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Students' union

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The largest Students' Union building at Oklahoma State University, which doubles as a student activity center ("student union" in the USA)
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The largest Students' Union building at Oklahoma State University, which doubles as a student activity center ("student union" in the USA)

A students' union, student government, or student council is a student organization present at many colleges and universities, often with its own building on the campus, dedicated to social and organizational activities of the student body. The largest students' union building is at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma [ANSTHE], Oklahoma State University, retrieved April 23, 2006, however, it is unusual in the United States in that it combines the US terms of "student union" (meaning a "student activity center") and a "student government". At a few institutions, mainly Canadian and European colleges and universities, the students' union is a formally-organized group analogous to a labor union. Similar organizations by the same names also exist in many high schools, but are generally less expansive in scope, much less political, and more concerned with social functions.

Many students' unions are run by students for students, independent of the university. The purpose of the organization is to represent students' views within the university and sometimes on local and national issues. It is also responsible for providing a variety of services to students. Students can get involved in its management, through numerous and varied committees, councils and general meetings, or become one of its elected officers.

Many students' unions are highly politicised bodies, and often serve as a training ground for aspiring politicians. Campaigning and debate is often very vigorous, with the youthful enthusiasm of the various partisans, a student media that is itself often partisan, inexperienced, and under no financial pressure to slant coverage to please a broad readership, and a general lack of serious consequences for decision all encouraging political gamesmanship. Some unions, however, are largely nonpolitical, and instead focus on providing on-campus recreation and retail facilities for students.

These groups also often officially recognize and allocate a yearly budget to other organizations on campus.

In some countries, postgraduate students are within the general students' unions, whereas in other countries they have their own National Postgraduate Representative Body

Contents

Australia

(Main article: Student unionism in Australia)

In Australia, all universities have one or more student organizations. As of July 2006, membership and union fees are voluntary by law.

Australian student unions typically provide such services as eateries, small retail outlets (e.g., newsagencies), student media (e.g., campus newspapers), advocacy, and support for a variety of social, arts, political, recreational, special interest and sporting clubs and societies. Most also operate specialized support services for female, LGBT, international and indigenous students. Many have expressed concerns over the introduction of voluntary student unionism (VSU).

The National Union of Students of Australia represents most student unions at a national level. With VSU becoming law, its future is in doubt.

Canada

In Canada, membership in a college or university students' union is mandatory. Included in Canadian students' tuition fees is anywhere from an additional $50-$300 fee to pay for the services of the union. The money raised from dues often supports a staff and office that helps students maintain a strong union over a period of time. Student elections usually happen around March as the student bodies elect officials who sometimes work through the summer, and then throughout the next year. Student voter turnout for student elections varies widely depending on the area of the country, and the size of the institution.

These non-profit student unions usually provide numerous services not only to their own students, but to the educational institution and community at large. Running things like newspapers, radio stations, various consumer businesses, clubs, societies and cultural groups, concerts, bars, various entertainment, athletic programs, financial support, scholarships, medical and dental plans are quite common throughout Canadian schools.

Student unions are also well known for their political involvement. Most student governments are charged by their student body to protect their best interests at the university, municipal, provincial and federal government levels.

Most unions in Canada are members of either the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations or the Canadian Federation of Students, the two federal lobby groups representing post-secondary student interests.

One exception is the Province of Québec, which has its own federations, the largest youth group in Québec, called Quebec Federation of University Students (Fédération étudiante universitaire du Québec or FEUQ). Cégep students are represented by the Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec or FECQ, while the Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante or ASSÉ groups students from both levels of education, but is a minority.

Finland

In Finland the higher education system comprises two parallel sectors: universities and universities of applied sciences (polytechnics). Universities are characterised by scientific research and the highest education based thereon. Universties of applied sciences are oriented towards working life and base their operations on the high vocational skill requirements set by it.

Every university has a student union (In Finnish, ylioppilaskunta). Membership is mandatory by law for all students studying for master's or bachelor's degree. The student unions are based on a parliamentary model, the general assembly (about 50 members) elected every second year using an open list -election. The student union is autonomous, its internal life organized by its by-laws. The student unions are considered a part of Finnish administration, however, and their decisions can be appealed against to the Ministry of Education, although this is extremely rare. In such case, the claimant must prove that the decision has violated the law or by-laws.

