Why you should vote for the University Council and Faculty Councils, in eight questions

They don’t have any influence anyway...

Lately, more and more people at our university have complained that students and staff have too little say. From Monday, 1 June, to Wednesday, 3 June, you can do something about it by voting in the elections for the university’s most important representative bodies: the University Council, which discusses university policy with the Executive Board (CvB), and the faculty councils, which do the same with the faculty boards.

Here are eight things you need to know before you vote:

How are the councils composed?

The University Council comprises twelve student members and twelve staff members. The students are re-elected every year, while the staff members serve a two-year term. The present elections concern only the twelve student members. Several faculty councils are also holding elections right now, with some also including staff members if seats have become vacant over the past year. You can find more information about your own faculty council on this page.

How many parties are running for the elections? What do they stand for?

Six parties are running for seats on the University Council. The new Vote Compass, drawn up by the University Council, helps you identify which student party best matches your views. You can also learn about the party leaders and their ideas in this video.

What has the University Council achieved?

1. In collaboration with the library and the faculties, the University Council prevented the Skills Lab from being dismantled due to budget constraints. The Executive Board wanted to close it down, which would have prevented students from accessing courses in thesis writing and study skills, as well as other support activities.
2. At the insistence of the UU Council, the stone courtyard of the University Library on Drift will be transformed into a green area where you can relax in the summer. 
3. After several years of lobbying, the University Council has succeeded in having the examination regulations amended. As a result, the resit rules have been relaxed somewhat. However, the student representatives on the council still see the glass as half empty and would prefer that students be allowed to resit an exam even if they scored below a 4.
4. The University Council is a co-initiator of a policy aimed at encouraging more animal species to return to Utrecht Science Park. The biodiversity cycle tour at De Uithof is an annual event showcasing the results.

What can the University Council and faculty councils do?

Utrecht University has 37,500 students, 9,000 staff and an annual budget of 1.2 billion euros. The Executive Board formulates policy to utilise these resources as effectively as possible. The University Council and the faculty councils are key discussion partners through which the Executive Board and the faculties receive feedback on how students and staff feel about certain issues.

For example, the University Council recently raised questions about the university's travel policy and its enforcement. The University Council and Faculty Council have also criticised the Executive Board's decision to scrap the English-taught track in the Economics programme without consulting staff beforehand. The Executive Board later apologised for this move, and the track will remain thanks to new government policy. 

Furthermore, the University Council and the Faculty Council are monitoring the austerity measures imposed on the Faculty of Humanities and raising questions about it. The University Council also helped to clarify the right to demonstrate on the university's grounds and buildings. 
 

Where are the limits of the University Council’s influence?

The University Council’s powers are not the same as those of a parliament. The University Council has no legislative power. Therefore, it cannot put forward its own proposals, adopt them, and require the Executive Board to comply with them. Nor can the University Council amend the Executive Board’s policy or change specific points.

The University Council is a consultative body. This means that the council members, alongside the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board (which oversees the Executive Board), share responsibility for running the university.

In this collaborative framework, the University Council and the Faculty Councils have a right to be consulted on all matters. They are entitled to have a say. They may offer unsolicited advice and submit memoranda. The Executive Board may disregard this advice, but it must explain why. 

An example from a few years ago: the university wanted to conduct a study of its staff's cultural backgrounds, in collaboration with Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Ethnicity would also be included in the so-called Cultural Diversity Barometer. The University Council then offered unsolicited advice, stating: "We feel that this proposal lacks a section describing how staff privacy will be protected." The Executive Board wanted to carry out the survey anyway, and the council said: "We will not go along with this." Ultimately, the survey did not go ahead, and Statistics Netherlands withdrew it as originally proposed.

The University Council also has a right of consent in certain areas, meaning it can block university policies by withholding consent. This applies to the annual budget and to the Teaching and Examination Regulations (OER). It also applies to the Student Charter, which explains what you can expect from the university and what the university can expect from you. The student support schemes, which offer various facilities when you need additional support, also fall under this right of consent, through which the University Council can effectively exert influence.

Has the influence of the University Council increased or decreased in recent years?

Between 1969 and 1989, the University Council was the university’s highest body. The Council had a say in all matters, and the Executive Board implemented the Council’s decisions. On 1 September, 1998, the structure of university governance was amended by the Modernisation of University Governance Organisation Act (MUB). Fueled by ideas from New Public Management that were gaining ground in the Western world, this radical organisational change strengthened the Executive Board’s position.

In short, University Council members have no power, but they do have influence. They are allowed to voice their opinions and contribute ideas, but not to make decisions. The Intercity Student Consultation (ISO) has been lobbying in The Hague to give university councils more power. This debate also arises regularly within UU.

Why is it important to vote?

A vote for a student candidate is a vote for someone who will speak out on your behalf. The more students vote, the greater the University Council's support base, and the more clout they can bring to bear in discussions with the Executive Board. A low turnout could mean the council is taken less seriously.

How can you vote?

You can cast your vote for the University Council on this page. You also received an invitation to vote for the University Council and Faculty Council in your UU email address. You can vote until 3 June. The digital ballot box closes at 11.59 pm.