Executive Branch

The Department of Public Relations' main duty is to seamlessly communicate information about the UPUA to the student body. The department creates content for social media, issues statements on various topics on behalf of UPUA, generates press releases,and communicates events and opportunities for students to engage with UPUA. The department is led by the Executive Director of Public Relations, who oversees the Deputy Director of Public Relations, the Director of Design, the Director of Photography, and the Director of Data Analytics which all work together to communicate UPUA's message.

The Department of Internal Inclusion and Support (IIS) aids the organization in providing more support to members of the organization, leading affinity groups, and taking a deeper and more informed look at our policies and procedures within the lens of equity. The Department of IIS also oversees the annual UPUA Shadowing and Informational Program (ShIP). This Department is overseen by the Executive Director of Internal Inclusion and Support, and contains a Deputy Director, and Directors of Internal Culture, Professional Development, and UPUA Benefitting THON.

The Department of Finance handles transparency and transactions for UPUA’s finance. The department transparently keeps track of the UPUA budget, especially the transactions funded by student fees, and facilitates financial transactions for the UPUA, reimbursing individuals, managing UPUA’s accounts, and handling invoices. The Department is led by the Executive Director of Finance who is supported by the Deputy Director.

The Department of Sustainability utilizes the framework proposed by the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals to strategize and act in a way that furthers the UPUA’s and the University’s sustainability efforts. By collaborating with student representatives and others in the sustainability realm at Penn State to research and complete projects, the Department grants meaningful experiences to students knowledgeable and passionate about specific areas of sustainability. The Department is led by the Executive Director of Sustainability, and has a Deputy Director and Directors of the Student Sustainability Network and of Sustainable Engagement.

The Department of the First Year Council contains and manages the First Year Council, UPUA’s gateway program for first year students. The FYC recruits a cohort of interested students in the early fall semester and brings them into the organization through weekly meetings that gradually distribute them into different branches and positions in the UPUA. The department is run by the two Co-Executive Directors of the First Year Council and includes up to 30 students within the First Year Council.

The Department of Physical Resources, through its sole officer, the Executive Director, is responsible for the management of the UPUA’s materials and supplies and office space. Keeping a master list of the equipment and resources available to the organization, the department ensures that UPUA doesn’t waste time or money on acquiring duplicate items, and prevents any materials from being lost or taken.

The Department of Records facilitates the storage and preservation of UPUA legislation, reports, and work throughout our 21 Assemblies. The department facilitates the continuation of old projects and UPUA history, providing contextualization and research to our representatives on demand, as well as managing our digital assets to provide consistency and clarity of our long past. The department is led by the Executive Director of Records and supported by the Archivist and Webmaster.

The Executive Staff operate as a functional department serving the Assembly through organization and logistical work. The department is embedded directly in the organization, handling the rules and operations of meetings, the notation and documentation of voting records and attendance, and the execution of logistics in legislative initiatives. Composed of the Parliamentarian, the Secretary, and the five Programming Directors, the Executive Staff can also have additional members appointed by the President. Each Programming Director serves a committee within the legislative branch, while the Parliamentarian serves the General Assembly and the Strategic Planning Board, and the Secretary serves the General Assembly and the Steering Committee in their various capacities.