CUSU Structure Chart

CUHK’s Student Union is formed by different student societies. We often use the term “Student Union” casually to refer to the Executive Committee (ExCo). However, the Student Union actually is a huge structure that encompasses every single society in the undergraduate world. Read on to find out!

Referendum

A referendum is a vote held amongst the entire undergraduate student body of the university. A referendum is rarely called, but is sometimes deemed necessary in situations such as the registration of the Student Union and as a company.

Members: all CUHK undergraduates, also known as Full Members (vote by secret ballot)

Role: the highest authority in the Student Union

Duty: exercises all members’ rights of election, initiative and recall

Remark(s):

referendum shall be declared valid only if the affirmative votes exceed 1/6 of votes from all Full Members

a motion that fails to meet the quorum shall be withdrawn automatically

General Meeting (ad hoc)

Members: 1/10 of Full Members, around 1,600 students in academic year 2020-2021

Role: the decision-making authority prior to the Referendum

Duty: handles urgent and important matters excluding elections, recalls and constitutional amendments

Remark(s):

difficult to convene due to high quorum

Joint Conference (ad hoc)

Members:

all members of The Council

selected members from the Executive Committee (ExCo), Campus Radio and Student Press

Role: a decision-making authority held prior to the Referendum and the General Meeting

Duty: handles urgent matters and important issues

Remark(s):

two-thirds of Joint Conference’s Members constitute a quorum

The Council

Members:

Official Members: 

the Presidents from the 9 Colleges’ Student Unions; or a member from the College’s Student Union appointed by the President

the 9 Colleges’ Student Union; or any equivalent presiding body

Elected Members:

a college representative, elected by Full Members in that college

the number of representatives a college may elect to the Council is determined by the size of the college:

A. < 800 students: no more than 2 E.M.

B. 800 – 1,600 students: no more than 3 E.M.

C. > 1,600 students: no more than 4 E.M.

(Appointed Members:)

when there are vacancies for Elected Members, the College’s Student Union can appoint 1 student from that college to take up the vacant position

Role: the scrutinizing and democratically representative body of the Student Union

Duty:

assists in monitoring, legislation, election and registration of the Central Committees (ExCo, Campus Radio and Student Press), and affiliated clubs and societies (e.g. your faculty’s student clubs)

Judicial Committee

Members:

at least 7 members

president is chosen by an election in which all sitting Members of the Judicial Committee can cast one vote, and is witnessed by the Chairperson of The Council

other members: elected by the Selection Committee, confirmed by The Council, appointed by the Judicial Committee’s president

Role:

an independent and the supreme judiciary of the Union

the Court of Appeal of the Judicial Committee exercises final adjudications for all disputes within the Union

Duty:

upholds the Constitution, safeguards the rights of Full Members and exercises their judicial functions independently of any external intervention

Remark(s):

the Judicial Committee has jurisdiction over all disputes within the Union

Executive Committee #ExCo

@ UG/F, Benjamin Franklin Centre

Members:

10-15 members

the cabinet should have members from at least 6 different colleges

each year, the committee is elected by Full Members as a cabinet

Role: the supreme executive body of the Student Union

Duty:

promotes student welfare (e.g. CUHK T-shirt design competition)

holds student activities (e.g. World Cup Final live broadcast)

participates in university policies (e.g. meetings with the university)

issues external speeches (e.g. public statements)

participates in social movements (e.g. assemblies)

Remark(s):

the ExCo is frequently referred to as the Student Union

the ExCosells stationery, second-hand textbooks, CUHK T-shirts and so on at the Welfare Corner (in the CUSU room)

other societies fall under the ExCo

Student Press Publication Committee #CUSP

@ room 307, Benjamin Franklin Centre

Members:

10-15 elected members

the cabinet should have members from at least 6 different colleges

each year, the committee is elected by Full Members as a cabinet

unlimited appointed members

Role: the paper and online media of CUHK

Duty: reports campus news, Hong Kong news, International news, urgent events and special issues

Remark(s):

Chinese and English publications are issued bi-monthly both in online and in hardcopy

2 regular special issues: one in July, reflecting on the 1989 China Democracy Movement (Tiananmen Square) and the Orientation Booklet at the start of the academic year

Campus Radio Editorial Board #CUCR

@ room 301-303, Benjamin Franklin Centre

Members:

10-15 members

the cabinet should have members from at least 6 different colleges

each year, the committee is elected by Full Members as a cabinet

unlimited appointed members

Role: a platform for students to voice out their opinions

Duty:

reports student opinions and university policies, as well as student activities

hosts live podcasts, radio and multimedia programmes

Remark(s):

themes vary from university life and policies to social issues

their meetings are live on YouTube

Interim Executive Committee Officers

When the ExCo, Student Press or the Campus Radio becomes vacant, The Council shall appoint the respective Interim Executive Committees and various dedicated Task Forces to deal with daily administration.

Annual Election

Held by the Student Union and the Student Unions from the 9 colleges in the beginning of the academic year.

The ExCo, Student Press, Campus Radio, student members of the University Senate from each faculty, and the representatives of the Hong Kong Federation of Students are elected.

The 9 colleges elect their College’s Student Union, legislative and elected members to The Council

The 4 original colleges (New Asia, Chung Chi, United, and Shaw College) elect their own student members to the University Senate

At the beginning of each academic year, the ExCo, Student Press, Campus Radio, student members of the University Senate from each faculty, and the representatives of the Hong Kong Federation of Students are elected in one election. The election is held by the Student Union.  The Student Unions from each of the 9 colleges hold elections for their respective legislative and elected members to the Council. In addition, the four original colleges (New Asia, Chung Chi, United, and Shaw College) elect their own student members to the University Senate.