Executive members, excluding the General Manager, are selected each March in the SU's General Election. The term of office of Executive members is from 1 May to 30 April of the following year.
Executive positions are full-time jobs, and are paid positions.
The President and Vice-Presidents must, however, remain enrolled in no less than one, and no more than three, full courses per year. The President is the chair of the Executive Committee and an ex-officio member of all SU bodies. The President is responsible for representing U of A students in the larger community and for the overall policy and operational direction of the Students' Union. Concerns or initiatives that are academic in nature are the primary responsibility of the VP Academic, whether these concerns or initiatives involve teaching quality or textbook costs. Consequently, the portfolio of the VP Academic is situated in such a manner as to influence both SU and University policy on academic matters.