The University Student Senate (USS) is the official governance organization charged with representing the interests of the students of the City University of New York (CUNY). USS was founded in 1972.

Through USS, the students have representation at all standing committees of the CUNY Board of Trustees, the university’s policy-making body. These committees deal with all major university policy making decisions, including the university’s budget.

USS also advocates on behalf of students before elected officials at the city, state and Federal levels.

USS has a steering committee consisting of a chairperson and nine Vice-Chairs. The Vice Chairs are responsible for the following areas: Legislative Affairs, Fiscal Affairs, Graduate Student Affairs, Senior College Affairs, Community College Affairs, Evening/Part-Time Student Affairs, International Student Affairs and Technology Fee Vice Chair. Each steering member is elected at the annual election meeting held in October.

In addition to his/her commitment and responsibilities to USS, the Chairperson serves as a voting member of the CUNY board of Trustees and the Higher education Services Corporation.

USS representatives are elected directly by the student population at their respective campuses or from among the elected members of their respective student governments.

Undergraduate campuses are entitled to two delegates. Graduate programs are represented by one delegate.

CUNY is the nation’s largest urban university with 11 senior colleges, 6 community colleges, a graduate school, a law school and The Sophie Davis school of Biomedical education. The City University is governed by the board of trustees, composed of 17 members. Ten members are appointed by the Governor of New York State, five are appointed by the mayor of New York City, one trustee is the Chairperson of the University student body and one trustee without a vote is the chair of the university faculty senate.