Anyone can get involved with the UA – whether just letting us know about problems at Penn or being a full-fledged Representative.

Tell us your thoughts!

The UA continually strives to make its work relevant to students – but we can only do that if you tell us what you want! If you have a problem at Penn, or just had an great idea for a new project, contact us directly online or by email; share your thoughts with your peers and UA members on our site, or comment on any of our projects. The more you talk to us, the more we can do for you – the easiest way to make change at Penn is to tell the UA what you need!

Join our listserv!

If you’d like to stay in the loop on what’s happening at Penn from the inside, subscribe to our weekly glossy HTML email newsletter!

The UA also communicates with the student body via all-school emails, which are very infrequent and reserved for major announcements. As well, you can subscribe to our blog, which is always kept up to date with UA, stud gov, and Penn news, via the RSS feeder of your choice!

Come to a UA meeting!

The UA holds its public meetings every Sunday at 9pm in various locations where we discuss your ideas and consider resolutions. These meetings include an Open Forum where you can express your opinions on anything and get an immediate response. In addition, students can participate fully in a UA meeting with full speaking and even proposing rights – if we’re discussing an issue you’re passionate about, come along! Check out the front page for details on the agenda and time of the next meeting. These will both be published on Friday evening before the meeting.

Join as an Associate Member!

Associate Members are Penn undergraduates who work on UA projects and initiatives without holding one of the 33 representative positions. The AM position carries fewer responsibility than a Representative but allows you to pursue the same projects as one; often, hard-working AMs have wielded as much influence as Representatives. Any undergraduate can be an AM. All you need to do is apply! Whether you’re a freshmen looking to get more involved at Penn or a senior who just wants to change that one thing about Penn, there’s a place for you as an AM.

Run for UA Representative!

The 33 elected Representatives manage the day-to-day work of the UA, vote on resolutions and the $1.8 million budget, and officially represent the students who elected them. The Representatives elect the Executive Board and can be appointed to UA Directorships, the Budget Committee, and other positions of leadership. There is no more involved position to have in all of student government!

If you’re interested in taking on a serious leadership role in student government, consider running for the UA. Freshmen elections are held in the early fall, where the whole Freshmen class will elect 9 Representatives. The Spring General Election elects 24 members, divided between the four undergraduate schools. Running for election often seems intimidating, but many candidates find it easy, fun and a great way to meet many of your peers! Check out the NEC for the official rules for elections; come back to this space in the Fall for a guide to elections produced by successful UA candidates of the past.