University College Dublin Students' Union (UCDSU; ) is the Students' Union of University College Dublin, and has been an active part of campaigns run by its national equivalent, the Union of Students in Ireland. It was founded in 1975 as the successor of the Student Representative Council and began operations in 1975, under the presidency of Enda Connolly. Its primary role is to represent its members views and defend their interests.^[1]

All students of UCD who are studying for a degree or postgraduate diploma of the National University of Ireland are, on registration at the university, members. The Union is funded by a membership fee paid at the same time as the student services levy ("registration fee") at the start of the academic year. In addition to its campaign work the Union also provides some services such as five shops; a photocopying bureau; Belfield FM (radio station); Welfare and Education services such as a second-hand bookshop and Niteline phoneline; and the provision of a full-time Accommodation and Employment Officer. UCDSU has offices in the Student Centre and Library Building in Belfield.

The Union is a constituent organisation of, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI).^[2]

Structure

The main governing body of UCDSU, subject only to referenda and General Meetings of the members of the Union, is the Union Council, which meets every second week of term. The Union Council is composed chiefly of the Class Representatives elected in their respective constituencies. These constituencies are elected at a flexible ratio, far lower than a previously arbitrary ratio of one representative per 125 students. The power of Union Council is conferred in a de facto manner on the Union Executive outside of term. The Union Executive, composed of all elected Union Sabbatical and non-Sabbatical Officers as well as the Union Secretary, meets weekly during term and fortnightly outside of it. There are five Sabbatical Officers, who are involved in the day-to-day running of the Union. The President and two nominated Vice-Presidents, as agreed by the Executive, are student representatives on the UCD Governing Authority. A Sabbatical term of office is twelve months in duration and commences on July 1 each year, although the incoming officers are, in accordance with the UCDSU Constitution, given job training by the incumbents from June 15. Sabbatical elections take place in late February?early March of each year. Sabbatical officers take a year out from academic studies and work full-time for the Union.

The composition of the Union's Council includes^[3]:

• The five full-time directly elected Sabbatical Executive Officers
• The directly elected non-sabbatical Executive Officers
• The Council elected Executive Officers
• The Programme Officers
• Class Representatives
• Four Residence Representatives
• Four members of the Union elected by a general meeting of the Students? Consultative Forum
• One member of the Union nominated by the Committee of Management of the Student Club
• One member of the Union nominated by the Management Committee of the Student Centre Forum Club
• One member of the Union to represent the interests of students with disabilities and elected by such a body as may be recognised for this purpose by the Independent Appeals Board
• One member of the Union to represent the interests of mature students elected by such a body as may be recognised for this purpose by the Independent Appeals Board
• The immediate outgoing President and Vice-Presidents

The President is the First Officer of the Union in accordance with the Union Constitution, and the other four Sabbatical Officers are equally ranking Vice-Presidents of the Union. The five Sabbatical positions are:

• Union President
• Campaigns & Communications Vice-President (formerly Deputy President Vice-President)
• Education Vice-President
• Welfare Vice-President
• Entertainments ("Ents") Vice-President

Sabbatical Executive Officers

directly elected by Union members

Non-sabbatical Executive Officers

Elected by Union members

{| class="toccolours" align="center" border="2" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2 style="text-align:center; border-collapse:collapse;"   
|- style="background:#ccccff"   
!colspan=9| Non-sabbatical Executive Officers (directly elected by the Union Membership)   
|- style="background:#ccccff"   
! width="150"|   
! width="150"|2002/03   
! width="150"|2003/04   
! width="150"|2004/05   
! width="150"|2005/06   
! width="150"|2006/07   
! width="150"|2007/08
! width="150"|2008/09 
! width="150"|2009/10
|-   
| Irish Language   
| align="left"|Colman Mac Shealaigh   
| align="left"|Neasa Nic Shealaigh   
| align="left"|Sinéad Ní Mhaolmhicil   
| align="left"|Órla Ní Threasaigh   
| align="left"|Dónal Ó Suilleabháin   
| align="left"|Aodhán Ó Deá 
| align="left"|Donal Hanratty  
| align="left"|Aoife Nic Samhrain
 
|-   
| Finance   
| align="left"|Oisin O'Sullivan   
| align="left"|Donnachadh Woulfe   
| align="left"|Anthony Kelly   
| align="left"|Eugeniya Kazakova   
| align="left"|Stephen Quinlivan   
| align="left"|Natalie Dunne
| align="left" colspan="2" align="center"|Position Abolished   
|-   
| Communications & IT   
| align="left"|Philip Gilsenan   
| align="left"|Brian O'Farrell   
| align="left"|Ciaran Melody   
| align="left"|Pierce Farrell   
| align="left"|Gary Redmond   
| align="left"|Stephen Fitzpatrick  
| align="left" colspan="2" align="center"|Position Abolished 
|-   
| Women?s   
| align="left"|Dave Doran   
| align="left"|Brendan Crowley   
| align="left"|Tobie Marven/Louise Troy   
| align="left"|Michelle Killeen   
| align="left"|Carol-Anne Rushe   
| align="left"|Aisling O'Connor
| align="left"|Isobel O'Connor 
| align="left"|Jacqueline  Brennan
|-   
| Postgraduate, Evening & Mature Students' Officer   
| align="left"|Sinead Mac Bride   
| align="left"|Dan Finn   
| align="left"|James Redmond   
| align="left"|Patrick McKay   
| align="left"|Denis Ryan   
| align="left" colspan="3" align="center"|Position Abolished  
|-   
| Postgraduate Officer
| align="left" colspan="6" align="center"|Previously Postgraduate, Evening & Mature Students' Officer
| align="left"|Stephanie Cremen 
| align="left"|Kimberly Foy 
|-   
| Environmental Officer
| align="left" colspan="6" align="center"|Previously elected by Union Council
| align="left"|Kimberly Foy  
| align="left"|Ruth O'Ghormain
|}

Elected by Union Council

Usually elected at the first Union Council meeting of the year.

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