The student unions are responsible for all representation of the students and elect the student members of different administrative organs. They are responsible for the health care of the students and usually coordinate and finance the activities of smaller, more specialized student organizations. For the financing of their activities, the student unions exact a membership fee and engage in different businesses. Differences in the scale of such businesses are mirrored in the fees exacted by the student unions. Generally, the older universities have wealthier student unions. For example, at Helsinki University of Technology, the student union owns and governs the dormitory village on the campus.

The student unions are members of the Finnish Association of Student Unions which represents the students on the national level. Part of the student unions are politically active, while in others, Nations and subject-based groups are dominant in the general assembly. The question whether the student unions should take stances in the political life is open and each student generation finds its own answer.

Every university of applied sciences also has a student union (In Finnish, opiskelijakunta) and its status is guaranteed by law. The student unions are much younger in this sector because the dual model system that makes the higher education in Finland came in 1996.

The membership in opiskelijakunta differs from ylioppilaskunta. This is because the membership is not mandatory and every student can decide if he or she wants to join the student union. The student union is autonomous, its internal life organized by its by-laws which are confirmed by the rector. The student unions are based on a parliamentary model, the general assembly elected every year.

The student union represents all students and is responsible in electing the student members of different administrative organs. The student union finances its operations mainly with membership fees, financial support from the university and small business operations.

The student unions are members of the organization The National Union of Finnish Polytechnic Students which represents the student on the national level.

The institutions of the secondary education (secondary high schools, lukio, and vocational schools) in Finland have student councils. They incorporate all the students of the institution but as they do not have a right to exact a membership fee, their status is quite low. Such organizations should be heard in all matters pertaining to the education in the institution, but this is often not done.

The Finnish Reserve Officer School has a student council, which is interesting as a curiosity, being a democratically governed, autonomous organization of conscripts within a military structure. It has relatively high budget, in the range of 200.000 euros, financed by an association founded for this specific purpose.

Ireland

Most of Ireland's universities and colleges [#endnote_informal]have students' unions which were established to represent the students in the context of internal college issues and on wider student related issues and also a means of solidarity with other movements globally. An on going campaign of virtually every students' union in Ireland is to prevent the reintroduction of tuition fees which were abolished in 1995. Most of the students' unions are affiliated with the [Union of Students in Ireland]. The students' unions are operated in accordance with the rules set down in their constitution which invariable enumerates a strong democratic and inclusive procedure for the governance on the union.

Since 1998 there has been sustained developmnet of student councils is Irish post primary schools and aprox 56% of Irish Post Primary schools have local student councils.

In 2001 the [Union of Secondary Students] was founded as the National Umbrella body to organise and coordinate the national campaign efforts of the student councils. The Union of Secondary Students has a membership of 13% of post primary students in the republic of Ireland although this figure is forever increasing.

# ↑  Although there's a difference between 'college' and 'university' the words have become almost synonymous in informal speech

India

India, being one of the foremost democratic nations, has developed a complex tradition of student politics dating from the era of the Congress Party. Student unions and organizations are often affiliated with political parties, as in the case of NSUI, ABVP, SFI, etc. Due to recent cases of student unrest, universities in various states have started denying democratic student elections. However, with the growing usage of internet and the booming tech sector, Indian student union websites such as [Student India.com] have gained great following among university youth.

# ↑  Although there's a difference between 'college' and 'university' the words have become almost synonymous in informal speech

Japan

In Japan, student body is called 学生自治会(gakusei-jiti-kai). The meaning of 学生自治会(gakusei-jiti-kai) is students' self-government-organizations.

The student body in Japan is promoting extracurricular activities. Usually, a cultural association, for example 文化会(bunka-kai), and sports association, for example 体育会(taiiku-kai), etc. is in the inside of a student body as autonomy organization. A student belongs to one or more students' organizations, and he or she does extracurricular activities through a students' organizations. However, the extracurricular activities of a university and colleges are declining after the 1990s.

