About Us

WHAT IS THE AUCSA?

The Amsterdam University College Student Association (AUCSA), founded in 2010, is the umbrella organization that provides a platform for all the social activities of students at AUC. Activities include sports tournaments, parties, MUN-conferences and other initiatives proposed by groups of students of all sizes.

The association has around 900 members – all AUC students are included in the AUCSA body. Of our members, around 210 are in a board of one of the dozens of committees. These committees form the heart of the social life at AUC, and organize almost every event.

AUCSA is part of the University College Student Representatives of the Netherlands (UCSRN), a joint initiative by all University Colleges around the country to unite, support, and foster competition between them. We are proud of our active role in supporting the UCSRN, and even more so to have won the last four annual tournaments in a row.

WHY IS THE AUCSA HERE?

The primary role of the AUCSA is to facilitate and coordinate student endeavours: the actual organization and realization of events and activities is done by the committees and their respective boards. Together with all its members, the AUCSA Board strives for the further development of extra-curricular student activities at AUC. In order to achieve this, AUCSA encourages all students to take initiatives and become involved in one of the many projects and activities available, or realise an idea themselves. By encouraging these ideas put forth by enthusiastic students we fill the student’s agenda’s with exciting events throughout the year. Together, AUCSA and the committees endeavour to foster an active student community so that all students take full advantage of their time as an AUC student.

While our beloved Student Council is concerned mainly with academic matters, improving the curriculum, student welfare and other topics, the AUCSA is concerned with all social aspects of the community.

HOW DOES THE AUCSA OPERATE?

The AUCSA provides funding and an organizational framework for the committees, thus creating a platform that enables students to develop themselves professionally and organize fun and social events. The committee boards have a set structure with clearly divided tasks, comprising at least of chair, secretary, and treasurer, all of which are vital for the functioning of committee boards. Furthermore, the AUCSA strives to create a great, open, and interactive social community at AUC, to create a full community feeling for the students. It adheres to its six pillars, which guide every decision made.

Members

Committees, Commissions, & Teams

Board Meetings

UCSRN wins

Committee Board Members

Events per Year

AUCSA Board Members

Big Community

— The primary role of the AUCSA is to facilitate and coordinate student endeavours —

Our pillars

INCLUSIVITY

AUC has an extraordinarily diverse community from all across the globe and thus all kinds of experiences and perspectives. We thrive on the strength of this community and our differences in cultures, identities, and abilities (to only name a few) and we want to make our events accessible to as many people as possible to provide equal opportunity for everyone. In order to ensure this inclusive and enriching environment, we will implement and follow the rules against nepotism and cronyism within the CCTs. Additionally, we will be in contact with the diversity commission (DIVCOM) of AUCSA which has an advisory function for the AUCSA on the topic of diversity and inclusivity. Ultimately, we want to celebrate the differences of our students and provide an environment where everyone feels comfortable and represented.

Sustainability

The AUCSA is committed to promoting global harmony with the environment. We strive to lead by example and make environmental sustainability a top priority to ensure the association’s thriving and conscious continuity. Working closely with the Sustainability Commission (SUSCOM), we will incorporate greener alternatives into our decision-making and budget. Moreover, we will raise awareness and promote productive ways to adopt a sustainable lifestyle, such as through our community garden (Pangea) and responsible food waste disposal. Our utmost dedication lies in minimizing the AUCSA’s environmental footprint and driving the shift towards an eco-friendly and regenerative future.

External Relations

Our association identifies the practicality and benefits of fostering long-term relationships with external organizations. To further enhance the AUCSA’s capabilities, the Board has expanded to include a seventh member, taking up the new position of External Relations Officer (ERO). Through this addition, the AUCSA board is committed to strengthening our ties with external parties and providing our student community with exciting new opportunities. Over the years, the External Relations Commission (ERCOM) has been working towards acquiring sponsors to provide greater opportunities for the student body and our CCT events. By hosting events such as TEDx, AUCMUN, and Dormsessions, both in collaboration with external partners and open to external participants, we aim to inspire our students to experience life ‘beyond the bubble’. Furthermore, the AUCSA strives to foster increased interactivity and collaboration with our parent universities, other University Colleges (through our UCSRN membership and AUCSA’s own UCSRN Team), as well as local organizations in Amsterdam. These efforts are aimed at strengthening the academic, professional, and extracurricular aspects of AUC, enhancing the overall experience for the AUCSA members.

Opportunity

Every member of the AUCSA deserves to have equal access to the resources and opportunities the AUCSA provides for the student body of AUCSA. Ensuring that this is the case is something the AUCSA is committed to. This primarily involves ensuring that every member has an equal opportunity to attend events and join CCTs. However, it also encompasses ensuring that the diverse range of the association’s members feels welcome at events and can find and/or create something that they are interested in.

Community-Building

The AUCSA strives to create one community through its various committees, commissions, and teams and aims to create an AUC collective in which each member feels heard, comfortable, and valuable to the community. We seek to do so by encouraging students to participate in discussions at our General Assemblies and voice any concerns that they have to us. We are here to serve the needs of the students and to facilitate spaces in which they can enjoy their university experience to the fullest. To further strengthen our community, we also hope to work closely with other bodies within AUC, such as Peer Support, the Student Council, and R2E.

Transparency

Our Board is dedicated to the students we represent, and strive to foster a transparent relationship with our community. The decisions made by the Board impact the lives of all AUCSA members. We will aim to communicate our goals, choices, and values to students, while remaining open to feedback. Encouraging interaction between the Board and the Association as a whole will be facilitated and prioritized, both in person and online. Opportunities to hear from students will be central for our platform such as General Assemblies, Office Hours, and CCT feedback. We actively encourage all students to partake in these opportunities regularly to openly communicate together. Online, we plan on increasing the visibility of the AUCSA Board life, especially for encouraging students to run for election. Embracing transparency as a Board will hopefully increase student engagement in the Association, events, and in elected positions.

The Structure of the AUCSA

The general structure of the AUCSA is made up . The General Assemblies, AUCSA Board. AUCSA has around 900 members and almost 40 committees, commissions, and teams yearly. There are three types of membership: Members, Honorary Members, and Donors. Read more about the AUCSA in our Policy Manual and Statutes!

The
AUCSA
Board

The current board members: Versailla, Marcello, Tom, Uma, Matisse, Lea, and Josie

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