RCVS Fellowship Board Election 2024 guidance notes for candidates

Guidance notes for candidates

Timetable

1. The election will be run by an experienced provider of online voting and election services – further details will be made available.

2. The timetable* for the 2024 election is:

*With the exception of the closing date for submission of nominations, dates are a guideline.

Documentation

3. Those wishing to stand for election should return the separate Nomination Form duly completed and signed, ensuring that it reaches the RCVS by the date stated above.

*NB forms received after the closing date will not be accepted.

4. This form must include the names, registered address and email address of a Proposer and Seconder, each of whom shall be a Fellow of the RCVS.

5. No proposer may nominate more than one candidate.

6. Nominators cannot be current members of the Fellowship Board.

7. The nomination form may be accompanied by:

a. the Candidate Information Form containing:

i. full name, title and qualifications;

ii. contact details, including any or all of: postal address, telephone number(s), email address, campaign website (for example, Facebook or Twitter/X account).  NB No address shall be printed on the actual ballot paper; an alternative contact address may be included on the Candidate Information Form; and,

iii. Candidate biography and statement for publication (see ‘Candidate biography and statement’ section).

b. a recent colour photograph in digital format (at highest resolution possible, i.e. minimum of 300dpi at 100%) to be included on the published candidate information.

8. All forms and photographs should be submitted in electronic format.

9. All statements and photographs supplied maybe published by the RCVS on the RCVS website. The photographs and statements may also be made available for publication in the veterinary press.

10. All nominations will be acknowledged and the RCVS will confirm that the names and addresses of the candidates and proposers conform to those in the RCVS Register and that they are Fellows.

11. Supporting documentation may be found on the RCVS Fellowship Election 2024 webpage.

Candidate biography and statement

12. The biography should be no more than 200 words and the statement no more than 300 words (excluding name, qualifications and contact details). These will be published online.

13. The biography should contain information about a candidate’s education and training, previous and current employment, relevant achievements, membership of other organisations, interests and hobbies etc. Candidates should also declare any relevant conflicts of interest in this section.

14. The statement is an opportunity for candidates to promote their suitability to serve on RCVS Fellowship Board and set out what they could bring to the Board and the activities of the Fellowship.

15. Candidates should ensure that their Election Statements do not contain claims that are inconsistent with the legal position of the RCVS and should be aware the RCVS reserves the right to delete any material considered to be defamatory or the publication of which would be unlawful or factually misleading.

16. Hyperlinks or web addresses are not permitted in either the candidate biography or candidate statement. Any such details included in either section will be removed. A single web address or hyperlink to a campaign website, such as a Facebook or Twitter/X account, is permitted in the contact details.

Candidates who are currently involved in the investigation of a complaint against them which has been, or might be, referred to the Disciplinary Committee are particularly asked to consider whether standing for election might be inappropriate until the matter is resolved.