Class Officers
Encyclopedia
At educational institutions above Primary education
, each grade level or year of study is a class
, referenced by the year of graduation, i.e., "Class of 2011". The official activities of these groups are generally organized and controlled by Class Officers, who are elected from and by the members of that class. Elections are either held in the late Spring of each year for the term beginning in the Fall, or early in the Fall term. After graduation, the class officers are typically responsible for organizing their Class reunion
.
, their leadership model is loosely based on either the Parliamentary system
or the Executive Branch of the United States
. Unlike a student council, which represents the students of an entire school, class officers typically represent only a single class. Whereas the purpose of Student council is to learn about democracy and leadership, and to work in partnership with school management for the benefit of the school, the goal of Class officers is to organize and facilitate activities for the enjoyment of their classmates.
The following positions are common to nearly all groups of class officers:
The responsibilities of Secretary and Treasurer are sometimes combined into a Secretary/Treasurer position.
Some schools have multiple Vice Presidents, each responsible for an activity, such as decorating or fundraising. Typically, Class officers are automatically members of the student government
group at their school, but that is not their primary responsibility. After graduation, the Secretary reports classmate name and address changes to the school's Alumni office, and submits class news to be included in the alumni publication.
The individuals who fill these positions may be selected by the other officers or elected with them.
typically require an adult advisor who is a faculty member. That person may volunteer for the job or be assigned by the school. Their function is to act as a liaison
between the class and the administration, ensuring that the group's actions and activities conform to the policies of the institution. The advisor will work with the President when setting class meetings agendas to include all required items in a timely manner. The advisor should also provide encouragement, direction, support and ideas when needed.
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
, each grade level or year of study is a class
Class (education)
A class in education has a variety of related meanings.It can be the group of students which attends a specific course or lesson at a university, school or other educational institution, see Form ....
, referenced by the year of graduation, i.e., "Class of 2011". The official activities of these groups are generally organized and controlled by Class Officers, who are elected from and by the members of that class. Elections are either held in the late Spring of each year for the term beginning in the Fall, or early in the Fall term. After graduation, the class officers are typically responsible for organizing their Class reunion
Class reunion
A class reunion is a meeting of former classmates, typically organized at or near their former school by one of the class on or around an anniversary of their graduation. Former teachers may be invited as well...
.
Composition
Like a Student councilStudent council
Student council is a curricular or extra-curricular activity for students within elementary and secondary schools around the world. Present in most public and private K-12 school systems across the United States, Canada and Australia these bodies are alternatively entitled student council, student...
, their leadership model is loosely based on either the Parliamentary system
Parliamentary system
A parliamentary system is a system of government in which the ministers of the executive branch get their democratic legitimacy from the legislature and are accountable to that body, such that the executive and legislative branches are intertwined....
or the Executive Branch of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Unlike a student council, which represents the students of an entire school, class officers typically represent only a single class. Whereas the purpose of Student council is to learn about democracy and leadership, and to work in partnership with school management for the benefit of the school, the goal of Class officers is to organize and facilitate activities for the enjoyment of their classmates.
The following positions are common to nearly all groups of class officers:
- Class presidentClass PresidentA class president is usually the leader of a student body class, and presides over its class cabinet or organization within a student council, in a grade school class presidents are generally elected by the class, a constituency composed of all students in a grade level.The practice of electing a...
- ultimately responsible for all class activities; creates agenda and presides over meetings; delegates duties and acts as the representative for the class - Vice-President - fulfills the duties of the President when the President is absent; performs duties assigned by the President
- SecretarySecretaryA secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
- takes meeting minutes; maintains correspondence & attendance records; keeps class activity calendar/webpage; responsible for all sign-up sheets - Treasurer - establishes budget; records all financial transactions; gives status report at class meetings; authorizes expenditures; inventories fundraising items; and collects/deposits fundraising money earned
- HistorianHistorianA historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
- writes a narrative of activities and events; maintains a scrapbook of documents & memorabilia; coordinates activities with newspaper and yearbook teams; and publicizes activities
The responsibilities of Secretary and Treasurer are sometimes combined into a Secretary/Treasurer position.
Some schools have multiple Vice Presidents, each responsible for an activity, such as decorating or fundraising. Typically, Class officers are automatically members of the student government
Students' union
A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities, and has started appearing in some high schools...
group at their school, but that is not their primary responsibility. After graduation, the Secretary reports classmate name and address changes to the school's Alumni office, and submits class news to be included in the alumni publication.
Other jobs
If the class is large or very active, other officers may be specified:- Sergeant at Arms - maintains order and decorum at meetings
- Fundraising OfficerFundraisingFundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
(high school) - solicits donations from businesses, organizes activities to earn money for class needs - Stewardship Agent (college) - solicits class members for donations to both the institution and the class's fund; promotes & implements class projects
- WebmasterWebmasterA webmaster , also called a web architect, web developer, site author, or website administrator is a person responsible for maintaining one or many websites...
- keeps the website/webpage current - Homecoming/Reunion Chair - responsible for planning and executing associated activities
The individuals who fill these positions may be selected by the other officers or elected with them.
Advisor
Institutions of secondary educationSecondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
typically require an adult advisor who is a faculty member. That person may volunteer for the job or be assigned by the school. Their function is to act as a liaison
Liaison
Liaison in general means:# Communication between two or more groups.# Co-operation, working together.but may refer to:* Affair, an unfaithful or adulterous sexual relationship* Air Alliance, a Canadian airline whose call sign was "Liaison'...
between the class and the administration, ensuring that the group's actions and activities conform to the policies of the institution. The advisor will work with the President when setting class meetings agendas to include all required items in a timely manner. The advisor should also provide encouragement, direction, support and ideas when needed.