Netherlands

There are several students' unions in The Netherlands which act as labor unions for students. The largest ones are [VSSD] in Delft and [ASVA Studentenunie] in Amsterdam. These students' unions are all members of [LSVb], the national students' union. There's also a similar organization called ISO, which consists of several formal participation organizations, as well as ASVA Studentenunie and VSSD. Both ISO and LSVb are members of ESIB.

There is also a [Student Union] at Twente University. It was founded in 1999, succeeding the 'Raad voor de Campusvoorzieningen' and the 'Campuscollege'. This Student Union is largely funded by the university and responsible for most activities not related to education, such as sports and culture. It is also an umbrella organization for close to 100 student organizations at the university. The board is not elected: any student can apply for a one-year term. Selection is performed by a subcommittee of the 'Raad van Toezicht'. The board consists of six members, all full time.

New Zealand

All universities, and most polytechnics and colleges of education have a students association.

Students associations have a strong history in New Zealand of involvement in social justice causes, notably the Halt All Racist Tours campaign during the 1981 Springbok Tour. Since the economic reforms of the 1990s and the introduction of user pays in tertiary education, students associations and the national body have shifted their focus to challenging inequities in the student loan scheme and high levels of student debt. Part-time work along side the introduction of internal assessment and the change of semester structure has been attributed to the declining involvement in extra-curicular activities and a shift in focus of the student movement from mass protest to lobbying.

The Voluntary Student Membership amendment to the Education Act was passed by the right-wing National party in 1998, however with a compromise pushed by the centrist New Zealand First party that allowed each students' association the opportunity every to hold a referendum every two years on whether membership to the association is Compulsory or Voluntary. The first wave of referenda were held in 1999. Waikato Student Union and Auckland University Students Association were the only campuses to turn Voluntary. Today AUSA (Auckland University Students Association) is the only students association with Voluntary Student Membership.

The New Zealand University Students Association is a con-federation of most New Zealand students' associations.

Portugal

In Portugal, every university, polytechnic institute or any other higher education schools have their own students' unions. This organizations are generally aimed to organize and promote extracurricular activities such as sports and culture events, parties, and academic festivities. For the other side, they act also as "labour unions for students" promoting and defending the student's points of view and rights, and dealing with the teaching institutions and the State's education agencies policies. The oldest and biggest students' union of Portugal is the Associação Académica de Coimbra (founded in 1887) which belongs to the students of the University of Coimbra.

Sweden

At Swedish universities, students' unions are responsible for representing the students in evaluation of the education. Membership is mandatory by law. Students' unions generally provide counselling services to its members and publishes their own magazines or newspapers. Large universities often have several students' unions, where the smaller students' unions only provide basic services. Larger students' unions often own and run their own facilities at the university such as shops, restaurants and night clubs. Which students' union a student belongs to is decided by the course of study, and competing for members is as such not possible. Many students' unions, but not all, are affiliated with the Swedish National Union of Students.

United Kingdom

In British universities, student unions are constituted under the Education Act 1994. All higher education institutions are supposed to have a students union, all students are automatically members of the students union unless they resign their membership, and the ultimate purpose of student unions is to democratically represent their members interests.

The vast majority of British student unions are affiliated with the National Union of Students. In addition to lobbying, campaigning, debating and carrying out other representative activities, most students' unions facilitate "student activities" (societies, volunteering opportunities, and sport) peer led support (through advice centres, helplines, job shops and more), and social venues to bring their members together. Most unions receive some funding through an annual allocation, also called the block grant, from their educational instititution. Many unions supplement this income from commercial sales from their venues, shops, and marketing revenue.

The oldest students' union in Britain is St Andrews, founded in 1864. The oldest in England is believed by many to be University College London Union, founded in 1893.

Britain's oldest students' union building, which is also the world's oldest students' union building, is the purpose-built Teviot Row House at the University of Edinburgh, built in 1889. The oldest in England is believed to be the Union Building, home to the University of Birmingham Guild of Students. The largest students' union building in the United Kingdom is at the University of Sheffield.

Students who resign their membership may still use Union social facilities provided (often the main or only such facilities available) since they are for the benefit of the students of the institution, not just Union members.

