UCC Students' Union

This article needs references that appear in reliable third-party publications. Primary sources or sources affiliated with the subject are generally not sufficient for a Wikipedia article. Please add more appropriate citations from reliable sources. (April 2008)

UCC SU Crest

The UCC Students’ Union is a students' union in University College Cork, in Cork, Ireland. It is established in accordance with the charter, statutes and regulations of the Governing Body of the college as the sole representative body for UCC students. Each student is automatically a member by virtue of a student levy.

The Students' Union and its autonomous committees (the Media Executive, Societies Guild Executive and the Clubs Executive) oversee the running of a number of extra curricular activities. The SU council also acts as the Student Parliament for UCC, and represents students on a number of committees including the Governing Authority and externally at national bodies such as FUSU.

History

The UCC Students' Union was established in 1973, and replaced a body known as the Students Representative Council. While different years have seen their role in different ways, the core principle of the students union is to represent and support their members at every level within the university and to ensure that a quality educational and social experience is provided for them throughout their University life.

Current Union records date from 1938, and, while the exact establishment date is unclear, the 'Students' Representative Council' (otherwise known in Irish as Comhairle Teachta na Mac Léinn CTM) was established around 1908. In its early years, all officers served in a voluntary capacity. The first full time officer of the Union came with the introduction of a paid President.

Publications

Union Publication records date from 1972 and include Students' Union Handbooks, the copies of the Union paper, and other Union publications including the current incarnation the UCC Express. (Over the years, the paper has been known variously as: 'Aire', 'The Gazette', 'The University Examiner', 'The Campus Chronicle', and 'The University Xpress')

Current issues

The 2009/10 officer board of the Union has tackled a number of issues:

• Aras na Mac Leinn remains the most impertinent issue for UCCSU. With space at a premium it is argued by the Union that management of the student built centre should be returned.[1]
• Student Email
• Fees and grants UCCSU seeks a centralised grants system to streamline the application and award process
• Union Organisation UCCSU has engaged in a process of self reflection aimed at better organisation including a more relevant student council and better mirroring of the processes of the University with which they work

Organisation and Services

There are currently four full time sabbatical officers (President, Deputy President, VP Academic Affairs, VP Student Support) combined with a number of voluntary or non-sabbatical positions, which are elected each year by the students.

The Union employs 3 other full time members of staff directly but contends that is also has rights over the staff of the Aras na Mac Leinn which run both Students' Union Shops on campus [2] The Union also provides other services to students - Nitebus service, education advice, welfare advice, second-hand bookshop, etc.

The Students' Union has 2 publications, a fortnightly newspaper, The UCC Express, and a quarterly Union magazine, SiN. While the Express is editorially independent the General Manager role and support functions are carried out by the Communications Officer.

Bodies

Within the Students' Union, the Media Executive, Societies Guild Executive and the Clubs Executive are the autonomous umbrella organisation of the 2 student publications, ninety student societies and fifty clubs, respectively, within in UCC. These bodies are elected by them to act on their behalf and co-ordinate activities which includes administering funds. These bodies foster, co-ordinates and promotes activities of the societies in UCC. The policy of the Students' Union in the matters of societies and sport are determined by the relevant subcommittee for the Executive officers to support and represent.

Associations

UCCSU is an active member of Union of Students in Ireland - a body whom the students of UCC pay upward of €75,000 in membership and more in running costs to associate themselves with.

UCCSU is also one of the more active members of FUSU (Forum of University Students' Unions). FUSU recently welcomed Dublin Institute of Technology into the group in recognition of the Institute's size and similarity to a university. FUSU is not a competitor organisation for USI, rather it is more of a discussion forum and information exchange.

Recent Officers

In the Year 2009/10 the Officers are:

In the Year 2008/09 the Officers (under their new titles) are:

In the Year 2007/08 and the 100th of the Union the Officers were:

In the Year 2006/2007 the Officers were:

In the Year 2005/2006 the Officers were:

Notable ex-officers

Micheál Martin (SU External Relation officer) is a Cork City TD and became Minister for Enterprise in 2005.

External links

• Official UCC site
• Students' Union
• Students' Forum
• Students' iNetwork