University College Cork Students' Union

University College Cork Students' Union (UCCSU) is a students' union in University College Cork (UCC), 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.

University College Cork Student's Union

Motto	Your Voice, Your Union
Institution	University College Cork
Location	34 College Road, University College, Cork
Established	1973
Affiliations	Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn
Website	www.uccsu.ie

The main functions of union are to provide academic assistance to students, to provide support to students in need, to lobby the university and the government on issues affecting students, and to provide entertainment on campus. 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 in the national union of students, Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn.

History

The union was established in 1973 to "represent and support their members at every level within the university".^[1] The union replaced a previous body known as the 'Students' Representative Council'. This body (known in Irish as Comhairle Teachta na Mac Léinn CTM) 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.^[1]

Since 2010, the union 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".^[2]

The Pride flag flown atop the UCC Students' Union building

On 5 December 2014, the union became the first third-level institution on the island of Ireland to install a permanent Pride flag on campus.^[3][4]

Publications

Publications by the union include union handbooks, the twice weekly union newspaper, and monthly magazine. Since 2004 the campus newspaper has been known as the 'UCC Express'.^[5] 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.^[6][7]

Organisation

UCCSU's executive is elected by the student body.^[8]

As of 2022, there were six full-time sabbatical officers, including the roles of President, Communications and Engagement Officer, Education Officer, Welfare Officer, Commercial and Fundraising Officer, and Entertainments Officer.^[9]

There are also a number of part-time officer (voluntary) positions which are divided into three types - College Representatives, Campaign Representatives and Special Representatives.^[9] College Representatives represent the four colleges within University College Cork. The Campaign Representatives are made up of: Environmental & Sustainability Representative, Equality & Diversity Representative and Irish Language & Cultural Representative. Special Representatives include both voluntary representatives advocating for a specific student cohort (international, postgraduate, mature), and the Clubs and Societies Presidents, who are elected by their respective organisations.

Services

Services provided to students by the union include a jobs portal, education advice and grinds, welfare advice, and free sexual health products.^[10] It is also involved in charity and fundraising,^[11] advocacy and community relations,^[12] and campaigning on other issues.^[13]