Student Association

Welcome to the official page of the Student Association of Columbia Union College

Student Association Mission statement:
We, the Student Association, are the chosen eyes, ears, and voice for the students of Columbia Union College; serving our student body in academic, social, and spiritual matters and acting as a liaison between the student body and administration, college departments, and the global community.

We must aim to create awareness and a more proactive approach to leadership. With renewed vigor, we will facilitate an environment rooted in greater collaboration, cooperation, and communication. SA’s vision is to empower the student body and to turn our academic learning into practical experiences that will uplift and unify the campus community.

Membership
All traditional students at CUC taking six college credit hours or more, automatically become members of the organization.

Purpose
Since its 1916 inception, the Student Association’s purpose is to provide input into the college’s decision making process; and to maintain communications concerning students’ interest and concerns in all of the academic departments, the administration, Board of Trustees, and the world.

Order
The order of the organization is also a student government. It is broken into two branches: Executive and Legislative.

The Executive Branch is made up of the President, Executive Vice-president, other elected vice presidents, and appointed members of the Executive Committee. The Executive Branch is headed by the Executive Committee (led by the President) and is divided into 11 departments that spearhead specific initiatives and programs.

1.) Department of Finance and Budget
2.) Department of Religion and Community Service
3.) Department of Social Outreach and Planning
4.) Department of Academics*
5.) Department of Public and Media Relations
6.) Department of the Student Directory
7.) Department of Newspaper Publications
8.) Department of the Yearbook Publication
9.) Department of the Association Archives*
10.) Department of Electronic Information*
11.) Office of Student Action*
(*Recently created departments 2007-08 term)

1. The Department of Finance and Budget collaborates with the Student Association President and other SA officers to prepare and submit a budget to the SA Senate for adoption. The head of this department is the Financial Vice-President.

After approval, the department’s primary activity involves approving and properly recording SA expenditures. Other responsibilities include processing fund request.

The department will maintain records of all Student Association funding sources, provide quarterly reports to the SA President and Senate, act as the chief financial advisory body to the SA President and Executive Committee, and submit all required fees and Student Association expenses to be available for public view.

2. The Department of Religion and Community Service coordinates the religious and community service activities to the Student Association in coordination with Campus Ministries and the college Chaplain. The head of this department is the Religious Vice-president.

The department organizes the student week of prayer, at least five spiritual afternoon outings or programs per semester, a minimum of two prayer breakfasts per semester, and a campus-wide community service project once a month.

This department will maintain a cooperative relationship with the academic Department of Religion, Center for Metropolitan Ministries, Spiritual Life Committee, Chaplain, Campus Ministries, Sligo SDA Church senior and young adult pastor, class pastors, and campus Bible study and prayer groups. The religious vice-president is a member of the Spiritual Life Committee and Executive Committee.

3. The Department of Social Outreach and Planning provides activities and functions for the students to enjoy throughout the year. The head of this department is the Social Vice-President.

The department is responsible for coordinating the Back to School Cookout, Barn Party, Ski Trip, Valentine's Day Banquet, and dozens of other events throughout the year.

This department will maintain a cooperative relationship to academic departments, the office of Student Life and Retention, the Student Life Committee, the Campus Life Committee, student clubs, organizations, and groups. The social vice-president serves as a member of the Student Life Committee, Campus Life Committee, and Executive Committee.

4. The Department of Academics works to improve the students’ academic experiences at CUC. The head of this department is the Academic Director.

The department serves as a bridge for communication between the students and faculty/administrators and strives to ensure that the Student Association’s academic programs and changes meet the needs of the students as well as the college as a whole. The department intends to voice student concerns and opinions as CUC slowly moves toward Ivy League status.

The Department of Academics creates discussion forums between experts and the student body on popular social topics. It organizes trips to museums and plays, study halls during the academic year, and a campus college bowl.

The department will keep students abreast of pertinent changes within the College’s academic departments and also maintain a cooperative relationship with Weis Library, the Center for Learning Resources, the Center for Public Policy, the Academic Council, and the college’s Honor’s Program. The Academic Director is a member of the Academic Council.

5. The Department of Public and Media Relations is responsible for all press releases, broadcast emails, weekly updates, and press conferences, as well as creating and maintaining the Student Association advertisements, graphics, and promotions. The head of this department is the Public Relations Secretary, and will maintain a cooperative relationship with the college’s Marketing and Communications Office, Executive Committee and the SA Webmaster.

6. The Department of the Student Directory is responsible for informing the student public of all faces, names, email addresses, and majors in a printed publication and an online version. The publication is called the Line-Up. The department’s head is the Line-Up Editor.