Although "students' union" is by far the most common name adopted by these organisations in the UK, seven (including Exeter, Aston Liverpool and Birmingham) are named Guilds of students while the term student association is also used at some institutions, particularly in Scotland, where the ancient universities used to have a pair of segregated student unions for men and women. When these were amalgamated the term student association was introduced.

Reduction in influence

Although the Conservative government under John Major attempted to severely reduce the influence of students' unions in Britain, the NUS and individual student unions managed to successfully lobby against the moves to restrict their political activities. The then Education Secretary, John Patten aimed to end the 'closed shop' and ensure students would have to join their union (opt-in) rather than automatically becoming a member. As many unions receive funding based upon membership levels this threatened their ability to achieve their core business.

In 2004, lobbying by the NUS against a bill to introduce variable student fees in English and Welsh universities contributed towards the Labour government's majority being slashed to just five in the Commons vote on the bill. However, the passing of this bill as the Higher Education Act 2004 has led to some observers suggesting that students' unions in the UK have been "broken"[[Citing sources citation needed]].

Law relating to Students' Unions

Students' unions are exempt charities and therefore their involvement in politics is restricted by law. Students' Unions may only campaign on issues which affect the students they represent in their capacity as students.

The role of students' unions is enshrined in the Education Act 1994 which requires educational institutions to have a Code of Practice and publicise the ability to opt-out from membership without forfeiting access to the majority of union services. The act also requires that Unions have a written constitution and that elections to major union offices are held by a ballot of the membership. The act enables 5% of the students in any union to demand a referendum is held to end one of the unions affiliations. Students' Unions may not in any event affiliate to organisations which spend funds on political campaigning of a type the union itself is not legally allowed to carry out.

Scotland

The oldest students' union in Scotland is in St Andrews founded in 1864 and the world's oldest students' union building is the purpose-built Teviot Row House at the University of Edinburgh, built in 1889. Under the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889, Students' Representative Councils were set up at the four ancient universities of Scotland. All students are eligble to elect members to the SRC unless they opt out under the Education Act 1994, and the President of the SRC is often a member of the University Court, the governing body of a Scottish Ancient. Where separate students' unions still exist (for example at the University of Glasgow), they operate as private members' clubs. At other universities, the SRC and the former union or unions have been combined into a single students' association.

Officers

In a British students' union a sabbatical officer is a full-time paid officer elected by the students from their membership. The sabbatical officers are generally trustees of the students' union.

Many students' unions also have unpaid officers who continue as students during their term of office. Some of these non-sabbatical officers may sit on the Executive Committee of the Union, or on the Union Council.

British Students' Unions commonly include variants on the following offices:

United States

In the United States, these groups are often known as student government. In the U.S., the phrase "student union" often refers to a "student activity center" (also know as a "student center" or "student commons"), a building containing a "union" of many dining halls, game rooms, lounges, and other spaces for student activities. At institutions with large graduate, medical school, and individual "college" populations, there are often student governments that serve those specific constituents.

Alternative titles

There are several hundred names used for the student government in the United States. The following are amongst those commonly in use:

Most American law schools have a Student Bar Association that fulfills the roles of a student government.

Structures

Many student governments are structured similarly to the United States Government, consisting of distinct executive, legislative and judicial branches. Alternatively, a parliamentary model is followed.

As a result of the particularities of university environments, these structures often include elements which are not found in the federal government (e.g. legislative veto, programming branches, initiative, recall, referendum). Also, many universities with significant graduate programs have separate student governments for the graduate and undergraduate student bodies.

Responsibilities

Within their capacity as representatives of the student body, student governments may fulfil a range of responsibilities, such as:

Relationship to the Institution

Most universities and colleges (both public and private) in the United States are governed by a Board of Trustees or Regents. Student governments tend to be chartered by the Board but, in the case of public universities operated by a State, may be recognized by the state legislature. Their structure, purpose and responsibilities are usually established in a constitution ratified by the student body. Some states, such as California, specifically provide for "student body organizations" by statute. Cal Education Code § 76060 (Community Colleges); Cal Education Code § 89300 (Universities).

Student governments have historically been considered auxiliaries of the university to which they belong. Since ultimate responsibility over the direction of a university is usually vested in a Chancellor or President appointed by the Board, some conflicts may arise between Student Government and the university administration, especially in the area of fiscal matters.

