Student activity center

student activity center (SAC) is a type of building found on university campuses. In the United States, such a building is more often called a student union, student commons, or student center. The term "student union" refers most often in the United States to the building, while in other nations a "students' union" is the student government.
Broadly speaking, the facility is devoted to student recreation and socialization. It may contain lounges, wellness centers, dining facilities or vendors, and entertainment venues. The student activity center is often the center of student affairs and activities and may house the offices of the student government or other student groups. It may also act as a small conference center, with its meeting rooms rented out to student groups and local organizations holding conferences or competitions (for instance, the Michigan Union hosts the University of Michigan Model United Nations conference). The first student union in America was Houston Hall, at the University of Pennsylvania, which opened January 2, 1896 ^[1] and remains in operation to this day.
Other examples of student activity centers include the J. Wayne Reitz Union at the University of Florida, the Bronco Student Center at Cal Poly Pomona, the McCormick Tribune Campus Center at the Illinois Institute of Technology, and the Price Center at UC San Diego.

Student design competition

A Student Design Competition is a specific form of a student competition relating to design. Design competitions can be technical or purely aesthetic. The objective of technical competitions is to introduce students to real-world engineering situations and to teach students project-management and fabrication techniques used in industry. Aesthetic competitions usually require art and design skills.
Both students and industry benefit from intercollegiate design competitions. Each competition allows students to apply the theories and information they have learning in the class room to real situations. Industry gains better prepared and more experienced engineers.

[edit] History

Through the 1970s only one competition of significance existed: Mini Baja. Today, almost every field of engineering has several design competitions, which have extended from college down into high school (e.g., FIRST Robotics) and even younger grades (e.g., FIRST Lego League). The Society of Automotive Engineers organizes the largest design competitions, including Mini Baja, Sunryce, and Formula SAE.

[edit] Current Design Competitions

• Aerospace Engineering
  • AIAA [1]
  • SAE Aerodesign [2]

• Architectural Engineering
  • ASHRAE Senior design project competition [3]
  • Lifecycle Building Challenge [4]

• Civil Engineering
  • Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race
  • Concrete canoe
  • Steel bridge

• Mechanical Engineering
  • Baja SAE
  • Basic Utility Vehicle
  • Formula SAE
  • SAE Supermileage [5]
  • SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge [6]
  • SAE Aerodesign [7]
  • Intercollegiate Solar/electric Boat Regatta Solar Splash
  • American Solar Challenge [8]
  • DOE Solar Decathlon [9]
  • ASABE 1/4 Scale Tractor Student Design Competition
  • ASHRAE Senior design project competition [10]

Hotel For Students

hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning or climate control. Additional common features found in hotel rooms are a telephone, an alarm clock, a television, a safe, a mini-bar with snack foods and drinks, and facilities for making tea and coffee. Luxury features include bathrobes and slippers, a pillow menu, twin-sink vanities, and jacuzzi bathtubs. Larger hotels may provide additional guest facilities such as a restaurant, swimming pool, fitness center, business center, childcare, conference facilities and social function services.
Hotel rooms are usually numbered (or named in some smaller hotels and B&Bs) to allow guests to identify their room.
Some hotels offer meals as part of a room and board arrangement. In the United Kingdom, a hotel is required by law to serve food and drinks to all guests within certain stated hours. In Japan, capsule hotels provide a minimized amount of room space and shared facilities.