The department puts out the publication five weeks after the first day of classes. This department will maintain a cooperative relationship with the college’s Office of Admissions, Records Office, and Marketing and Communications Office.
Click Here

7. The Department of Newspaper Publications is responsible for reporting campus news to the students, and to foster a medium where students can express their view and concerns about any particular issue through print. The newspaper publication is called the Columbia Journal, and it is required to be printed twice a month during the academic year. The head of this department is the Columbia Journal Editor.

The department obtains an income from advertising income which is to be part of the regular budget income of the publication. It also applies for multiple bids for large expenditures such as printing, photography, and other utilities outside of the college budget.

This department will maintain a cooperative relationship with the Campus Life Committee, the academic Department of Communication and Journalism, the college’s Marketing and Communications Office, the SA’s Public Relations Secretary, and the SA’s Webmaster. The Columbia Journal Editor is a member of the Campus Life Committee, Publication’s Committee, and Executive Committee. Click Here

8. The Department of the Yearbook Publication is responsible for shooting and collecting photographs of each student, club, group, organization and event during the academic year to be placed into a publication called Golden Memories. The head of this department is the Golden Memories Editor.

The department obtains an income form advertising income which is to be part the regular budget income of the publication. It also applies for multiple bids for large expenditures such as printing, photography, and other utilities outside of the college budget.

The department will maintain a cooperative relationship with the academic departments, Campus Life Committee, the college’s Office of Admissions, campus clubs and organizations, extracurricular activity groups, Campus Ministries, and all other groups on campus. The Golden Memories’ Editor is a member of the Campus Life Committee, the Publications Committee, and the Executive Committee. Click Here

9. The Department of the Association Archives is responsible for recording and searching all events of the Student Association. The head of this department is the Senior Archivist.

The department works to maintain and create records of the events and historic moments of the SA. These moments include meeting agendas and minutes, fliers and pamphlets, newspapers, yearbooks, student directories, letters, memos, events reports, SA historic firsts, etc. The material will be stored and organized in the Student Association section of the library so students are capable of researching the Student Association’s history.

This department will maintain a cooperative relationship with Weis Library, the Public Relations Secretary, SA Webmaster, Senate Secretary, and the Executive Committee.

10. The Department of Electronic Information is responsible for maintaining and updating the Student Association’s page on the college’s Web site and other elctronic and Internet media. The head of this department is theWebmaster.

The department works to keep the student body updated and informed via the Internet. This department will be given all of the upcoming events from other SA departments to educate the student population of new information.

The department will show the agendas and minutes of the Senate, General Assembly, Executive Committee, and the Publication Committee. It will also show the advertisements and statements created by the Department of Public and Media Relations. It will electronically print some articles from the Columbia Journal.

This department will maintain a cooperative relationship with the college’s Information Technology Systems department, Marketing and Communications Office, SA Public Relations Secretary, and the Columbia Journal Editor.

11. The Office of Student Action's purpose is to improve the quality of life of CUC students by ensuring that all student-used areas are clean, safe, and enjoyable. Outreach and Service Delivery are the main
cornerstones of Student Action. The main force behind this is the Campus Outreach Coordinator.

Campus Outreach

Campus Outreach has multiple responsibilities in their overall mission to promote the SA President and the Executive Committee on campus and with student groups. The officer who leads this initiative is the Campus Outreach Coordinator.

The COC is responsible for coordinating SA outreach to student RAs, deans, campus clubs and organizations, class officers, Campus Ministries, sport teams, academic department fraternities and clubs, musical groups, and all other student directed groups.

The COC outreaches and promotes the SA and its iniatives for the purposes of maximizing student involvement, presence, attendance and participation at SA functions.

Your Student Association Officers
President:
Juan-Jose' D. Garza

Executive Vice-president:
Collin Haynes

Financial Vice-president:
Keith Harding

Co-Religious Vice-president:
Sara May Colon
Daniel Garcia

Co-Social Vice-president:
Lily Zhang
Lamon Wilson

Academic Director:
Ellie Barker

Senior Archivist:
Aaron Wilson

Campus Outreach Coordinator
Celesti Magpayo

Executive Secretary:
Claudya Hernandez

Public Relations Secretary:
Natalie Hynum

PUBLICATIONS
Columbia Journal (newspaper)interim Editor:
Jaclyn Wile

Golden Memories (yearbook) Editor:
Stephen Abrams

Line-Up (student directory) Editor/Webmaster:
Jonathan McCottry

“We are preparing to serve the members of the Student Association to the best of our ability for the glory of Jesus Christ.”––Juan-Jose' D. Garza, President