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Article IV: Definitions

  • "Advising Team”-This term refers to the professional staff who are assigned to work, coach, and guide the student leadership within the USS. This team includes a senior advisor.
  • “College”- This term refers to one of the nine academic colleges housed within Virginia Tech that are responsible for the execution of the academic curriculum. These nine colleges are College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Architecture and Urban Studies, Pamplin College of Business, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Natural Resources and the Environment, College of Science, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine.
  • “Director”—This term refers to a selected member of the USS who holds an administrative role that helps the organization to function. Directors do not have voting rights within the USS.
  • “Senator”- A senator is an elected undergraduate representative who holds voting authority for matters of legislation and internal USS operations. Cabinet members, directors, and assistant directors are not senators and do not hold voting rights within the USS.
  • “Student Member”- all enrolled undergraduate students at Virginia Tech. f. “UCSO”- A University Chartered Student Organization (UCSO) is an organization that has significant campus impact through providing resources and/or services that are best delivered by students in conjunction with their sponsoring campus department. This classification of the organization must align with, and is integral to, departmental and university missions to create robust student experiences.
  • “University Governance”- University Governance refers to the university governance structure, including the Faculty Senate, A/P Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, Graduate and Professional Student Senate, the University Council, all commissions, and the Board of Visitors.
  • “Undergraduate Student Body”- All enrolled undergraduate students at Virginia Polytechnic and State University.
  • “USS”- One of the official abbreviations for the full title of the Undergraduate Student Senate at Virginia Tech, and will be used on all the organization’s documents, marketing materials, and other important information.