CCAs of NTU 25’: NTU Students’ Union (Part 1)
Written by: James Lim, 34th NTU Students’ Union Communications Secretary
This piece is Part 1 of the series on NTUSU, covering our Ussociate Committees. For more information on the Executive Committee (EXCO), see Part 2.
What comes to mind when you hear of the NTU Students’ Union (NTUSU)?
If you’ve went for our Orientation programs, or seen our other activities, you might know of us as the club that organizes large-scale events for the whole student body (and well, you wouldn’t be wrong to think so..). Or perhaps you’ve heard whispers about the Union from your seniors or friends.
Regardless of what you’ve seen or heard, if you’re here, you’re likely interested in discovering more about what goes on behind the scenes. Maybe you just want to find out more about what goes into each initiative and event for our student community, or maybe you’re considering joining one of our committees. Scroll down for more about what we do!
Firstly… what is the Union ah?
The Union is an umbrella that encapsulates the entire undergraduate student body, made up of 16 Academic Constituent Clubs (ACCs) and 3 Non-Academic Constituent Clubs (NACCs). Through these clubs, every student in NTU is represented in the Union. It’s a collective where every faculty and interest group comes together with one shared purpose: to represent and advance the interests of the students it represents to shape a better student experience. (yes, that’s all matriculated full-time undergraduate NTU and NIE students, including co-term programs)
NTUSU is guided by the Union Council, made out of NTUSU Executive Committee (EXCO) members, Academic Constituent Club (ACC) Presidents, as well as Non-Academic Constituent Club (NACC) Presidents and Vice-Presidents/Secretaries. Together, they serve as the direct voice of all Union members in school-specific academic and student life matters.
Read more on the Union Council here: https://www.ntususg.org/our-council
On a day-to-day basis, NTUSU’s operations are supported by the Ussociates, consisting of the Executive Committees and 18 Ussociate Committees.
Ussociate? EXCO? What’s the difference?
Ussociates are the heartbeat of NTUSU; they make up over 500 passionate student volunteers who go the extra mile to support their peers. From planning flagship events and advocating for student welfare, to running the U-Shop and producing content you see online, they are the ones turning ideas into impact. Ussociates are either part of the Executive Committee (EXCO) or one of our 18 Ussociate Committees across 5 Divisions: Secretariat, Finance, Policy, Student Activities, and Communications. Whether it’s planning Orientation and NTU Fest, organising welfare drives like U-Care, or managing the Union’s social media and branding, these teams are the ones making it happen, day in and day out.
The Executive Committee (EXCO) is NTUSU’s core leadership team. Elected by the Union Council, these student leaders oversee all Union operations, from student advocacy and financial governance to large-scale campus events and strategic communications. They also mentor the Ussociate Committees and ensure all initiatives align with NTUSU’s vision and the needs of the student body. More on what they do and how to become one will be covered in Part 2 of this series.
What does each Division do?
Each Division comprises several Ussociate Committees (often referred to simply as “Committees”), each focusing on a unique aspect of the Union’s work. As a Ussociate, you’ll be part of a supportive community with opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the student experience through your assigned Committee and beyond. Here’s a quick look at what each Division does, along with a brief introduction to its Committees:
The Secretariat Division oversees key back-end support related to supporting our Ussociates, Logistics and IT platforms so that events and initiatives can run smoothly.
Consisting of the Human Resources Committee (HRC), Operations Support Committee (OSC), Information and Technology Committee (ITC), and Union Strategy Office (USO), the Secretariat team brings to you events such as We-Play and Union Week.
For aspiring business strategists, Secretariat also crafts data-backed insights to highlight avenues for internal change so that the Union can serve its members better.
The Finance Division handles all things money and retail, as well as supporting student welfare efforts through donating all profits to the NTUSU’s Student Bursary.
Consisting of the Corporate Liaison Office (CLO) and U-Shop Committee, they run NTUSU’s retail storefront - U-Shop, and run NTUPerks, liaising with companies for discounts for attractive items all year round, and bring give-aways during events such as Summerperks.
The Policy Division acts as the bridge between students and University administration; working closely to push for new academic and student life policies that improve the student experience.
Consisting of the Welfare Initiatives Committee (WIC) and Research and Policy Committee (RPC), Policy holds events such as U-Study and U-Care to help students rewind and relax. Every semester, they also hold U-Walk - an engagement event where you get to share your concerns and feedback about student life which will be used to help NTUSU’s advocacy efforts.
The Student Activities Division plans large-scale events and programs to introduce students to the vibrancy of university and campus life.
Consisting of the Union Orientation Committee (UOC), Orientation Liaison Committee (OLC), Welcome Week (WW) Committee, NTU Fest Committee, Student Integration Committee (SIC), Ministerial Open Discussion and Events (MODE) Committee, and Open House Committee (OHC), they host some of the biggest events in NTU which you’ve likely taken part in, such as Orientation, Welcome Week, NTU Fest, Integration Night, Confluence, Ministerial Forum, REACH Fireside Chat, Youth Talk, and Open House!
The Communications Division oversees NTUSU’s branding, outreach and online engagement.
Consisting of the Public Relations Committee (PRC), Communications Committee (CC), and Editorial Committee (EC), they oversee our social media channels, official website, and U-Insight, our very own campus publication covering various aspects of student life. They also represent NTUSU in liaising with external university student unions for collaborations and campus visits.
Wah, very long explanation - what should I expect?
What you’ll do will vary greatly depending on the committee you join, but the possibilities are wide. You may be involved in organizing events and activities that reach out to every student in NTU, or engage the student body to hear their opinions. You might even represent NTU in inter-varsity youth engagement dialogues held by the Inter-University Network.. In short - no matter what you’re interested in, you’ll discover a way to do it here.
Each committee typically meets once every two weeks (or once a month), for bonding activities and to share updates. Nearing events or key activities, the commitment would likely escalate.
Aside from these committee-specific activities, large inter-committee events are held once a semester for you to get to know other Ussociates, including EXCOs, from other Committees and Divisions.
I’m sold - how do I join?
At this point, you might be thinking - “what’s expected of me”?
If you have no prior club experience - don’t worry! We don’t look out for a star-studded CV or a list of leadership achievements. All we ask is that you’re passionate about serving the student community and uplift student experiences throughout their time in NTU.
Our recruitment would be from 5th Aug onward; you can sign up at ntususg.org/recruitment .
Not sure which committee to join? Connect with us at our in-person tea session (sign-up link will be publicised via IG in August), or fill up our very own personality quiz (at ntususg.org/recruitment) to see which committee you might identify with.
Hear from one of our Ussociates about what serving in NTUSU means to her:
“Being a Ussociate means to step up to care for those around you. As a Ussociate, I met some of the most passionate and inspiring people I know!”
- Lin Lexuan (Amber), 34th NTUSU HGS, 33rd Public Relations Committee Secretary
Although it might get tough at times - if you are looking for a platform to contribute to the whole student body, learn new skills, or perhaps make friends from other degree disciplines - look no further.
We’d be thrilled to welcome you into the Ussociate family. See you around!
