UGBC Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

1. Q: How will UGBC prevent future controversial policy changes by administrators without student input?
   A: While UGBC members do work with administrators year round and maintain relationships, we unfortunately in the past have not utilized our relationships to the fullest potential. However, student involvement in administrative made policies will now be possible with the formation of the Student Affairs Policy Review Committee, a new committee that will offer feedback and nonbinding recommendations for new student related policies at Boston College. The committee was formed with the help of Chris Denice, the 2008-2009 UGBC president, as well as Dr. Patrick Rombalski, the Vice President for Student Affairs. The purpose of this committee is to ensure that the students have the ability to voice their thoughts, insights and concerns on future policies that will ultimately affect their lives as students. Additionally, this committee will serve as a proactive measure to prevent further controversial policy changes without first consulting students. The group which was picked by UGBC Student Body President Al Dea and Dr. Rombalski is comprised of eight BC students meets monthly to discuss pertinent issues and ideas that affect Boston College students. 

   
   
2. Q: I am not a member of the 2009-2010 Undergraduate Government cabinet, but is there any way that I can still contribute?
   A: Yes! There are several ways to get involved in UGBC, with committees that focus on different areas of interest. For those interested in dining, there is the Dining Services Committee. If you wish to address the issue of student rights on campus, you can join the Student Rights Committee. Even if you’d like to contribute to events such as the Fall/Spring Concerts and Modstock, there is a spot for you with the Events Planning Committee. There are seven total committees that any Boston College student can participate in. Generally, students sign up for these committees during Student Activities Day during the first month of each semester. UGBC will have a representative table with sign-up sheets for all these committees. Be on the look out! If you cannot attend Student Activities Day, then you can certainly find out who to contact for each committee on ugbc.org -> About -> Join.
   
   If you want to get involved but you are not sure how to please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we will be happy to talk with you on some different opportunities.  

   
   
3. Misconception: "UGBC doesn't do anything."
   With a Cabinet of 80 appointed individuals and a Senate of 20 elected officials UBC has many dedicated student leaders who volunteer their time to make BC a better place each and every day. To make students aware of what we do we have created a blog which is updated frequently by Al and Alex as well as each department has their own blog which is updated by different department members. The blog usually contains important information of what individuals are working on as well as polls and questions to solicit feedback and ideas. In addition, sometimes things do not always move at the pace that we would like them to move at.  
 Unfortunately, sometimes things do not move at the pace at which we would like. BC is a large institution, and it takes knowledge and experience to figure out who the right person to talk to is, how to get in contact with that person, sitting down to meet with that person, pinpoint-ing the issue, coming up with a plan, working out the kinks and legalities and (im)possibilities of the plan, funding, implementing the plan, etc. - It takes time and there are several people that need to "ok" different programs and events in order to ensure the success and safety of a program. UGBC also works through several facets of BC. While some 
people may identify UGBC with the concert, others may identify it with Green Week, campaigning in the quad, Feed Your Mind Events, or some Viewing Party that students may or may not know that UGBC is hosting. Again, BC is a large institution; it is difficult to get the word to all age groups, attend to the wants and needs of all social circles, and make the student body interested as well - It is about heightening awareness of what is going on, events that are being planned, issues that are being addressed and alternative late night programming that UGBC is working to support. 

   
   
4. Q: How can I keep up to date with what UGBC has done on campus, aside from the Spring Concerts and Modstock?
   A: There are many ways that you can keep up with what we do. One would be through the Executive Blog which is updated regularly by Al and Alex in the UGBC Exec Corner. Another way you can certainly keep up with UGBC developments is by attending our General Meetings, which are open to the public and held weekly. If you are unable to attend, there will also be Meeting Slides posted on UGBC.org, which anyone can view under the About tab. These slides consist of updates from each department of the Undergraduate Government. There are 8 total departments: Executive Department, Communications Department, Student Life Department, University Affairs Department, Campus Entertainment, Social and Cultural Issues (SACI), and the UGBC Senate. ALC and GLC also attend and participate in these General Meetings.  Finally, you can follow us on Twitter as well as Facebook for updates and announcements. Insert accounts here
   
   
5. Q: Other than joining committees and general meetings, how can I propose ideas and initiatives directly to the President and Vice President of UGBC?
   A: The president and vice president will begin to hold an ‘office hours’ type of setting in the UGBC office for students to propose ideas for UGBC, as well as to ask any questions about the undergraduate government. The offices hours will present an atmosphere which will allow students to relay their input on any given issue that may concern them directly to the President and/or Vice President.  

   
   
6. Q:  What's the easiest way to find out about upcoming UGBC events?
   A: Check out the calendar at UGBC.org/Calendar! 
   
   
7. Q: What is the difference between UGBC Cabinet and Senate?
   A: Senators are directly elected representatives (5 from each class). Cabinet Members are individuals who are appointed by the UGBC Student Body President and Vice President.  The Undergraduate Government functions similar to the federal government with respect to the system of checks and balances. Like the federal government, there is the Executive Branch (Cabinet) Legislative Branch (Senate) as well as the Judicial Branch (Judiciary Council.) The work of the Cabinet is focused primarily on student resources and programming, whereas the work of the Senate is focused on policy work. Finally, the Judiciary Branch works to ensure harmony between the Senate and Cabinet.

Comm. Ave / Newton Buses

1. Q: One of the promises of the Al-Al campaign is GPS on the Commonwealth Avenue and Newton Buses. What is the progress of GPS thus far?
   A: UGBC has worked with the Office of Parking and Transportation and the Office of Residential Life to implement a GPS system at Boston College which provides accurate information regarding the location of buses on and around campus. The conversations surrounding the "GPS" idea have been happening for the past few years and in response to the student voice, the administrators involved have been very receptive and willing to pinpoint what exactly it is that students want to see. You can find the new BC Shuttle GPS system at Transloc.com/BC!
   