Contents [hide] 1 Etymology 2 Types 3 Management 4 Historic hotels 5 Unusual hotels 5.1 Treehouse hotels 5.2 Bunker hotels 5.3 Shoe hotels 5.4 Cave hotels 5.5 Capsule hotels 5.6 Ice and snow hotels 5.7 Garden hotels 5.8 Underwater hotels 5.9 Other unusual hotels 5.10 Resort hotels 5.11 Railway hotels 6 Motels 7 World record setting hotels 7.1 Largest 7.2 Oldest 7.3 Tallest 8 Hotel rooms as an investment 9 Living in hotels 10 Fictitious hotels 11 See also 11.1 Industry and careers 11.2 Human habitation types 12 References 13 Further reading

[edit] Etymology

Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal, Budapest, Hungary

The word hotel is derived from the French hôtel (coming from hôte meaning host), which referred to a French version of a townhouse or any other building seeing frequent visitors, rather than a place offering accommodation. In contemporary French usage, hôtel now has the same meaning as the English term, and hôtel particulier is used for the old meaning. The French spelling, with the circumflex, was also used in English, but is now rare. The circumflex replaces the 's' found in the earlier hostel spelling, which over time took on a new, but closely related meaning. Grammatically, hotels usually take the definite article - hence "The Astoria Hotel" or simply "The Astoria."

[edit] Types

Hotel operations vary in size, function, and cost. Most hotels and major hospitality companies that operate hotels have set widely accepted industry standards to classify hotel types. General categories include the following;

• Upscale Luxury
  • Examples include Conrad Hotels, Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and JW Marriott Hotels
• Full Service
  • Examples include Hilton, Marriott, Doubletree, and Hyatt
• Select Service
  • Examples include Courtyard by Marriott and Hilton Garden Inn
• Limited Service
  • Examples include Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn, Days Inn, and La Quinta Inns & Suites
• Extended Stay
  • Examples include Homewood Suites by Hilton, Residence Inn by Marriott, and Extended Stay Hotels
• Timeshare
  • Examples include Marriott Vacation Club International, Westgate Resorts, and Disney Vacation Club
• Destination Club

[edit] Management

Main article: Hotel management

The management of a hotel operation is considered a major business operation. Larger hotels may operate similar to a large company with an extensive management structure consisting of a General Manager which serves as the head executive, department heads that oversee various departments, middle managers, administrative staff, and line-level supervisors. Degree programs such as hospitality management studies, a business degree, and/or certification programs prepare hotel managers for industry practice.

[edit] Historic hotels

Hotel Astoria and a statue of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia in front, in Saint Petersburg, Russia

Some hotels have gained their renown through tradition, by hosting significant events or persons, such as Schloss Cecilienhof in Potsdam, Germany, which derives its fame from the Potsdam Conference of the World War II allies Winston Churchill, Harry Truman and Joseph Stalin in 1945. The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower in Mumbai is one of India's most famous and historic hotels because of its association with the Indian independence movement. Some establishments have given name to a particular meal or beverage, as is the case with the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, United States where the Waldorf Salad was first created or the Hotel Sacher in Vienna, Austria, home of the Sachertorte. Others have achieved fame by association with dishes or cocktails created on their premises, such as the Hotel de Paris where the crêpe Suzette was invented or the Raffles Hotel in Singapore, where the Singapore Sling cocktail was devised.

Hôtel Ritz in Paris, France

A number of hotels have entered the public consciousness through popular culture, such as the Ritz Hotel in London, United Kingdom, through its association with Irving Berlin's song, 'Puttin' on the Ritz'. The Algonquin Hotel in New York City is famed as the meeting place of the literary group, the Algonquin Round Table, and Hotel Chelsea, also in New York City, has been the subject of a number of songs and the scene of the stabbing of Nancy Spungen (allegedly by her boyfriend Sid Vicious). The Waldorf Astoria and Statler hotels in New York City are also immortalized in the names of Muppets Statler and Waldorf

Student loan

A student loan is designed to help students pay for university tuition, books, and living expenses. It may differ from other types of loans in that the interest rate may be substantially lower and the repayment schedule may be deferred while the student is still in education. It also differs in many countries in the strict laws regulating re-negotiating and bankruptcy.

