Executive Council is responsible for advising both the General Council and other Executive members on their portfolios.

It may sound complicated, but this system ensures that the needs of CUE students are met in a diplomatic manner and that everyone is held accountable to the students who vote for them. That leads us to…

WHO REPRESENTS YOU?

Executive Council:

Leads and represents students at the highest level and works in collaboration with executive direction on operations

General Council:

Faculty-based representatives who oversee governance

Unions: 

Faculty-specific student leadership

NEED HELP WITH…

Academic Appeals or Policy Issues? → VP Academic

Events & Clubs? → VP Student Life

Funding or Budgets? → VP Finance

Advocacy? → President or General Councillor

HOW DECISIONS ARE MADE

  • Students elect representatives
  • Elected representatives advocate for their faculties
  • Policies and budgets are debated and voted on by representatives
  • Executive Council implements decisions
  • Executive Director oversees operations and decision-making
  • The Executive Director triages disputes
  • Judicial Board resolves disputes if necessary

GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES

  • Democratic decision-making
  • Transparency & accountability
  • Student-first advocacy
  • Separation of governance and operations

For more information come to the information sessions:

february 9th @11 AM – 1PM and February 12th @12:30 PM – 2:30 PM in Teglar 2026

Roles and Responsibilites

STUDENT ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

STANDARDIZED DUTIES (Full Time)

  • Executives must fulfill  30 working hours per week
  • Four (4) office hours per week, (8 am-5 pm).
  • Each Executive Councillor must be enrolled in at least:
  • One (1) class in each of the Fall and Winter Semesters 
  • And in a maximum of four (4) classes per semester
 
 

CSA PRESIDENT  

Chief Student Representative & Governance Lead

What the President Does: 

  • Provides overall direction and leadership for the CUESA
  • Chairs Executive Council, General Council, AGM, and SGMs
  • Represents students to:
    • CUE Board of Governors
    • General Faculties Council
    • University administration
  • Government and advocacy organizations
  • Acts as the official spokesperson for undergraduate students
  • Oversees CUESA governance, policies, and compliance
  • Ensures Executive & General Council receive governance training
  • Appoints committee chairs and delegates responsibilities
  • Breaks tie votes (non-voting otherwise)
  • Maintain a relationship with CUE’s Presidents office

Key Focus Area:

  • Student advocacy
  • Governance integrity
  • External relations
  • Strategic leadership
 

For more information contact: csapresident@student.concordia.ab.ca


CSA VICE PRESIDENT ACADEMIC

Academic Advocacy & Student Rights

What the VP Academic Does:

  • Advocates for undergraduate students on:
    • Academic appeals
    • Grading disputes
    • Academic misconduct
    • Procedural fairness
  • Represents students on:
    • Academic Standards Committee
    • Scholarship & Awards Committee
    • General Faculties Council
  • Maintains relationships with:
    • VP Academics & Provost
    • Government bodies related to education
  • Oversees faculty representatives on academic councils:
    • Serves as CEO of The Bolt News
    • Chairs the Policy & Governance Committee
    • Leads policy development and bylaw amendments

Key Focus Areas: 

  • Academic fairness
  • Policy development
  • Student advocacy
    Student media oversight
 

For more information contact: csavpacademic@student.concordia.ab.ca


CSA VICE PRESIDENT FINANCE

Financial Stewardship & Sustainability

What the VP Finance Does: 

  • Oversees CUESA finances, budgets, and financial reporting
  • Chairs the Budget Steering Committee
  • Presents:
    • Annual budget
    • Audited financial statements
  • Oversees:
    • Clubs & Unions funding
    • Health & Dental Plan
    • Sponsorships and fundraising
    • CUESA Audits
  • Acts as Treasurer of the CUESA
  • Represents students on the CUE Board of Governors
  • Ensures financial compliance and accountability

Key Focus Areas:

  • Financial transparency
  • Budget planning
    Student services funding
 

For more information contact: csavpfinance@student.concordia.ab.ca


CSA VICE PRESIDENT STUDENT LIFE

Campus Experience & Student Engagement

What the VP Student Life Does:

