Official Blog | UCGPC

Graduate and professional students at UC have a unique opportunity to influence policy decisions that affect millions of students across the entire UC system. Through UC systemwide committee service, you can gain invaluable experience in higher education governance while building connections with university leadership and fellow student advocates.

Why Systemwide Committee Service Matters

As graduate and professional students, you bring distinct perspectives to university governance. Your research experience, teaching responsibilities, and unique position between undergraduate life and professional careers provide critical insights that shape policies affecting admissions, budget allocation, technology investments, and academic freedom across all 10 UC campuses.

These committees tackle the most pressing issues facing higher education today. From developing sustainable funding models through the University Committee on Planning and Budget (UCPB) to ensuring equity in admissions through the Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools (BOARS), your voice directly impacts decisions that ripple through the entire UC system.

The Professional Development Opportunity

Committee service offers unparalleled professional development for graduate students considering academic careers. You’ll gain firsthand experience in:

• Policy Analysis and Development: Learn how major university policies are crafted, debated, and implemented
• Leadership and Governance: Understand how large academic institutions make strategic decisions
• Networking: Build relationships with faculty, administrators, and student leaders across the UC system
• Communication Skills: Participate in high-level discussions and represent student perspectives effectively

This experience is particularly valuable for students seeking faculty positions, as search committees increasingly value candidates who understand institutional governance and can contribute to service responsibilities.

Available Committee Opportunities

Academic Senate Committees

These committees form the backbone of UC’s shared governance model:

• UCACC (Academic Computing and Communications): Shape technology policy across UC
• UCAF (Academic Freedom): Protect and advocate for academic freedom principles
• UCAP (Academic Personnel): Influence faculty hiring, promotion, and salary policies
• BOARS: Guide undergraduate admissions policies and school relations
• CCGA (Coordinating Committee on Graduate Affairs): Directly impact graduate education policy
• UCEP (Educational Policy): Shape curricula and academic program development
• And more!

Presidential and Administrative Committees

These groups address system-wide operational challenges:

• Academic Planning Council: Influence UC’s long-term academic direction
• Student Mental Health Oversight Committee: Improve mental health support across campuses
• Education Finance Model Steering Committee: Shape financial aid and funding policies

What to Expect

Time Commitment: Most committees meet monthly during the academic year, with additional conference calls as needed. The UC Office of the President covers all travel expenses for in-person meetings in Oakland.

Meeting Format: Many committees now offer hybrid participation options, making it easier to balance committee service with academic responsibilities.

Preparation: Student representatives receive comprehensive guidelines and support to ensure meaningful participation in committee deliberations.

Connecting with UCGPC

As the official voice of UC graduate and professional students, UCGPC serves as your liaison to these opportunities. Our organization:

• Nominates qualified students to committee positions
• Provides ongoing support and mentorship to student representatives
• Facilitates communication between committee representatives and the broader graduate student community
• Advocates for graduate student interests at the highest levels of UC administration

Committee service also strengthens UCGPC’s ability to represent your interests. Representatives bring valuable insights back to our organization, informing our advocacy priorities and policy positions (limited by confidentiality agreements with UCOP).

How to Apply

Applications are due August 15, 2025. The application includes five short-answer questions (150-300 words each) covering:

• Your interest in systemwide service
• Relevant experience and qualifications
• Specific committee preferences
• How you’ll engage with the broader graduate student community
• Your long-term goals and how committee service supports them

Requirements:

• Current enrollment as a graduate or professional student at any UC campus
• Good academic and disciplinary standing
• Ability to attend all committee meetings and representative conference calls
• One-year service commitment

Ready to Make an Impact?

University governance shapes the future of higher education. By serving on UC systemwide committees, you join a select group of student leaders who influence policies affecting hundreds of thousands of students, faculty, and staff.

This is more than resume building—it’s an opportunity to understand how major research universities operate, advocate for student interests, and develop skills essential for academic and professional leadership.

Questions? Contact info@ucgpc.org or visit ucgpc.org/systemwide-committees for detailed committee descriptions and application materials.

Your voice matters. Your perspective is needed. Your leadership can make a difference.

Apply by August 15, 2025, and take the first step toward becoming a leader in higher education policy.