   
2. Q: It gets really cold in the winter waiting for the bus, why can't we have heated bus lamps?
   A: This has been a question that has come up often over the past few years. When UGBC addressed this issue two years ago there were concerns of liability and risk with the heated lamps. We will continue to pursue this option to see if there are any safer alternatives. 

   

Information Technology

1. Q: What is the progress of satellite printing on campus?
   A:  UGBC will begin its mission to implement satellite printing around Boston College by establishing a satellite printing station on Newton Campus. We hope to have this running by Fall 2009.

MLP

1. Q: What exactly is the Mentoring Leadership Program?
   A: The Mentoring Leadership Program (MLP) is a freshman leadership group   composed of roughly 35 first year students. Individuals in this program will be matched up with upperclassmen in the UGBC Cabinet and will shadow their mentor in their role in the student government. Members of MLP have an opportunity to attend meetings with administrators, plan events on campus, meet various student leaders from different organizations and gain a deeper understanding of how Boston College functions. In addition to their relationship with UGBC, members of MLP have the opportunity to meet upperclassmen who can offer guidance in everything from course selections to how to best deal with the housing lottery.

Advising

1. Q: What is UGBC doing to improve academic advising?
   A: UGBC began work over of the Summer, meeting with administrators to discuss the current state of academic advising and to gain a better understand of what can be improved. This year, the director of advising and career services will work closely with key administrators to evaluate and, hopefully, implement a system similar to PEPs to review academic advisors.  
Many students are clamoring for a peer advising system and UGBC is well aware of their concern. The possibility of such a program will be investigated over the next year and UGBC will be hosting events designed to allow upperclassmen who are set in their majors to share their knowledge with those still undecided.
2. Q: How will UGBC collaborate with the Career Center?
   A: In the coming year, UGBC hopes to continue an already great relationship with the career center. We will work in conjunction to host different career minded events and also integrate the career center's services into some UGBC specific events. Be on the lookout for walk-up resume critiques after events this year!

Campus Entertainment

1. Q: Why isn't Britney Spears playing at the fall concert?
   A: Selecting an act for the concert is more dependent on the artist than Boston College, UGBC, or Campus Entertainment. Inevitably it comes down to timing, luck, the artists’ preferences, and finances.  
UGBC receives one (at most two) date that Conte Forum is available during the semester in consideration of the athletic schedules. Using that one date, we compile a list of viable acts available for our date - artists that are not touring, in between tours, or not in the studio and that we perceive will be popular by the majority of the student body. We use various means to gauge popularity: the years of experience and history of hosting various acts, surveys, and focus groups. Those acts are then further narrowed down by prices and approval by Boston College administration. We are also limited in the potential size and cost of acts due to the limited space of Conte Forum. Although Conte's rated capacity is 9,000 as a sport venue, when setting up a stage for an optimal concert experience for all attendees, seating is limited to at most 5,000. If Britney Spears were to cost a modest 1/2 million dollars, with UGBC limited budget to subsidize the concert, we would have to charge about $100 a ticket, a near prohibitive price for the average BC student. That would of course be contingent upon her agreeing to play at BC for such a small crowd in the first place.  
Even once those factors are taken into account, there is never any guarantee that an artist is going to want to perform at a college, or in Boston, on our specific date. It is really their discretion. It then becomes a trial and error game with bids being rejected and new bids being written up until an artist agrees to our date and price. UGBC and Campus Entertainment work our hardest to bring the best talent that we can afford, keeping in mind the diverse musical interest of the student body. 
   
   
2. Q: Why can’t all seniors (or all students) go to Homecoming?
   A: Planning events is much more complicated than just coming up with an idea and letting the rest fall into place.  For an event like Homecoming there are many other factors that come into play. First and foremost, UGBC and Campus Entertainment is a programming body for all undergraduate students at BC.  As such, we can’t put on events that are exclusive to one class year or another. When events have a high demand, we do our best to come up with a fair ticketing policy.  Homecoming ticket sales, for example, are skewed towards seniors, with 40% of the overall ticket pool being reserved to them.  30% is reserved for juniors, 20% for sophomores, and only 10% for freshman.  Any remaining tickets then go on sale on a first come first serve basis.  Even if tickets were to go on sale only to seniors, there still would be only enough tickets for approximately half the class.  While we would love to have the entire student body attend Homecoming, given the space we have to work with on campus, we must limit the number of tickets available.   
While it may seem like there’s lots of space at Homecoming, the capacity of the dance tent controls the number of students we can allow to buy tickets.  There are no other venues on campus that can hold an event of this size while still contributing to the kind of atmosphere that students come to expect year after year at Homecoming.  We continually work to find new ways around the constraints we are faced with in planning such an event on a limited budget to provide the best experience to the maximum number of students.  Renting a bigger tent is in theory possible, however the cost of a tent larger than the one we currently use is exponentially greater. UGBC is a large organization and receives ample funding; the Campus Entertainment budget must be split among different programming events and other initiatives.  To be able to continually provide quality events expected by the student body, we must not pour all of our funds into any single event.  
Putting on an event like Homecoming is a constant balancing act.  We have to work with athletic schedules, the administration, and students’ expectations.  We try our best to put on a quality event while watching costs.  Most of all, we have to make sure every student that attends has the best experience possible and gets the most out of their ticket.

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