Student Committee Structure

STUDENT COMMITTEE STRUCTURE

May 2014

Introduction
DARCH Student Committee is an initiation to empower students and give them a voice in their
academic environment. It was established for the first time in AY 2013-14. It is an opportunity for
students to realise their potentials and leadership qualities. It is perceived to be the soul of student
involvement. It aims to be the most representative and influential student organization by working
for all students. A good student committee has student respect and support by reaching out to all
interested students. It requires being mindful of student needs and opinions. DARCH student
committee aspires to lead the way to positive change. Its activities and projects are the testing
ground for ideas, which become part of the school.
Student committee operate in many forms and DARCH student committee is a representative
based structure that includes different key roles representing specific areas of interests. DARCH
Student Committee is a representative structure for students only, through which they can
become involved in the affairs of the school, working in partnership with school management,
teachers and supporting staffs for the benefit of the school and its students. It shall only be as
active, energetic, effective and concerned as each committee member is. Commitment and
relevance are vital to the success of any student committee.
The first elected DARCH Student Committee has given itself a name ARCHICOM.

Overall Structure

*Each of the above mention offices shall be supported by the elected class leaders of YR_1&2

CHAIRPERSON
YR_3
ADMINISTRATIVE
SECRETARY
YR_3
PUBLICATION & PUBLICITY
SECRETARY
YR_3
SPORTS & CULTURAL
SECRETARY
YR_2
ACADEMIC SECRETARY
YR_3
(DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON)
ELECTION COMMISSIONER
YR_3
ELECTION SECRETARY
YR_2
STUDENT COMMITTEE STRUCTURE
May 2014
Collective Responsibilities
1. To officially represent all the students in the DARCH course.
2. To identify and help solve problems encountered by DARCH students.
3. To promote and encourage the involvement of DARCH students in organizing
school activities.
4. To communicate its opinion to the school administration on any subject that
concerns DARCH students and on which the committee wishes to be consulted.
5. To promote the interests of students among the school administration and
teachers.
6. To organize educational and recreational activities for students.
7. To organize an activity to recognize the efforts of DARCH students involved in
various activities.
8. To propose activities to the school administration that would improve the quality
of life in the DARCH students.
9. To maintain good relations, out of mutual respect, with the school staff (teaching
and non-teaching personnel).
10. To have fun!

Roles and Duties of the Committee Members
Chairperson - The key spokesperson for the DARCH student body. Overlooks every activity
organised by the ARCHICOM.
Academic Secretary - A link between lecturers and the DARCH Student Body over all academic-
related matters. Key responsibilities include the Grad / End-of-year Show, proposal / organisation
of invited guest speakers etc. The Academic Secretary shall deputise in the absence of the
Chairperson.
Administrative Secretary - A link between lecturers and the student body over all ABE
administration / TSOs matters. Key responsibilities include the management of treasury funds
(overseen by Student Committee Liaison), taking care of facilities like laser cutting machines, other
studio equipment, getting venues for any event and making sure all the required equipment are
there etc.
Publications and Publicity Secretary - Key responsibilities include putting together school papers,
publications, alumni relations, industry relations etc.
Sports & Cultural Secretary - Key responsibilities include organising sporting and cultural
activities, visits to special exhibitions, makan sessions, outings, tele matches etc.
Elections Secretary - Key responsibility is to help Election Commission and be an active member of
the Election Board and to act as an independent watchdog over the performance of the elected
members, to guard the student body constitution etc. The elected Elections Secretary by default
becomes the Elections Commissioner for the following year, which requires administering proper
running of the elections.







