Overview
The Mission of the Senate of College Councils
1. Represent the students of The University of Texas at Austin in all matters of academic affairs.
2. Coordinate and champion the efforts of the various student councils of the University’s Colleges and Schools.
3. Serve as a medium for exchange of the ideas, educational values, and opinions of the student bodies of the various councils of The University of Texas at Austin.
4. Administer funds collected through the Student Services Fee to registered student organizations.
Organization Overview
The Constitution of the Senate of College Councils received approval from the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System on July 27, 1973. Charged with the specific task of “representing students of the University of Texas at Austin in academic affairs,” the Senate is one of three student legislative organizations at UT Austin. The Senate of College Councils is jointly sponsored by the University’s Provost and Vice President for Student Affairs.
Through the coordination of the 18 student councils from each college and school at the University of Texas at Austin, Senate has improved the quality of academic life at the University and advanced student recommendations and grievances to the appropriate authorities. In recent years, Senate institutionalized student input regarding tuition increase proposals, led the effort to create and implement the UT Honor Code, established scholarships for undergraduate research, and assisted in reforming UT’s undergraduate curriculum.
College Councils play a critical role in each of the schools and colleges, and Senate works to strengthen the individual councils by supporting their efforts to initiate new programs, services, and ideas that will positively impact University coursework, student-faculty relations, and other arenas of academic life.
Through meetings, special projects and other events, Senate fosters fellowship among the leaders of these student councils and other registered student organizations. In Senate General Assembly and committee meetings, leaders from each of the College Councils come together to discuss and consider University-wide academic issues.
Additionally, Senate meets its purpose by developing and implementing university-wide academic programs, including IntegrityUT Week, at which thousands of members of the UT community gather to celebrate and discuss UT’s Honor Code and core values. Publishing the Analecta Literary Journal and the Undergraduate Research Journal are other ways in which Senate contributes to the intellectual and educational mission of the University.
Senate also appoints its members to university positions and committees as well as to Senate academic and ad hoc committees. These committees address academic issues, serve as student advisory committees to the Provost and other administrative offices, and implement academically related programming.