Contents [hide] 1 United States 1.1 Qualification 1.2 Repayment 1.3 Criticism 2 Australia 3 United Kingdom 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External links

United States

The United States uses a federally guaranteed student loan program to help college students pay for their education. The program allows students to borrow money with interest and subsidized loans allow them to defer payment until they are no longer in school. And although these are loans, with interest, the student loans are generally offered as part of a total financial aid package that may also include grants, scholarships, and/or work study opportunities.
In the United States, there are three types of student loans: two of them are federally subsidized and unsubsidized sponsored by the federal government and the other type is private student loans.^[1]

Qualification

Most college students in the United States qualify for some type of student loan, although the amount they can borrow may vary based on several factors. Income level, parents' income level, and other financial considerations are all weighed to determine the amount you are eligible to borrow under the federal student loan program.

Repayment

A student loan has major differences over conventional loans - 6% interest rates (higher than most home loans) and inability to negotiate. The interest rate on a student loan will generally be at least two percentage points lower than the going market rate for conventional loans, but this will vary somewhat.
Repaying a student loan is different, too. In most cases, payment can be deferred on the principal and the interest until the student is out of school. Repayment typically begins anywhere from six to twelve months after they leave school, regardless of whether or not they complete their degree program. In some cases, repayment begins if course load drops to half time or less, so it is important to check the exact terms and conditions of any student loan.
The student may have multiple options for extending the repayment period, although an extension of the loan term will likely reduce the monthly payment, it will also increase the amount of total interest paid on the principle balance during the life of the loan. Extension options include extended payment periods offered by the original lender and federal loan consolidation. There are also other extension options including income sensitive repayment plans and hardship deferments. Extensions and consolidation will also add to the principle, many times the unpaided interest and penalties becomes capitalized.
The Mastery Promissory Note is an agreement between the lender and the borrower that promises to repay the loan. It is a binding legal contract. Direct student loans can be obtained by filling out the government FAFSA form, and each school will determine eligibility of a student for direct federal loans.^{[citation needed]}

Criticism

In coverage through established media outlets, many borrowers have expressed feelings of victimization.^[2][3][4] There is a comparison between these accounts and the college credit card trend in America during the 2000s.^[5]
The legislation which covers repayment of student loans is 11 U.S.C. § 523. This often means that student loans are not discharged in a bankruptcy unless the bankrupt can demonstrate "undue hardship".^[6] There are many documented cases of Americans committing extreme actions because of large student loan balances. This seems particularly true in the case of private loan balances.^[7]

Australia

Tertiary student places in Australia are usually funded through the HECS-HELP scheme. This funding is in the form of loans that are not normal debts. They are repaid over time via a supplementary tax, using a sliding scale based on taxable income. As a consequence, loan repayments are only made when the former student has income to support the repayments. The debt does not attract normal interest, but grows with CPI inflation. Discounts are available for early repayment. The scheme is available to citizens and permanent residents. Means-tested scholarships for living expenses are also available. Special assistance is available to indigenous students.^[8]
There has been criticism that the HECS-HELP scheme creates an incentive for people to leave the country after graduation, because those who do not file an Australian tax return do not make any repayments.

United Kingdom

Main article: Student loans in the United Kingdom

Student microscope

A Student microscope is a low power, durable optical microscope typically sold in bulk for use in school science classes. Although university science students use microscopes, the term typically refers to the type of instrument used in primary and secondary schools. For most non-scientists, the only time a microscope was ever used was in a school science class, and so when many people picture a microscope, it is a student microscope that comes to mind.

[edit] Construction

The classic school microscope, as was common in American public high schools in the second half of the 20th century, was a low power (3-10x) double lens instrument, with an eyepiece adjusted with twin knobs, one for coarse and one for fine focus adjustment. The primary lens was often mounted on a rotating platter so that different lenses could be rotated into the line of view (typically there was a choice of three different powers). The optical quality of these inexpensive microscopes was very poor, so that choosing the highest-power (and thus longest) lens was often quite useless. Due to its length, the highest-power lens often crushed the slide beneath, as the hapless student rotated the focus knob vainly trying to see something and collided with the slide, which was held in place by small metal clips. Beneath the slide was an adjustable mirror, or later, a battery powered light bulb.
Thus the student microscope was very much like any other two lens optical microscope, but is distinguished from others by its low cost and durability.