Student Committee Election Rules








STUDENT COMMITTEE ELECTION RULES
May 2014

Key Terms and Definitions
DARCH Election Board Comprises of the Election Commissioner, Student Committee Liaison,
and the Election Secretary who joins the Board after the election.
DARCH Student Committee Comprises of the elected Members i.e. Chairperson, Academic
Secretary, Administrative Secretary, Publication and Publicity Secretary, Sports and Cultural
Secretary.
DARCH Student Body Comprises of all students registered under the DARCH course at ABE,
SP.
Appointment of Election Board
The Election Board is combination of appointed and elected members. An elected Election
Secretary by default becomes the Election Commissioner in the following academic Year. The
Student Committee Liaison is a teaching staff member annually appointed by the DARCH Course
Management Team.
The Elections Board is responsible for advertising the Student Committee Election to the student
body, implementing and overseeing all balloting procedures, and presenting the results of the
election.
Purpose and Scope
The purpose of these rules is to establish structures and operating procedures for the Election
Board to observe smooth elections in the DARCH Student Body.
The purpose of the Elections Board is to oversee annual DARCH Student Committee Elections also
known as ARCHICOM. This election is a DARCH Student Body elections held each year to elect the
Chairperson, Academic Secretary, Administrative Secretary, Publication and Publicity Secretary,
Sports and Cultural Secretary and Election Secretary.
The Election Board is also responsible to overlook and audit the elected Committee members on
their performances and executed key responsibilities.
Election Procedure
There are twelve (12) components to the running of the Student Body Election:
1. Convening the Elections Board excluding the Elections Secretary
2. Announcing the Student Body Elections timeline
3. Collection of Nomination Forms and Fees
4. Submission of Manifesto
5. Public Forum Manifesto Presentation
6. Campaigning
7. Polling Day - Voting
8. Counting the votes
9. Announcement of the elected members
10. First meeting with of the elected ARCHICOM and Election Board.

STUDENT COMMITTEE ELECTION RULES
May 2014

General Timeline
1. The Elections Board shall be convened by the end of the second week of Term 1 of the
academic year.
2. Nomination Forms shall be released by third week of Term 1 of the academic year
3. Fourth week of Term 1 of the academic year shall be the Election Week
Monday Submission of Nomination Forms and Fees by 1700hrs.
Tuesday Submission and Release of Written Manifesto by 1230hrs,
Campaigning Begins from 1330hrs
Wednesday 1330hrs to 1530hrs Public Forum, Manifesto
Presentations
Thursday Campaigning over by 1700hrs
Friday Voting from 0930hrs to 1230hrs. Counting from 1430hrs-
1530hrs, Announcement of Elected Members

Candidate Eligibility
Each self-nominated candidate endorsed by minimum of two students, one from each year must be
a registered student of DARCH at ABE, SP. Only members of the Student Body who have submitted
a valid nomination forms and the election fees of 10 SG$ to the Elections Board by the deadline will
appear on the ballot for the relevant position. The nominal fees collected shall cover the expenses
of executing elections. The Elections Boards decision regarding the validity of any submitted
petition is final.

The eligibility criteria also reflect the descending order of the students from the three different
years in the academic year.
Election Commissioner Year 3
Election Secretary Year 2
Chairperson Year 3
Academic Secretary Year 3
Administrative Secretary Year 3
Publication and Publicity Secretary Year 3
Sports and Cultural Secretary Year 2

Voters Eligibility
All Year 2 and Year 3 students registered for DARCH course at ABE, SP are eligible for voting.
Year 1 is not allowed to vote as they hardly know their seniors in Term 1. Eligible voters may cast a
maximum of one (1) vote for each office.

