FY23 Executive Board Elections: Information and Application

We’ve received applications for five out of our six Executive Board positions, but we currently have an anticipated vacancy for the Director of Programming position. Accordingly, we’ll be extending the application process for DOP applicants only:

• Friday, February 11 at 11:59pm: Applications for DOP close
• By EOD Monday, February 14: Confirmation of eligibility to run for office
• By EOD Monday, January 14: Candidates are announced, and application materials for all candidates are publicly posted to the RHA website for residents and voting representatives to view
• Wednesday, February 16 during Legislative Council: DOF and DOP elections

Other Executive Board candidates who do not win their elections (see sections above) may submit a new application for the DOP position.

We have received word from the Department of Housing and Residence Life on compensation for the FY23 Executive Board. Despite our adamant requests otherwise and proposal for an increase in compensation for Executive Board members relative to current FY22 compensation, HRL has proposed a net decrease in Executive Board compensation beginning next year. Currently, next year’s Executive Board members are slated to receive the following compensation per semester, applied as rent exemptions:

• Executive President: 100% of rent covered
• Director of Development (DOD): 55% of rent covered
• Director of Administration (DOA): 55% of rent covered
• Director of Communication (DOC): 45% of rent covered
• Director of Finance (DOF): 45% of rent covered
• Director of Programming (DOP): 45% of rent covered

To be frank and clear, this represents a significant cut to Executive Board member compensation, relative to the current year, and a new modality of payment. Currently, the Executive Board is compensated in lump-sum stipends at the end of each semester as opposed to via rent exemptions (which reduce the cost of housing upfront). Currently, the FY22 Executive Board receives the following compensation, as they have for at least the previous two years:

• Executive President: $4,750
• Director of Development (DOD): $4,500
• Director of Administration (DOA): $4,500
• Director of Communication (DOC): $4,250
• Director of Finance (DOF): $4,250
• Director of Programming (DOP): $4,250

We understand that this is a significant change in expectations regarding Executive Board elections. Accordingly, we will be extending the Executive Board application deadline to Wednesday, January 26 at 11:59pm to allow for interested candidates to think through the implications of these changes, discuss these changes with the current Executive Board and their family, etc. Candidates who may have already submitted an application may submit an updated or revised application by the new deadline, or they may withdraw their application entirely if they are no longer interested in serving on the Executive Board; please contact Bryan Gomez to withdraw an application.

Subsequently, the overall elections timeline has been amended to the following:

• Wednesday, December 1 – Wednesday, January 26 at 11:59pm: Applications for the Executive Board are open
• By Friday, January 28 at 5pm: Confirmation of eligibility to run for office
• By Monday, January 31 at 5pm: Candidates are announced, and application materials for all candidates are publicly posted to the RHA website for residents and voting representatives to view
• Wednesday, January 19 during Legislative Council’s Community Session: “Meet the Candidates” session for Executive President, DOD, and DOA candidates
• Wednesday, January 26 during Legislative Council’s Community Session: “Meet the Candidates” session for DOC, DOF, and DOP candidates
• Wednesday, February 2 during Legislative Council: Executive President and DOD elections
• Wednesday, February 9 during Legislative Council: DOA and DOC elections
• Wednesday, February 16 during Legislative Council: DOF and DOP elections

Due to the extension of the application period, the “Meet the Candidate” sessions have been canceled.

To facilitate elections, structural changes to Legislative Council will take place on February 2, 9, and 16:

• 7:30 – 7:35pm—Roll Call and Executive Updates
• 7:35 – 8:20pm—Old and New Business (“Bills”)
• 8:20 – 8:30pm—Brief Break
• 8:30 – 10:00pm—Elections

Note that there will be no Open Forum or Community Session during nights with elections.

Voting representatives (typically Hall Council Officers) should note the above structural changes to Legislative Council on election nights and prepare accordingly:

• LC will last one hour longer than typical. Voting representatives/HCOs can switch out and rotate throughout the night, so if two HCOs from one Hall Council want to attend LC from 7:30-8:30pm and then switch out with two other HCOs from 8:30-10:00pm, that’s okay. Voting representatives simply should not change in the middle of the election of a given position.
• The use of laptops and other electronic devices will not be permitted during elections; all necessary materials will be provided on paper.
• While not a complete meal or dinner, substantive food and drink will be provided to all attendees during elections.