[edit] History

Despite its poor relative quality, the student microscope has an important place in the history of microscopy. It was "invented" (or rather, marketed) after World War II at the urging of a young Bausch & Lomb marketing manager, Herbert J. Mossien, who recognized the commercial potential of a mass-produced microscope which could be sold in bulk to schools. Up to that point, microscopes were precision instruments that were typically quite expensive. The student microscope was a huge commercial success for Bausch & Lomb, and its massive sales to high schools, with a renewed emphasis on science after the Sputnik launch, propelled Mossien to the head of the company's Scientific Instruments Division and to the eventual rank of Executive Vice President. Mossien retired early from the company to become a marketing professor at Rochester Institute of Technology, and became a well-known after-dinner and motivational speaker.
One manufacturer of Student microscopes in the United Kingdom was Signalling Equipment Ltd, a subsidiary of J & L Randall

Visa (document)

A visa (from the Latin charta visa, lit. "paper that has been seen"^[1]) is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport. Some countries do not require a visa in some situations, such as a result of reciprocal treaty arrangements. The country issuing the visa typically attaches various conditions of stay, such as the territory covered by the visa, dates of validity, period of stay, whether the visa is valid for more than one visit, etc.
A visa does not generally give a non-citizen any rights, including a right to enter a country or to remain there. The possession of a visa is not in itself a guarantee of entry into the country that issued it, and a visa can be revoked at any time. The visa process merely enables the host country to verify the identity of the visa applicant before the entry of the applicant. Special permits may also be required, such as a residency permit or work permit. A visitor may also be required to undergo and pass security and/or health checks upon arrival at the border.
Visas are associated with the request for permission to enter (or exit) a country, and are thus, for some countries, distinct from actual formal permission for an alien to enter and remain in the country.
Some countries require that their citizens, and sometimes foreign travelers, obtain an exit visa in order to be allowed to leave the country.^[2]

Contents [hide] 1 History 2 Conditions of issue 3 Types of visa 4 Entry and duration period 5 Visa extensions 6 Visa refusal 7 Visa exemption agreements 8 Common visas 9 Previous common visa schemes 10 Exit visas 11 See also 12 References 13 Further reading 14 External links

[edit] History

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[edit] Conditions of issue

Some visas can be granted on arrival or by prior application at the country's embassy or consulate, or through a private visa service specialized in the issuance of international travel documents. These agencies are authorized by the foreign authority, embassy, or consulate to represent international travelers who are unable or unwilling to travel to the embassy and apply in person. Private visa and passport services collect an additional fee for verifying customer applications, supporting documents, and submitting them to the appropriate authority. If there is no embassy or consulate in one's home country, then one would have to travel to a third country (or apply by post) and try to get a visa issued there. The need or absence of need of a visa generally depends on the citizenship of the applicant, the intended duration of the stay, and the activities that the applicant may wish to undertake in the country he visits; these may delineate different formal categories of visas, with different issue conditions.
Some countries have reciprocal visa regimes: if Country A requires citizens of Country B to have a visa to travel there, then Country B may apply reciprocity and require a visa from citizens of Country A. Likewise, if A allows B's citizens to enter without a visa, B may allow A's citizens to enter without a visa.
Examples of such reciprocal visa regimes are between:

• Algeria^[3] and Canada^[4]
• most CIS member states and African countries
• Brazil and Canada/CIS member states
• Armenia and most non-CIS member states^[5]

A fee may be charged for issuing a visa; these are typically also reciprocal, so if country A charges country B's citizens 50 USD for a visa, country B will often also charge the same amount for country A's visitors. The fee charged may also be at the discretion of each embassy. A similar reciprocity often applies to the duration of the visa (the period in which one is permitted to request entry of the country) and the amount of entries one can attempt with the visa. Expedited processing of the visa application for some countries will generally incur additional charges.