STUDENT COMMITTEE ELECTION RULES
May 2014

Campaigning Rules
Candidates for office are responsible for familiarizing themselves with and following
1. Candidates can campaign only during the official campaigning period declared by the
Election Board.
2. No campaigning may take place at any polling location during polling hours on the Election
Day, nor may any campaign material be present at a polling location during polling hours.
3. Candidates cannot use Social Media for campaigning.
4. Candidates may use posters, slogans, temporary installations etc for campaigning,
however any demonstrations can be executed only during the non-lecture or non-tutorial
hours.
5. Candidates cannot establish a permanent campaigning material such as, painting of wall
etc.
6. Candidates can only use the designated areas and time period declared by the Election
Board for campaigning, which includes individual DARCH studios at W5A and W4 and
common areas at W5A.
7. Candidates cannot campaign at ARC.
8. Candidates are allowed to hold talks with various classes as part of campaigning during
non-lecture and non-tutorial times.
9. No candidate is allowed to spend more than 25 SG$ on campaign materials.
10. No person may bribe, give, or lend anything in order to induce a person to vote or refrain
from voting, or to vote for or against a candidate or referendum.
11. No person may personally or through an agent intimidate, harass, use or threaten the use
of force, violence, or restraint in order to compel or induce any person to vote, abstain from
voting, or vote or abstain from voting for a particular candidate.
12. Violations of these rules may result in penalties of up to ten (10) percent of votes received,
or disqualification at the discretion of the Elections Board.
13. A best campaigning award shall be announced at the end of the campaigning period.

Vote Counting
1. Counting of vote shall be executed in public in the presence of the Election Board,
Contesting Candidates and the Student Body.
2. The paper ballots shall be opened and tallied by two (2) members of the Elections Board.
These ballots shall be counted and re-counted until a majority of the Elections Board
present agree upon the accuracy of the count.
3. In case of a single candidate contesting for a post, he/she must have a minimum of 60%
of the total votes casted, in order to be declared as a winner.
4. In case of more than one candidate contesting for a post, he/she must have the highest
number of votes, and also one (1) vote more than the total number of the blank vote
casted, in order to be declared as a winner.
5. Upon conclusion of the vote counting procedure, the Elections Board shall notify and
declare the election results.


26
th
May 2014 (Monday) to 30
th
May 2014 (Friday)
26
th
May 2014 Nomination Form Submission
Submit your nomination from and the $10 fees to the Election
Board by 1700 hrs.
27
th
May 2014 Manifesto Submission & Campaigning
Begins
Submit your written manifesto to the Election Board by 1230 hrs
Campaigning starts from1400 hrs
28
th
May 2014 Public Forum & Manifesto Presentation
Public Forum 1500 hrs at ARC.
29
th
May 2014 Campaigning Ends
All campaigning materials should be removed by 1600hrs.
30
th
May 2014 Voting Day & Announcement of Results
Voting between 0930hrs - 1230hrs
Counting of Votes 1400hrs -1500hrs
Announcement of Results 1500hrs
STUDENT COMMITTEE ELECTION SCHEDULE (AY 14-15)








Student Committee Election
Nomination Form

STUDENT COMMITTEE NOMINATION FORM
May 2014

I, _________________________________________________from Year______and Class________
intend to be part of the DARCH student Committee - ARCHICOM for the Academic Year
________________and contest election for the post of -
DARCH STUDENT COMMITTEE ELCTION
Roles Select the desired role
Election Secretary
Chairperson
Academic Secretary
Administrative Secretary
Publication and Publicity Secretary
Sports and Cultural Secretary

Briefly answer the following questions

1. Why do you want to be on DARCH Student Committee?




2. What areas of DARCH Student Committee interest you the most? Why?




3. What aspect of your character will be most beneficial to DARCH Student Committee?




STUDENT COMMITTEE NOMINATION FORM
May 2014

I have read the DARCH Student Committee Structure and DARCH Student Committee Election
Rules. I understand the responsibilities of a Student Committee member and if elected promise to
uphold the responsibilities to the best of my abilities and understand that failure to do so means I
risk being removed from office.

_________________________________ __________
Signature Date

Endorser 01 Registered DARCH Student from Year 3
I have read and understand the above. I understand that being a Student Committee
representative requires a significant amount of commitment, and I fully support and endorse
him/her in this endeavour
Name____________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________ _____________ ____________
Signature Year & Class Date

Endorser 02 Registered DARCH Student from Year 2
I have read and understand the above. I understand that being a Student Committee
representative requires a significant amount of commitment, and I fully support and endorse
him/her in this endeavour
Name____________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________ _____________ ____________
Signature Year & Class Date