Glossary
Union hacks often use words, phrases, initialisms, and acronyms that few other people understand. Here's a list to help you.
A
- Affiliated: societies that have completed the Union affiliation process.
- AGM: Annual General Meeting, something affiliated societies and subcommittees hold once a year to elect committee members.
- AOCB: Any Other Competent Business, usually included at the end of meetings for the discussion of any other issues.
- AU: Athletic Union. Part of Saints Sport, along with the University's Department of Sport and Exercise. Not quite the same as the Sports Centre.
- AU Pres: Athletic Union President, one of the sabbs.
B
- Barron at the Byre: a student theatre residency at the Byre Theatre, managed by the Union and the Byre through the Barron Management Board.
- Board: see SAB
C
- Casual vacancy: a committee position which becomes available partway through its term. Reasons for this may include the resignation, disqualification, or death of the previous holder.
- Chair: someone who convenes and leads a meeting.
- Class Rep: a student elected to represent views of other students taking a module.
- Club 601: the Union's nightclub.
- Constitution: a document outlining the fundamental purpose and procedures of an organisation. The Union has a constitution, as do all affiliated groups.
- Convenor: a student appointed to run a subcommittee through interview, rather than election. View the full list of officers.
- Co-option ("co-opt"): to appoint someone to membership of a group, by invitation of the existing members. Used within Councils to fill positions that become vacant.
E
- EDI: Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.
- ELF: Education Levelling up Fund. Supports School Presidents and Class Reps in promoting academic representation.
- EduExec: Education Executive. Leads the Education Forum.
- EGM: Extraordinary General Meeting. Affiliated groups might call an EGM if they need to fill a committee position, and can't wait for their AGM.
- Elections: In September each year, over 350 students are elected to represent their classes in the Academic Elections. In March each year, around 60 students are elected to represent the student population in the Leadership Elections. Find more info at Elections.
- Ents Crew: a network of student volunteers, who run tech for all events within the Union. Not to be confused with Ents Staff, the paid technicians who organise the events and ensure safety guidelines are met.
- Executive Officers: positions held by students taking a year out to work for the Union. Create policy and drive change within the Union and University.
G
- GNS: Governance, Nominations, and Staffing. A group within SAB which discusses matters concerning how the Association functions.
- Grant-It: budgets for networks, forums, and forum execs are approved by the Exec Team in August before the start of the academic year.
- Grant-It Ideas: ad-hoc funding available throughout the year to support extra events, campaigns, and initiatives. These are split across our three new Forums:
- Grant-It: Wellbeing & Community
- Grant-It: Academic Community
- Grant-It: Activities
F
- Forums: collaborative spaces to discuss key issues, refine policy, and develop core offerings within the Union in their areas. Meets twice per semester.
- Forum Execs: smaller groups of representatives that work closely together on campaigns, manifesto aims, and driving policy forward.
H
- HLM: Honorary Life Membership. Awarded to approximately 50 students each year, for outstanding contribution to the student experience.
I
- In camera: the part of a meeting which is only open to committee members.
J
- JF: Joint Forums Students Representative Council. The three forums come together for an All-student meeting once per semester. Acts as a workshop space for the co-creation of strategic developments.
L
- Laws: rules governing the operation of the Association.
- Lay trustee: a member of SAB who is neither a sabb nor University staff.
M
- Member: any member of the Students' Association. Usually interchangeable with "current students", but can apply to staff, life members, or reciprocal members. Find out more at Membership.
- Motion: a document submitted to committees, asking the Students' Association to address, support, or denounce an issue.
O
P
R
- Rector: a member of University Court, elected by students.
- Rector's Assessor: a member of University Court, appointed by the Rector; leads the Rector's Committee.
- Remit: the task or area of activity officially assigned to an individual or organisation.
- RON: Re-Open Nominations. In any student election, you will have the option to vote for RON. If RON wins, the position will return to being advertised as open for nominations.
S
- SAB: Students' Association Board (also known as "Board").
- School President: a student elected to represent student views within their academic school.
- Society: (sometimes plural "socs") a group of students with a shared interest. Affiliated societies are supported by the Union, and charge at least £3 per year membership. View the full list at all societies.
- SRC: Students' Representative Council. The offical representative body for the University of St Andrews since 1889. See "JF".
- StAge: a venue in the Union, with retractable seating and a stage.
- StAnd Together: a group focusing on student wellbeing and mutual support.
- Standing orders: a set of rules governing the procedures of meetings of a group.
- StAR: St Andrews Radio, a network; operates a broadcasting studio within the Union building.
- Students' Association: the body responsible for representing students at the University of St Andrews.
- STV: Single Transferable Vote, used in Union elections.
- SVS: St Andrews Voluntary Service. A network within the Union.
T
- Trustee: a member of SAB.
U
- Ultra vires: an act which requires legal authority but is done without it.
- Union: the preferred term for the Students' Association in most contexts.
- Union hack: you, reading this.
- University: the University of St Andrews.
Z
- Zero Tolerance Policy: a policy to protect members, staff, and visitors to the Union from harassment and bullying.
Archaic
Throughout the years, the Union has reorganised many times to reflect the changing needs of its students. Below are just a few of the many terms that have become extinct during a restructuring.
A
- Association: see Students' Association.
- Association Councils: the group of elected officers who represent students. Synonymous with Joint Councils. Often referred to as "Councils".
B
- Barron: a student theatre on North Street, managed by the Union.
- Badger: a drink available in Main Bar, involving Guinness and white VK.
C
- Carve-up: to choose someone from within a group. Used within Councils to elect positions such as SRC Senior Officer. Compare with co-option.
- Councillor: a student who sits on Councils, either through election or interview.
- Councils: see Association Councils
D
E
- EDF: Education Discretionary Fund. Supports School Presidents and Class Reps in promoting academic representation.
- EduCom: Education Committee.
F
- FiEld: a grass area behind the Union.
J
- JC: Joint Councils. The SRC and SAF together form JC. Joint Councils is responsible for voting on motions on behalf of the student population. Synonymous with Association Councils.
P
- President: one of the sabbs, responsible for student representation, press, and the public image of the Students' Association. Not in charge of everything; title of "President" is misleading.
Q
- Quaestor: University Vice-Principal, responsible for professional services such as IT Services, Estates, Legal, Sport, and Finance.
S
- Sabb: sabbatical officer. A student, elected to take a year out working for students at the Union.
- SAEC: Students' Association Executive Committee. A subset of Councils, responsible for deciding HLMs. Often referred to as "Exec".
- SAF: Student Activities Forum. The section of Councils responsible for activities. Known as SSC until March 2021.
- SSC: (obsolete) Student Services Council. Renamed to SAF in March 2021. Before this, members had voting rights equal to SRC officers.
- Subcommittee: a super society, receiving its funding directly from the Union. All current students are automatically members of all subcommittees. View the list of SRC subcommittees and SAF subcommittees.