Entry visa to the West African country of Ghana

This reciprocal fee has gained prominence in recent years with resentment by some countries of the United States charging nationals of various countries a visa processing fee ($140 for tourist visas, non-refundable, even if a visa is not issued). A number of countries, including Brazil, Chile and Turkey have reciprocated. Brazil requires an advance visa before entry into the country, and that a US citizen be fingerprinted and photographed on arrival—matching U.S. requirements for Brazilians and other foreigners. Ukraine, by contrast, abolished its reciprocal visa and fee requirements in 2006, resulting in a substantial increase in both business and tourist travel to Ukraine; thus the benefits of having no reciprocity outweighed the "benefits" of political posturing.^{[citation needed]}
The issuing authority, usually a branch of the country's foreign ministry or department (e.g. U.S. State Department), and typically consular affairs officers, may request appropriate documentation from the applicant. This may include proof that the applicant is able to support himself in the host country (lodging, food), proof that the person hosting the applicant in his or her home really exists and has sufficient room for hosting the applicant, proof that the applicant has obtained health and evacuation insurance, etc. Some countries ask for proof of health status, especially for long-term visas; some countries deny such visas to persons with certain illnesses, such as AIDS. The exact conditions depend on the country and category of visa. Notable examples of countries requiring HIV tests of long-term residents are the USA (but not anymore, as President Obama lifted the AIDS ban on Jan 4, 2010),^[6] Russia^[7] and Uzbekistan.^[8] However, in Uzbekistan, the HIV test requirement is sometimes not strictly enforced.^[8] Other countries require a medical test which includes HIV test even for short term tourism visa. For instance Cuban citizens are required such test approved by a medical authority in order to enter Chilean territory.
Developed countries frequently demand strong evidence of intent to return to the home country, if the visa is for a temporary stay, and especially if the applicant is from a developing country, due to immigration concerns.
The issuing authority may also require applicants to attest that they have had no criminal convictions, or that they do not partake in certain activities (like prostitution or drug trafficking). Some countries will deny visas if the travelers passports show evidence of citizenship or travel to a country which is not recognized by that country. For example, some Muslim countries will not issue visas to nationals of Israel or those whose passports bear evidence of visiting Israel.

[edit] Types of visa

A multiple-entry tourist visa to India with immigration stamps

Entry tourist visa to China

Each country has a multitude of categories of visas and with various names. The most common types and names of visas include:

• transit visa, usually valid for 5 days or less, for passing through the country to a third destination.
  • airside transit visa, required by some countries for passing through their airports even without going through immigration clearance.
• tourist visa, for a limited period of leisure travel, no business activities allowed. Some countries do not issue tourist visas. Saudi Arabia introduced tourist visas only in 2004 although it did (and still does) issue pilgrimage visas for Hajj pilgrims.
• business visa, for engaging in commerce in the country. These visas generally preclude permanent employment, for which a work visa would be required.
• temporary worker visa, for approved employment in the host country. These are generally more difficult to obtain but valid for longer periods of time than a business visa. Examples of these are the United States' H-1B and L-1 visas.
• on-arrival visa, granted at a port of entry. This is distinct from not requiring a visa at all, as the visitor must still obtain the visa before they can even try to pass through immigration.
• spousal visa or partner visa, granted to the spouse, civil partner or de facto partner of a resident or citizen of a given country, in order to enable the couple to settle in that country.
• student visa, which allows its holder to study at an institution of higher learning in the issuing country. Students studying in Algeria, however, are issued tourist visas.
• working holiday visa, for individuals traveling between nations offering a working holiday program, allowing young people to undertake temporary work while traveling.
• diplomatic visa (sometimes official visa), is normally only available to bearers of diplomatic passports.
• courtesy visa issued to representatives of foreign governments or international organizations who do not qualify for diplomatic status but do merit expedited, courteous treatment - an example of this is Australia's Special purpose visa.
• journalist visa, which some countries require of people in that occupation when traveling for their respective news organizations. Countries which insist on this include Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, the United States (I-visa) and Zimbabwe.
• Marriage visa, granted for a limited period prior to intended marriage or civil partnership based on a proven relationship with a citizen of the destination country. For example, a German woman who wishes to marry an American man would obtain a Fiancee Visa (also known as a K-1 visa) to allow her to enter the United States. "A K1 Fiancee Visa is valid for four months from the date of its approval."^[9]
• immigrant visa, granted for those intending to immigrate to the issuing country. They usually are issued for a single journey as the holder will, depending on the country, later be issued a permanent resident identification card which will allow the traveler to enter to the issuing country an unlimited number of times. (for example, the United States Permanent Resident Card).
• pensioner visa (also known as retiree visa or retirement visa), issued by a limited number of countries (Australia, Argentina, Thailand, Panama, etc.), to those who can demonstrate a foreign source of income and who do not intend to work in the issuing country. Age limits apply in some cases.
• Special Category Visa is a type of Australian visa granted to most New Zealand citizens on arrival in Australia. New Zealand Citizens may then permanently reside in Australia under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement.
• Electronic visa. The visa is stored in a computer and is electronically tied to the passport number; no label, sticker or stamp is placed in the passport prior to travel. While a visit to an embassy or mission is usually required, Australia issues most non-immigrant visas electronically (unless the applicant requires or specifically requests a label be placed in their passport) - tourist and short-term business vist visas for nationals of certain countries can be applied for and issued entirely online as an Electronic Travel Authority or e-visitor. The United States has a similar internet system called Electronic System for Travel Authorization, but this is a security pre-screening only and does not technically qualify as a visa under US immigration law.

Student society

A student society or student organization is an organization, operated by students at a university, whose membership normally consists only of students. They are often affiliated with a university's students' union. Student societies often aim to facilitate a particular activity or promote a belief system, although some (explicitly) require nothing more than that a member is a (former) student. Some are not affiliated with a specific university and/or accept non-university students.

Contents [hide] 1 Examples 2 Student societies by location 2.1 Belgium 2.1.1 Flemish Belgians 2.1.2 Francophone Belgians 2.2 Canada 2.3 European-wide 2.4 Germany 2.5 Ireland 2.6 Netherlands 2.7 Sweden 3 International organizations 4 See also

[edit] Examples

Typical examples are:

• Faculty society - uniting students from one university faculty.
• Study association - uniting students from all years in one study.
• Regional society - uniting students from the same region or hometown.
• Debating society - political debates.
• Film society - Often using lecture theatres to show films cheaply on campus.
• Hiking club - Organising trips.
• International student society - Introducing international students to one another.
• Music society - student ensembles.
• Civil Society - To encourage polite behaviour among future leaders.
• Science fiction society - Meeting to watch science fiction TV and films.
• Taekwondo society, Karate club - Meeting to learn martial arts.

[edit] Student societies by location

[edit] Belgium

[edit] Flemish Belgians

In Flanders, student societies play a unique role in student life. Student societies there have traditionally been politically active, and they played a significant part in the 1960s division of the Catholic University of Leuven into separate Flemish and Walloon universities.
A student society in Flanders is led by a praesidium. The head of the praesidium (and the society) is the praeses. Alternative spellings are presidium and preses. For most positions, Dutch names are used nowadays.
Other positions include:

• Vice-praeses: assists the praeses where needed.
• Quaestor: takes care of the money.
• Ab-actis: the secretary of the student organisation.
• Cantor: Leads the cantus.
• Vertor: Organises cultural activities.
• Scriptor: Is responsible for creating a magazine.
• Bacchus: Makes sure there is enough beer.
• Dominus morum: Is responsible for keeping order at a cantus.