  • Oversees CUESA-led student life events and programming
    • E.g. CUCASPOOKA, NSO, Splash and Bash… ect. 
  • Supports and coordinates with:
    • Clubs and Unions
    • Orientation programs
    • Student wellness initiatives
  • Chairs the Mental Wellness Committee
  • Organizes:
    • Social events
    • Community service initiatives
    • Major recreational events
  • Maintains relationships with Campus Life & Student Services
  • Supports volunteer coordination

Key Focus Areas

  • Campus engagement
  • Mental wellness
  • Events & programming
 

For more information contact: csavpstudentlife@student.concordia.ab.ca 

STUDENT ASSOCIATION GENERAL COUNCIL

STANDARDIZED DUTIES (Part Time)

  • A minimum of three (3) hours of work per week
  • Must participate in at least one (1) CSA event per month.
  • A minimum of one (1) office hour bi-weekly in the CSA office.
  • must submit their faculty monthly report detailing: meetings, events, and relevant faculty updates.
  • Members must attend the monthly General Council Meeting.
 
 

GENERAL COUNCILLOR  

Faculty & Student Voice

What General Councillors Do:

  • Represent students from their faculty or group
  • Vote on:
    • Policies
    • Budgets
    • Executive oversight matters
  • Hold Executive Council accountable
  • Serve on committees
  • Communicate CUESA decisions back to students
  • Attend General Council meetings
  • Complete office hours for student engagement

     

Key Responsibilities

  • Advocacy
  • Accountability
  • Communication
 
 

REPRESENTATIVE UNION PRESIDENT

What Union Presidents Do

  • Lead their Faculty Union
  • Represent faculty students’ interests
  • May serve as voting Faculty Representative on General Council
  • Coordinate:
    • Faculty events
    • Elections
    • Budgets (with VP Finance)
    • Act as liaison between CUESA and faculty students
 
 

REPRESENTATIVE UNION VP FINANCE

Faculty-Level Financial Oversight

What They Do:

  • Manage Union budgets
  • Submit financial reports to CUESA
  • Ensure compliance with CUESA financial policies
    Work closely with CUESA VP Finance
  • Oversee funding for faculty events and initiatives
 

 

REPRESENTATIVE UNION VP INTERNAL / MARKETING

Communications and Engagement

What They Do:

  • Manage Union communications
  • Promote events and initiatives
  • Coordinate marketing materials
  • Maintain internal engagement with faculty students
  • Work with CUESA Marketing and VP Student Life as required

For more information contact: csapresident@student.concordia.ab.ca 

Elections

Eligible students are welcome to run for a General Councilor position or an Executive position. Elections for all Councilors take place in the Winter. All Executives are responsible for their specific portfolios and other responsibilities as described in the CSA Policies.

All Concordia Students who take credit-based post-secondary classes and are assessed the CSA Membership Fee are eligible to run and vote in the CSA’s General and Executive Council Elections.

Elected student representatives are responsible for advocating for the needs of Concordia University students through setting the organization’s strategic direction and approving CSA bylaws and policies.

 

Important Dates 2026

Declaration Period

Deadline: Wednesday February 25th @ 4:00PM 

Email: csaero@student.concordia.ab.ca

Note: Packages will not be distributed after the deadline

Nomination Packages Due

Deadline: Wednesday February 25th @ 4:00PM 

Email: csaero@student.concordia.ab.ca

Note: Packages will not be accepted after the deadline

Candidates Meeting

Friday February 27th @ 7:30PM

Google Meet link to be provided

Candidates Article

Submission by Monday March 2nd @ 4:00PM

Email: csaero@student.concordia.ab.ca

Candidates Speeches

Monday March 9th @ 12-3PM in Tegler

Candidate Debate/Q&A

Monday March 9th @ 12-3PM in Tegler

Meet the Candidate

Monday March 9th after the Debates

Campaign

FROM

Monday March 2nd @ 8:00AM  TO
Thursday March 12th @4:30 PM

Voting Polls Open

March 10 @ 8:00 AM

Voting link sent to CUE student emails.

Voting Polls Close

Thursday March 12th @4:30 PM

Results

Thursday March 12th @6:00PM on Instagram and the CSA’s website