MSA Elections

Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Directors serve one-year leadership terms, are elected by students, and must uphold the responsibilities of their office throughout their term.

To run for any leadership role (President, Vice President(s), and Directors-at-Large), students must meet and maintain the core eligibility criteria set out in the MSA Bylaws:

• Be at least 18 years old

• Reside in Ontario

• Be legally eligible to work in Canada and have a valid SIN

• Not be bankrupt or declared legally incapable

• Have no criminal convictions or pending charges

• Be bondable (able to pass required background checks)

Additional Requirements to serve as a voting Director (Directors-at-Large):

• Be or have been a Full Member of the MSA
• If a current student – hold a minimum 70% GPA
• Not have outstanding financial debts to Mohawk College or the MSA
• Not be currently employed by the MSA (unless you resign before taking office)
• Have no violations under Academic Integrity, Student Behaviour Policy or Governance Policies
• Not have resigned or been removed from a prior student leadership position

Additional Requirements to serve in a Student Executive Role (President & Vice President(s)):

• Be or have been a Full Member of the MSA
• Must comply with terms of employment and role expectations
• Can serve a maximum of two consecutive terms
• If appointed mid-term, may take a partial or full courseload but cannot participate in co-op or work-integrated learning during the term

The time commitments are as follows based on a one-year leadership term starting May 1st and ending the following April 30th:

• President, 35h/week
• Vice Presidents
• May through August, 35h/week
• September through April, 15h/week
• Directors-at-Large, 2h/week

Note, there may be more commitments for certain Vice Presidents based on portfolio needs throughout the school year and will be addressed and supported accordingly by staff and the President.

Short answer… YES! However, for certain positions, it is better if you ARE a current student so you have a pulse on your peers and can represent them well.

Student Executive positions, including President and Vice Presidents, are compensated positions, paid either hourly or through salary.

Directors-at-Large serve in a volunteer capacity, but receive access to leadership development opportunities, recognition, discounts, and other perks that support their contributions.

Campaigning is the process where student leaders connect with other students about how they would uphold and execute their role if elected.

For President and select Vice President positions, students participate in a formal campaign period leading up to the General Elections, where all Mohawk College students receive an online ballot.

The MSA supports these candidates by providing:

• Approved campaign spaces across all campuses
• Structured events (debates, meet-and-greets)
• Limited campaign materials (posters, website content)
• Clear rules to ensure fairness, professionalism, and accessibility

During the campaign, candidates:

• Share their values and vision
• Explain how they would carry out the responsibilities of the role
• Meet students from various campuses to answer questions
• Encourage informed voting

Campaigning helps students make thoughtful choices about who is prepared to represent them and execute the work of the MSA.

NO! There is no cost to campaign in our elections. The MSA provides funded events and limited campaign materials for President and select Vice President roles. Other leadership positions do not campaign; instead, they participate through an application and selection process.

Because student leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all, and the way leaders are chosen reflects the different responsibilities of each role.

Campaigning Roles:
Positions like President and select Vice Presidents campaign because:

• They represent students publicly at institutional and government tables
• They help shape major advocacy priorities based on student feedback
• Their impact is broad and highly visible to the student body

Campaigning gives students a chance to:

• Hear their vision
• Understand how they would uphold and execute the role
• Ask questions
• Choose who they believe is best prepared to lead

These roles are elected through the General Elections, where all Mohawk students receive a ballot to vote.

Non-Campaigning Roles:
Other student leadership roles like Directors-at-Large and select Vice Presidents, do not campaign publicly. Instead, they are elected through the Special Members Meeting where:

• Candidates apply
• They are interviewed or assessed
• Students elect them based on readiness, insight, representation, and lived experience

These roles often focus more on governance, representation, and contributing their unique perspectives rather than public advocacy.

Holding elections this way ensures:

• Broader representation; campaign roles AND selected roles
• More than one opportunity to participate!
• Students vote twice each year
• A stronger, more student-driven leadership team with both visible advocates and diverse contributors

So, in short:

Some roles campaign because they need a visible public mandate to represent students broadly.

Other roles are chosen through a more in-depth selection process because their contribution is rooted in perspective, governance ability, and readiness rather than campaigning skills.

Both pathways matter and students [like you] help choose leaders in both.

MSA starts with YOU – your voice, your vote, your leadership