UCMSA Universalis

This article is about the study association in Maastricht, Netherlands. For other uses, see Universalis (disambiguation).

UCMSA Universalis is the student association directly affiliated with the University College Maastricht. It is run by UCM students for UCM students and contributes to both academic and social life at UCM. The association is involved in the organisation of open-mic nights, parties, charity fundraisers, student representation, poetry readings, board games nights, and other events.^[1] Following a structure typical of Maastricht University study associations, it is run by a student board. The Universalis student board consists of an Executive board, a Social Board, an Academic Board, and an Independent Body. Board members serve for one or two semesters after which they can re-apply.^[2] Active members of the association are organised as committees that provide services for all students at the college. All new students automatically become members upon enrollment at the college.

UCMSA Universalis

Association Information
Full name	University College Maastricht Study Association
Abbreviation	UCMSA Universalis
Formation	December 3, 2002; 22 years ago (2002-12-03)
Legal status	Study Association
Location	Maastricht, The Netherlands
Membership	800-900
Official language	English
Affiliations	University College Maastricht, Maastricht University
Website	http://ucmsa.nl

History

At the beginning of September 2002 UCM's first students gathered in the back yard of the newly founded college. Several students formed an informal founding committee to get a student society started.^[3] Because the diversity of UCM's students and its curriculum, they decided that Da Vinci's Homo Universalis was a suitable symbol for the student society's identity. It represents the juxtaposition of different interests in its members and of the diverse UCM student body. The founding committee decided to call the association Universalis and Brian Pagán designed the logo, a stylised version of the Vitruvian Man. The first unofficial Universalis general meeting was held on 19 September 2002. The organisation's structure was drawn up by the founding committee and the first board was elected. The organisation was registered with the Maastricht Chamber of Commerce and certified by a notary on 3 December 2002, marking the official establishment of UCM Study Association Universalis.^[4]

UCMSA Universalis joined University College Student Representatives of the Netherlands (UCSRN)^[5] in 2014 and has been an active member since.