UCC Students' Union


The UCC Students' Union is a students' union in University College Cork, in Cork, Ireland. It was established in 1973 following the charter, statutes and regulations of the governing body of the college as a representative body for UCC students. Each UCC student is automatically a member by virtue of a student levy. The UCC Students' Union oversees the running of several committees that cover a number of extra curricular activities for students in UCC. The Student Council of the UCCSU also acts as the student parliament for UCC, and represents students on a number of committees including UCC's Governing Authority, Academic Council, and externally at national bodies such as the Union of Students in Ireland.

History

The UCC Students' Union was established in 1973 to "represent and support their members at every level within the university". The union replaced a previous body known as the 'Students' Representative Council'. This body was established around 1908. In its early years, all officers of the body served in a voluntary capacity. The first full-time officer came with the introduction of a paid presidency role in 1940, and increased to four full-time officers in 2004.
Since 2010, UCCSU has awarded Honorary Life Memberships, to "individuals that have demonstrated commitment to working in the best interests of students both within the University and externally".
On 5 December 5, 2014, UCC Students' Union became the first third-level institution on the island of Ireland to install a permanent Pride flag on campus.

Publications

Publications by the UCCSU include union handbooks, the twice weekly union newspaper, and monthly magazine. Since 2004 the campus newspaper has been known as the 'UCC Express'. The newspaper had been known over previous years variously as: 'Aire', 'The Gazette', 'The University Examiner', 'The Campus Chronicle', and 'The University Xpress'. The union also publishes the monthly 'Motley Magazine', which was named 'KBC Irish Student Magazine of the Year' in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Organisation and services

As of 2015, there are six full-time sabbatical officers and a number of voluntary or non-sabbatical positions, which are elected each year by students. The union also has six 'rights officers' whose roles are to advise on the issues pertaining to students under their remit.
UCCSU also provides other services to students – a jobs portal, education advice and grinds, welfare advice, free condoms, and a second-hand bookshop. It is also involved in charity and fundraising, advocacy and community relations, and campaigning on other issues.