Positions are flexible, and change to meet the needs of the student organisation.
Student societies used to be politically engaged, but are now more focused on organizing parties, cantus, and cultural activities.
Student societies also exist at polytechnics.
New members go through an initiation ritual before becoming full members of a Flemish student society. A new member is called schacht and has to undergo a baptism. The baptism is the first step to integration in the student society. The next (and last) step to becoming a full-fledged member is the ontgroening. After the ontgroening, one becomes a normal member or commilito of the organization, and can join the praesidium if one so chooses. Normal members are also referred to as anciens.
See also: Education in Belgium

[edit] Francophone Belgians

In Wallonia and Brussels, several types of francophone student societies exist:

• A cercle regroup students from the same faculty
• A regionale regroup students coming from the same location
• An ordre regroup students around some aspects of the student folklore or traditions

These societies sometimes have traditions dating back a hundred years, such as wearing one of the two traditional student hats: the Penne or the Calotte. Their main activity is organising and attending parties or festivals (for example, the 24 hours bike ride of Louvain-la-Neuve or the St V).
See also: Student folklore in Belgium (French Wikipedia)

[edit] Canada

The Alma Mater Society at Queen's University is the oldest such organization in Canada, and currently the most extensive in regard to student involvement. It is currently a multi-million corporation employing over 500 students. The day-to-day operations of the AMS are overseen by the AMS Council which includes an annually elected three-person executive (the President, Vice-President (Operations) and Vice-President (University Affairs), selected as a slate), five commissioners who are each responsible for a specific aspect of student life, and three directors who are responsible for overseeing the AMS’ 14 corporate services.
Poly-World is a student committee based in the engineering school, École Polytechnique de Montréal, set up to organize overseas missions to enable students to gain knowledge of business processes, competitiveness and innovation.

[edit] European-wide

In Europe, there are several continent-wide student organisations fostering exchange among students of different nationalities and Culture, such as

• AEGEE (European Students Forum), trying to spread the European Idea
• AIESEC (worldwide student organisation)
• BEST (European student organisation)
• IAESTE (worldwide student organisation)
• JEF Young European Federalists - a pan-European network promoting the idea of European Integration
• ESN (Erasmus Student Network), promoting student mobility in Europe and beyond; present in over 200 universities / 28 countries; 35.000 member (by 04.2006)
• JADE
• Studentenforum im Tönissteiner Kreis e. V. (Student Forum within the Tönissteiner Kreis, a politically and confessionally independent, interdisciplinary student think tank fostering European and international cooperation)
• Bonding

with a different range of topics and activities.
There is also the National Unions of Students in Europe, a representative student organisation at European level, notably within the Bologna process.

[edit] Germany

In Germany, student societies are widespread and various, though by lack of support from the universities (and by force of variety), generally do not boast many members. The most popular are the Studentenverbindungen; most of them are moderate and tolerant, although many are restricted to male or Christian members.
The counterpart to these more conservative organisations are left-wing and anti-fascist student organisations as Anti-Fa or Praxis (in Bavaria).
On many universities - although in many states not officially recognised - there are student representations, called AStA (Allgemeiner Studenten-Ausschuss), StuVe (Studentische Vertretung) or StuRa (Studentenrat).
Other organisations include European Student Associations and the student organisations of the German political parties
Yet, there are also politically and confessionally independent, interdisciplinary and not-for-profit student organisations. One of, if not the leading one in Germany is the Studentenforum im Tönissteiner Kreis e. V. (Student Forum within the Tönissteiner Kreis e. V.) that is part of a European and worldwide network of student organizations, the Politeia Community.
See also:

• Studentenverbindung
• Fraternities and sororities

[edit] Ireland

Student societies are widespread in Ireland's universities, with a wide range of activities catered for, including debating, role-play, gaming, faculty-based activities, performing arts, political activity etc. The range of support for societies varies from university to university, though all universities provide funding and facilities to some extent for societies.
A student society in Ireland is led by a committee or council. The head of the society and the committee is the Auditor, a term first coined for the head of Trinity's College Historical Society.
The Biological Society, RCSI's main student society, is purportedly the oldest student medical society in the world.^{[citation needed]}
See Also:

• College Historical Society
• Literary and Historical Society
• RCSI Biological Society
• UCC Philosophical Society
• UCD Dramsoc
• University College Dublin Symphony Orchestra
• University Philosophical Society

[edit] Netherlands

In the Netherlands, there are different forms of student societies. Originally there was just the Corps (for corpus studiorosum), student bodies, starting with LSV Minerva in the city of Leiden in 1814 , as a part of the governing of the education on the universities and to give students the opportunity to develop themselves in all fields of life. On the wave of catholic emancipation starting in the 1890s, small groups of students, gathered around local priests, split off from the liberal, secular (in name anyway) corps fraternities to form their own societies focused on the catholic religion. This started the formation of many other religious societies in the different university cities. In the second half of the 20th century the Catholic split-offs formed an intercity-connection; the Aller Heiligen Convent and the focus on the religion was lost or abandoned. These societies are now known as student associations in the Netherlands, aimed mostly at social relations and gezelligheid. Most of the corpora now reside in older buildings in the city center, retaining mostly a rather traditional and conservative image. These organizations offer students a wide range of sports, cultural activities ranging from all levels of sports like field hockey, rowing and rugby to extremes like kitesurfing, glider-flying, all for student-friendly prices and development aid organisations and encouragement to start a new club of some sort at all times. especially The 20th century also saw, especially in the 1960s, the formation of more independent societies at the universities itself, partly as a reaction against the elite status of the corps, abolishing hazing and religious links and some even opening up to non-students. These non-Corps student societies are known as study associations (aimed at extracurricular activities for students, such as study trips, lectures, parties or drinks) or are general associations, for sports, literature, arts, etc., founded at the university itself.
See also: List of Dutch Student Societies

[edit] Sweden

Student leisure activities in Sweden are usually organised by the students' unions (studentkårer, studentkår in singular). Swedish student unions cover the whole area from arranging most of the big parties, cultural activities and sports event, to acting as an equivalent of trade union for the students so their voices can be heard regarding the content and forms of education. The union is usually divided in smaller parts called sections, sektioner, according to what subjects of programs the students study. Student union membership is compulsory according to law, although many students never see another face of the students' union than that of the party organiser. Generally all kinds of smaller societies, political, religious or just dealing with different kinds of hobbies, are organised within the students' union rather than as separate units.
An exception to this are the two ancient universities in Uppsala and Lund. There, most activities except "trade union" issues are organised by the student nations, the oldest student societies in Sweden, now thirteen at each university. The Uppsala nations have a history stretching back to ca 1630–1640, and were likely formed under the influence of the Landsmannschaften in existence at the northern German universities frequented by Swedish students. The nations in Lund were formed at the time of the foundation of the university (1666) or shortly thereafter. The nations take the names from the Swedish provinces from which they traditionally recruited their members, but do not always adhere to the strict practice of limiting membership according to those principles.

[edit] International organizations

• AEGEE - European Students Forum
• AIESEC - The International Platform for Young People to Explore and Develop their Potential
• BEST - Board of European Students of Technology
• Colleges Against Cancer
• Delft Management Society
• Erasmus Student Network
• IAESTE - The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience
• IFMSA - The International Federation of Medical Students' Associations
• IPSF - International Pharmaceutical Students' Federation
• ISHA - The International Students of History Association
• NACURH - National Association of College and University Residence Halls
• OBESSU - Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions
• Secular Student Alliance
• SIFE
• STAR - Study Association RSM Erasmus University
• Students for the Exploration and Development of Space
• Toronto Secular Alliance
• BBNM - Global Student Network for Collaboration with the Business World