University Student Council

University Student Council (USC)

The Political Chairs of SOFv represent the interests of students and student associations, particularly through their role in the University Student Council (USC). Understanding how the USC operates helps in following its work and decision-making processes. This page provides an overview of the structure and functioning of central-level representation, with a focus on the USC.

What does the USC do?

The USC contributes to the policies of Radboud University at the central level in collaboration with the Works Council (OR). Together, they form the Joint Assembly (GV). The USC represents student interests through meetings with the Executive Board (CvB), as well as discussions with policy staff and other influential bodies within the university.

The USC advocates for students on a wide range of issues. Within the Joint Assembly, the USC and OR discuss policy documents with the Executive Board. In addition, the USC participates in various meetings and maintains contact with other representative bodies. The USC also takes initiative by writing policy memorandums and participating in working groups and advisory committees.

You can find more information about university representation here.

Who is on the University Student Council?

The USC in Nijmegen consists of 14 members, who are elected annually. Students can either represent a student party or run independently. Our Political Chairs are affiliated with the student party V.O.S., which represents the umbrella organisations within the student community. These include the NSSR for sports associations, BOS for convivial associations, CSN for religious associations, CODC for cultural associations, and SOFv for study organisations. Together, these umbrella associations form V.O.S.. More information can be found on our V.O.S. page or the V.O.S. website.

The USC outside the GV's

In addition to the Joint Assembly cycle, the USC is involved in its own initiatives. Besides meetings with the full USC, there are more specialised forms of collaboration, including working groups, committees, and contact person roles.

Working groups are created for specific goals and dissolved once those goals are achieved. Committees, on the other hand, operate year-round and discuss policy documents related to their area of focus, while continuously providing input on university policies. The committees include Finance, Real Estate/Facilities, ICT and Personnel (FVIP), Education, Research and Students (OOS), and Strategy, Governance and Policy (SBB).

To stay informed about developments across the university, the USC also works with various contact persons. Each Faculty Student Council (FSC) has a designated contact person from the USC, as do all assessors and several university organisations, such as the Radboud Green Office.

The USC in the GV's

The University Student Council (USC) forms the Joint Meeting (GV) along with the Works Council (OR). The Works Council advocates for the interests of employees at Radboud University. The council consists of twenty-one elected members, consisting of employees of the Radboud University. The USC and the Works Council have an influence on the central policies of the university. These policies are executed on the orders of the Executive Board (CvB), which consists of three people: a Chairperson, a Rector Magnificus, and a Vice-Chairperson.

The Joint Assembly consists of six cycles in which certain policy documents are discussed. The various documents are divided into several fixed GV committees, including Finance, Real Estate/Facilties, ICT and Personnel (FVIP), Education, Research and Students (OOS), Strategy, Governance and Policy (SBB). The policy documents are ultimately discussed jointly during the Preparatory Joint Assembly (VGV), and then with the Executive Board in the so-called Consultative Joint Assembly (ovGV). During the Concluding Joint Assembly (AGV), the USC and the Works Council provide their final advice on various agenda items and may vote on certain agenda points.

Policy points and providing input

If you have an idea, question, comment, or would like to see a change, please do not hesitate to inform the Political Chairs. They are there to represent you. Providing them with input is one of the most important aspects of effective representation.

If you are curious about the policy documents discussed in the meetings, you can also log into https://www.ibabs.com/, fill in “RU” at website and “burger” at both the username and password.