Sabbatical officer
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A sabbatical officer is a full-time officer elected by the members of a students' union (and the similar Students' Association and Students' Representative Council), commonly at a higher education establishment such as a university. Sabbatical officers are usually trustees of their students' association, in its capacity as a Charity.
Sabbatical officers are normally elected annually, for a one-year term, i.e. a "sabbatical year". Some students' unions allow their sabbatical officers stand for re-election for a second year. Terms of more than two years are not permitted in the United Kingdom, under the Education Act 1994. Typically, the primary requirement for candidacy (and election) is that a candidate be a member of the body the relevant association at the time of their candidacy.
Sabbatical years are either taken in between years of study (for example between year two and three of a typical degree, sitting the third year twelve months later than would have normally been the case) or else immediately after graduation. They are almost always paid positions, with funds coming from the students' union itself, or directly from the educational institution. The officer generally retains student status during their time in office.
A university students' union may have one or more sabbatical officers, with as many as eight being not unheard-of. Each has a specific job description. The most senior post, often associated with special privileges and responsibilities such as membership of the University Court, is often termed the President of the students' union. Other typical roles include Education Officer, Welfare Officer, and Sports President. Together they form part or all of the "executive" or "executive committee" of their association. They will be supported by unpaid members who continue their studies. In a few cases, the sabbaticals work for separate bodies within a larger students' association at their institution; for example one sabbatical officer for an entertainments union and one for a sports union.
Some Further Education colleges also have small numbers of sabbatical officers but these are rare, partly due to funding restrictions. Often the executive members of the students' association of these bodies will do the job whilst still studying.
Student organisations outwith individual educational institutions – such as the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom – sometimes have their own sabbatical officers drawn from one of their member institutions.
