General Information
So, you want to know more? Here are some of the more common questions regarding council and how it works:
What is class council?
How does the council work?
Are there leadership positions on the council?
What are you looking for in a council member?
What are the requirements of being a council member?
How do I apply to be on the Class Council?
I still have a question?
What is the class council?
The mission of each council is to unite members of the class, build a sense of class identity, and make sure that each student graduates with strong ties to UVM and their respective class. To do this, each council plans activities throughout the year specifically for members of their class. These events include planning class socials, community service activities, fundraising, career advising, working on the Class Gift selection and solicitation, and building class identity and class community.
How does the council work?
The class council has both a General Board (Gboard) and an Executive Board (Eboard). Gboard is made up of council members whereas Eboard is made up of members with designated leadership positions (this includes the President and Vice Presidents). Members of the Gboard serve on at least one committee. There are four (4) committees:
- Alumni Affairs & Class Gift: this committee works closely with the Office of Development and Alumni Relations to get the class involved in the Class Gift. This includes fundraising and social event planning to get one’s class invested in giving back to the university.
- Class Identity: this committee organizes a variety of programs designed to enrich the experience of the class. These events include social events (e.g. bowling night, a themed dance, etc.), athletic events (e.g. attending a hockey game as a class), cultural events (e.g. going to the theatre, visiting an art museum, etc.), and multicultural events (e.g. a mixer at the ALANA student center, coordinating an Allies training with LGBTQA Services, etc.).
- Communications: this committee oversees all forms of communication for the council. This includes updating the entire class on upcoming events via email, creating publicity materials and posting them throughout campus, managing recruitment and selection of council members, and creating logos and other materials (e.g. t-shirts, pens, etc.) as necessary.
- Community Development: this committee reaches out to a variety of communities on campus and works to integrate the class into those communities through a variety of co-sponsorships and joint events. The committee is responsible for community service, academic, and health & wellbeing programming.
Are there leadership positions on the council?
Each aforementioned committee is headed by a Vice President (VP); the VPs make up a majority of the Eboard, which is governed by the Class Council President. Applicants for President must submit a supplemental application and complete an interview to be considered for the position. Vice Presidents do not require a supplemental application but will be elected by the general board during a scheduled meeting. You can find more detailed information on these opportunities on the leadership positions page. No prior experience with class councils is necessary—everyone is encouraged to apply.
What are you looking for in a council member?
The Class Council members will be selected on their ability to represent and network with their class. Your ability and willingness to communicate with many and varied groups of classmates will be important to your selection, as diversity within the council will be a priority. Although not exclusive, diverse elements we will look for will include: all undergraduate schools, different academic programs, gender and gender expression, ethnicity, sexuality, and different social communities such as campus activists, library regulars, the Greek community, transfer students, the student-athlete community, etc. In effect, the council will be expected to actively represent such groups by relaying relevant information to them, encouraging them to participate in events and programs, and generally working to involve their individual communities in the greater community of their class.
What are the requirements of being a council member?
There are important requirements for council members. These include:
- Good academic standing at the university.
- Participating in bi-weekly meetings in addition to committee meetings which may occur on a weekly basis. It is important to realize that the meetings are not the only time commitments of council members. The majority of the work is done outside of formal meetings.
- Attending and supporting all council related activities.
How do I apply to be on the Class Council?
Ready to make a difference and get to know some of the coolest catamounts on campus? Fill out an application.
Web-based Application: Save Paper & go green!
All applications are due by 4:00 PM on Monday, September 14.
After a quick review of your application, you will receive an e-mail to set up a short interview with the advisor of the council.
Additional Questions?
If you have any additional questions, please email the Class Council Program Coordinator at ccadvisr@uvm.edu.
(for UVM staff)