In addition to a student government, many universities also establish governments for faculty (e.g. Faculty Senate) and staff (e.g. Staff Assembly). In such cases, there often exist links and dependencies between these bodies.

Student government budgets range from as high as $30 million (the University of Colorado-Boulder) to less than a few thousand dollars. Large public residential universities tend to enjoy the largest operational budgets, while commuter-based community colleges and private colleges tend to have the smallest budgets. The American Student Government Association maintains the world's largest database of student government information, including everything from budgets, to number of members, to corporate structure to number of recognized clubs.

Most American student governments are "official, on-campus organizations" recognized by their institutions. But particularly in California, the "Associated Students, Inc." are non-profit corporations that operate independently of the institution. They derive much of their funding through the sale of services such as "discount cards" that students can use at local establishments.

More than 71 percent of American "SG" officers are compensated through salaries, stipends, scholarships, and tuition waivers. The American Student Government Association conducts ongoing research on this subject through its "Student Government Salary Survey."

Average voter turnout in all 4,700 student governments nationwide is in the range of 2 to 4 percent. This number is negatively skewed by poor participation overall in SG at the more than 2,000 American community colleges which have larger commuter and non-traditional populations and therefore have less emphasis on traditional student services and programs like student government. State universities and colleges tend to have a 10-15 percent voter turnout, while private colleges often have much higher totals, sometimes into 30 or 40 percent. Faith-based institutions which include regular chapel services at which elections often are held, according to ASGA research.

Most student government leaders serve one-year terms, and there are isolated examples of multi-year officers. One former president, Steve Wymer, served three terms as Associated Students president at Washington State University in the early 2000s. This cyclical nature of student government officers often prevents them from attaining real influence on college campuses. By the time student leaders learn their roles, their terms of office are nearing completion.

K-12

Student governments are present in most K-12 school systems across the United States, most often named Student Council or Associated Student Body (ASB). In the majority of cases, these governments are either representative-based and modeled loosely after the U.S. Congress, or based on the Executive Branch of the United States, with a President, Vice-President, etc. Student representatives and officers are usually elected from and by the student body, although there may be prerequisites for candidacy or suffrage. In elementary schools, there are typically one or two student representatives per classroom and one presiding set of officers. However, many secondary schools have one set of officers per grade level.

K-12 student government exists for largely the same purpose as college-level SGs, but K-12 differs in complexity and power. Most K-12 governments do not have a constitution or a judicial branch and are easily stifled by school administration, resulting in a belief by many members of the student body that the student council is powerless and irrelevant. Usually, it does control many areas of the student body, second only to the faculty of the school.

As K-12 governments are perceived as powerless, elections for these positions are often reduced to popularity contests in which the traditional High School Social Classes become the most prominent voting blocks.

K-12 student governments do not have funding authority and must generate their operating funds through "fund raisers" such as car washes and bake sales. They do not recognize other campus organizations.

Offices in the United States

In the United States, many student governments are set up in a fashion similar to the United States government. Student governments are often set up into three branches, the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Positions include: Many of the executive branch officers receive some sort of financial compensation for their work. At state universities, the most common form of compensation is cash salaries, at private colleges it is a partial scholarship, and at community colleges it is a partial tuition waiver. The highest paid public university student government officer in the US is the President of the Student Government Association at Northeastern University, making just over $25,000, which includes a tuition waiver, campus housing, meal plan, and small cash stipend. The highest-compensated state university president is at Washington State University, who enjoys a cash salary of nearly $18,000 annually. Community colleges receive far less, with the higher reported at Grossmont College in the range of $7,000.

However, in high schools spread throughout the United States, the student governments are made of three different sections: Executive Council, Class Council, and Commissioners. The Executive Council is made up of the

The Class Council is just the class officers (ie. [class] President, [class] Vice President, etc.). And, the commissioners are made up of interviewed students who make up the important aspects of campus events. The Commissioners are as followed:

The Commissioners are the more powerful ones in these governments and make decisions that affect the student body as a whole while the presidents and class councils do very little and make no decisions.

List of United States Student Governments

References

See also

External links

Columbus State Community College Student Government Association
  • http://CSCCSGA.tripod.com

 

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