Updates from the Climate Schools Student Council
Saxon Stahl, Master’s Student climate and society plan, created Columbia Climate Graduate Councilwhich is the official student union Columbia Climate School. They helped create the Constitution and Bylaws, empower students and promote representation and equity in climate schools and college campuses.
In the Q&A below, Starr shares more information about Climate Schools Student Government, the projects and initiatives the organization has been working on, and plans for expansion for the fall 2023 semester.
What is the Columbia Climate Graduate Council?
It is a centralized source of civic governance for climate schools. Every school has some form of student body governing entity. With the launch of Climate Schools in 2020, there has been no opportunity to grow Climate Schools. I took over the job last year and worked on drafting the Constitution and Bylaws, and it has been evolving ever since.
What is its purpose?
The main goal is to represent and become advocates for the Climate Schools student body. We also work to connect Climate Schools with the entire campus community. The first reason I wanted to start a student union was because many of my colleagues felt disconnected from the entire campus community. The Students’ Union is our trusted centralized source for advocacy work, event planning and student event funding.
What projects or initiatives have you started working with Climate Schools on?
Some students have expressed interest in starting new student clubs. They have been able to discuss with management the funding of specific activities that fit within the club’s scope of work. I have also been working with the administration and our own University Senator, Benjamin Prenetta, to ensure that our student government structure is aligned with the University Senate’s response to the student community and the way they report to us. This cross-communication is very important.
How is the expansion of the fall term group going? How are students involved?
Three different job types will be offered: Executive Board Member, Board Council Representative, and University Senator. Applications for and elections to these positions will take place at the beginning of the fall semester.
For the Executive Committee, five positions are open to all Climate Schools affiliated programs: Chair, Vice President of Internal Affairs, Vice President of External Affairs, Vice President of Finance, and Vice President of Climate and Equity (this is tailored specifically for Climate Schools) ongoing advocacy efforts).
There are six positions for board council representatives. Students have the opportunity to sit on committees and become departmental representatives, and they have formal voting rights on councils. Their primary responsibilities include representing the students in the class and communicating with them information from meetings.
Every school in Columbia has a student seat in the University Senate, and this year the Climate Institute elected its first senator. It is the university-wide legislative body that represents all constituents: faculty, students, administrators, researchers, librarians, administrators, and alumni. It develops policy on a range of issues affecting the University as a whole or more than one school. Climate School Senators will attend University Senate meetings and have the responsibility to report to the Council.
What will the expansion of the Student Union look like in the next few years?
As the climate school grows, the charter sets out what it will look like. In the case of additional degree programs, there is room for adjustment in the total number of council members assigned to each program. This prepares the government for any future degree courses at the school. Currently, for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year, there will be six council representatives representing climate and society.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
This will be a great opportunity for the next cohort of students to decide how they wish to set an example for the Student Union. As a newly formed entity, it doesn’t have a clear tone yet, so that’s really the perception of the group. A climate and society project is only one year long, and a lot can happen, but a lot can also be missed. Therefore, we want to make sure that students are aware of this opportunity.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
