How UCS Works:
The Undergraduate Council of Students is a representative body of twenty-seven elected members committed to serving Brown's undergraduate community. The UCS's external work is divided between four committees: Academic and Administrative Affairs, Admissions and Student Services, Campus Life, and Student Activities. These committees and their members are supported by, and work with a Communications committee, as well as liaisons to the Corporation and Alumni Affairs.
Representatives from all four classes and a diverse area of interests work individually and collectively to propel short and long-term goals. Through frequent correspondence with University decision makers, UCS strives to actively and authentically pursue student interests. This year, more than ever before, UCS aspires to develop and foster collaboration between student organizations in order to effectively communicate, represent, and build from the diversity of interests that shape this University.
The General Body meets weekly on Wednesdays at 8:00 PM in the Petterutti Lounge in Faunce- All are welcome!
Joining the Council
Internal elections for open positions (not filled during Spring elections) will be held during one of the first meetings of the academic year.
Positions that open up mid-year will be well publicized via table slips and campus-wide e-mails. These positions can be filled by any Brown student.
Remember that you can become an Associate Member of UCS at any time! If you would like to become involved with Brown's Undergraduate Council of Students, associate membership is a great opportunity. Associate membership grants you many of the responsibilities of a Representative position, and is a terrific way to get invitations to important discussions.
To become an Associate Member you must:
- Attend two weekly UCS meetings.
- Collect 50 signatures of Brown Students.
- Present the signatures to the Council and join a standing UCS Committee.
Associate Membership is an excellent way gain an introduction to student government, and allows ample opportunity to make a difference here at Brown for yourself, your fellow classmates, and the Brown Community. In fact, two recent Presidents of UCS began as Associate Members!
Joining a University Committee or Task Force
To become a member of a University Committee or Task Force, one must apply during the Spring. Check the University Committees web page to see what positions are available, and then contact the Coordinator of Appointments to be sure to receive a notification when the applications are being accepted. Otherwise, simply watch for tableslips and emails during April.
A times, the need to fill a vacancy on a University Committee or a new Task Force arises. Watch for announcements of such openings in the UCS emails.
The Spring application process will usually include submitting a short Statement of Intent describing why you want to be on a particular University Committee and a short informal interview with the Appointments Committee.
Mid-year appointments will usually require that you submit a Statement of Intent or give a 1-2 minute speech before the Council or Executive Board outlining why you would like to search on the Committee in question.