Join us!

Following is a list of the executive positions and their associated duties. Each Spring we hold elections for the upcoming year’s executive board, and any iSchool student is eligible. Check out the descriptions below to see if you’d be interested in a leadership position.

Co-President

Secretary

Treasurer

Communications Officer

Events Coordinator

Engagement Coordinator

Members at Large

First Year Representatives

GSS Representative

AMS Representative

Faculty of Arts Representative

MAS and MLIS Co-Presidents

The LASSA Co-presidents serve several important functions. They:

Act as a liaison with students
Represent MAS/MLIS student concerns & issues to LASSA
Serve as joint official representatives of LASSA
Preside at executive & general meetings on an alternating basis
Act as secondary signing officer for financial matters

In addition, the co-presidents will represent student concerns to the faculty & staff at the iSchool, as well as to UBC. This may take the form of official correspondence or email, as well as representation on or participation in committees or meetings.

The LASSA Co-presidents are also required to meet with the School Director. The frequency of meetings are determined by the co-presidents and the Director, and may vary depending upon issues raised during any particular term of office. In addition, the LASSA co-presidents serve as the student representatives on the School Leadership Team Committee.

Other activities the presidents oversee include:

Facilitating LASSA meetings & overseeing the other positions
Student pictures (one copy to the office, one on the wall)
Coordinating the new student orientation, in cooperation with the MLIS & MAS members at large
Student contact list
Answering any queries about the school’s programs (usually applicants)
Acting upon student initiatives & suggestions
As required, acting as student support in faculty-student disputes

The co-presidents may be invited to attend dinners, ceremonies or other events. These functions provide the presidents an opportunity to represent iSchool students and programs.

Secretary

Duties of the Secretary:

With the Co-Presidents, prepare the agenda for all LASSA meetings, including the Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Record the minutes of all LASSA meetings, including the AGM
Send out draft minutes of meetings to the LASSA executive within one week after the meeting for corrections/additions
With the Webmaster, post all meeting agendas, minutes and other important documents to the LASSA website

Treasurer

Duties of the Treasurer:

Act as the principle financial signing officer for LASSA and all student chapters whose accounts are maintained through LASSA (such BCLA/UBC Chapter)
Coordinate with student chapter treasurers whose accounts are maintained through LASSA currently )
Collect and disburse funds as directed by the LASSA executive
Maintain accurate and current records of LASSA finances
Responsible for processing all paperwork so members can be reimbursed
Submit the LASSA budget to the AMS
Check the LASSA Treasurer‘s folder at the AMS on a regular basis

Communications Officer

Duties of the Communications Officers:

Create and distribute LASSA newsletters on a regular basis
Update the LASSA website as needed
Moderate the LASSA Discord server
Distribute news about events on social media

Events Coordinator

Duties of the Events Coordinators:

Plan and promote social and academic events for students
Coordinate and work with student chapters for planning events
Promote all LASSA and LASSA-sponsored events
Organize Orientation Lunches
Provide special treats (such as candy) for special occasions (Halloween, Christmas, Valentine‘s Day, Easter) and distribute these treats through the student, staff and faculty mailboxes.
Put forth new events that LASSA may want to hold.

Engagement Coordinator

Duties of the Engagement Coordinators:

Keep in contact with all clubs at the iSchool and support their official constitution under AMS
Keep in contact with new student cohorts, recruit First Year Reps, collaborate with First Year Reps to promote events, activities, and operations among first year students
Track the status, execs, and contacts for all clubs
Advertise the clubs events through LASSA
Organize the LASSA records and documents for current and future execs
Organize creation of useful materials for students

MLIS, MAS, Joint, MACL, and Phd Members at Large

The Member at Large for a given program acts principally as a vital link between students in the graduate program and the LASSA executive, who in turn provide a voice of authority when approaching iSchool faculty and staff with areas of concern. As such, most duties for this position are ongoing and reactive as situations arise. Additionally, the Member-at-Large is responsible for co-organizing the photographing of new iSchool students during the September and January orientations with his/her fellow Members at Large.

Duties of the Member at Large:

Make themselves available to all program students
Act as a contact between students and the larger LASSA membership
Bring concerns of students to LASSA Executive
During Orientations with the other Members at Large, take photos of the new students and post the photos on the boards in SLAIS.
Help recruit First Year Representatives for each program

MLIS and MAS First Year Representatives

Duties of the MLIS and MAS First Year Representatives:

Represent the interests of first year student to LASSA
Bring concerns of first year students to LASSA
Build awareness of LASSA events, activities and operations among first year students

Graduate Student Society (GSS) Representative

Duties of the GSS Representative:

Act as a link between LASSA and the GSS
Bring LASSA concerns and issues to the attention of the GSS
Attend monthly GSS meetings
Report on GSS meetings and activities to LASSA
Serve on GSS committees, especially those of specific relevance and interest to LASSA
Coordinate with Graduate Secretary to promote GSS events to the LASSA membership
Present on GSS activities, events and services at the Orientation
Obtain from the GSS office sufficient numbers of the GSS Student Handbook for the two Orientations held each year.
Prepare and submit the Departmental Committee Petition to the GSS annually

Alma Mater Society (AMS) Representative

Duties of the AMS Representative:

Act as a link between LASSA and the AMS
Bring LASSA concerns and issues to the attention of the AMS
Attend bi-weekly AMS meetings
Report on AMS meetings and activities to LASSA
Serve on AMS committees, especially those of specific relevance and interest to
LASSA
Promote relevant AMS events to the LASSA membership
Present on AMS activities, events and services at the Orientation

Faculty of Arts Representative

Duties of the Faculty of Arts Representative:

Act as a link between LASSA and the Faculty of Arts
Bring LASSA concerns and issues to the attention of the Faculty of Arts
Attend Faculty of Arts meetings (approximately four per year)
Report on Faculty of Arts meetings and activities to LASSA
Serve on Faculty of Arts committees, especially those of specific relevance and interest to LASSA