Undergraduate Government of Boston College

UGBC is happy to report two huge announcements!

1. After meeting with Event Management (formally Bureau of Conferences), EM has agreed to exempt ALL student organizations from its proposed 20% surcharge on its services. Read more here

2. UGBC will be working with the Dean of Students Office to revise the student guide--the document that governs everything from student rights, conduct, alcohol policies, demonstration policies, demonstration policies, etc.  Read more here 

UGBC has started two new initiatives focusing on the BC community for the fall semester:

• "Mix It Up" - This program will be every Tuesday in Mac during September, every Wednesday in Mac during October, & every Thursdays in November.  Basically, UGBC will have a table set up in Mac (look for a big sign & a checkered table cloth) for students to just sit down and meet each other.  We want to foster new relationships and help freshmen integrate into BC.  Check out the Facebook page. 
• Be Conscious - This is UGBC's mental health campaign for the entire year.  It includes events and initiatives focused on promoting dialogue surrounding mental health, helping students lead balanced and happy lives, and helping end the stigmatization of mental illness.  Check out the Facebook page.

Questions? Concerns? Suggestions? Email us at UGBCemail@gmail.com

UGBC is excited to announce a new partnership with The Gavel.  Beginning this fall, students will have the opportunity to send The Gavel questions for members of UGBC to answer directly.  Moreover, each column will focus on a different aspect of BC, UGBC or policy issues.  The Gavel's extensive online presence will help us gain better feedback from the student body, as well as help communicate our initiatives better.

To read the follow announcement, click here

At the beginning of the summer we announced several initiatives.  Here are some updates as of August 1:

• UGBC has been revamping its website throughout the summer.  The first phase was to add content, which is now largely complete.  The second phase, which focuses on aesthetics, will be completed in August. 
• UGBC has launched a new mental health blog.  Though the site is only intended to be informational, it will be a valuable resource for students trying to learn more about University Counseling and mental wellbeing.  UGBC has partnered with The Gavel to repost several articles from its successful Authentic Eagle series.  Likewise, UGBC is reviewing a contract to bring What I Be to campus in the early fall and is finishing up organizing a new "Dare to Share" campaign to promote conversations regarding mental wellbeing on campus.
• UGBC finished its textbook exchange website and is currently working on marketing strategies for the new site.  Also on the academic front UGBC has recently updated and published a guidebook to help students with grants, fellowships, and other paid research opportunities.
• UGBC is currently finalizing its 2014-2015 budget, complete with funding guidelines and new transparency and accountability standards.  Once complete, the Student Assembly's Finance Committee will review the budget before it's released.
• The Student Assembly will be implementing two new initiatives this year: Pizza & Politics / Political Brew and Engage BC.  Moreover, UGBC is planning a Civic Engagement day in the fall to register students to vote, bring local campaigns to campus, and have politicians speak about millennials and their role in our political system.
• UGBC will be meeting with the Dean of Students in August to review the new conduct guidelines and brainstorm ways to distribute the information to the student body come September. 
• Nanci and Chris have been actively planning the fall retreat for UGBC.  This year the retreat will be held on campus to reduce costs and provide more opportunities to incorporate BC into the itinerary. 
• UGBC has also formed a new partnership with The Gavel to deliver more of its news concerning online.  This will be an important step forward for connecting with students and remaining transparent.  

This summer, members of UGBC will be working on several initiatives for the fall semester.  In the Student Assembly (SA), each committee has identified its main goals.  They are:

• Clarify student rights, create a succinct document listing rights and responsibilities, and create a magnet listing those rights for distribution in the fall. (Institutional Policy Review)
• Begin discussions with the administration about a potential "discourse zone" to allow for greater engagement and dialogue between students. (Institutional Policy Review)
• Begin consolidating mental health resources for online publication, create a blog centering on mental health, and initiate "What I Be" at Boston College. (Campus Climate)
• Start working with the appropriate departments to increase the quality of student life on campus.  For example, rerouting the shuttle to include the Chestnut Hill Mall on weekends, making the back door to Lower Dining Hall accessible from the outside, and expanding Eagle ID card usage off-campus. (Policy Development) 
• Continue to revamp PEPs and work to distribute a flip book that concisely describes BC's grants, scholarship, and funding opportunities. (Academic Affairs)
• Work with the Vice President of Communications to coordinate a publicity plan for UGBC's new textbook exchange website. (Academic Affairs)
• Continue to work with the Vice President for Financial Affairs to write UGBC's budget, create its funding processes, and ensure transparency with the student body. (Financial Affairs)
• Clarify and simplify UGBC's Standing Rules and operating procedures to maximize time and discussion. (Rules)

Remember, students can always use Campus Voice, UGBC's online platform for student input, to suggest policy initiatives.

Have a great summer,

Chris Marchese, EVP