Student Life

SUN consists of two active branches: United Naropa (UN) and Student Life Programming (SLP). Each body meets separately, with some overlapping membership. Both groups share in their overarching purpose: to gather and represent the student voice, to empower student engagement, and to provide and support opportunities for student leadership.

United Naropa (UN) is comprised of students representing their academic departments with a focus on student action, connections and communication among the departments, and ensuring student input in decision making.

Student Life Programming (SLP) is a committee of students that organizes and supports student life beyond the classroom as they plan various campus activities, oversee the student lounges, and supervise the Student Organizations. Both bodies of SUN have adopted a nonhierarchical structure for conducting its business.

2008-09 SUN Accomplishments & Community Contributions:

Active participation on the University Budget Process (UBC), Strategic Planning Process, Presidential Search Committee, and curriculum development (UN)
Consultation to our university President, Self-Study process and the Academic Plan (UN)
Supported campus projects: Gender & Women’s Study Minor, wireless at Snow Lion, & hiring of the Green Team Consultant (UN)
Ratified UN’s ByLaws, including an active Diversity Statement, clarified roles, policies and procedures (UN)
Posted meeting minutes on eropa web site, creating transparency (UN)
Grew in membership size, involvement and visibility on all campuses (UN/SLP)
Held two successful Retreats (UN/SLP)
Hosted major campus social events (i.e. Hallow’s Eve Bash & Valentines Day PJ Party) (SLP)
Recognized 101 Student Leaders through 2nd “Student Leadership Banquet” with Julia Butterfly-Hill (SLP)
Facilitated & Funded 40 Student Groups (SLP)
Hosted 2nd Annual “NaropaFest” (SLP)
Presented “Engaged Students of the Year” awards at two graduation ceremonies. (SLP)
Sponsored “Naropa Wellness Day” during finals week with 9 practitioners and 150 participants (SLP)
Invested in student center: Wii; Pool Table (SLP)

History
The structure of SUN began in 1989, and continues to evolve as students and Naropa have grown. Originally it was called SUTNI (Student Union of The Naropa Institute). Over the years, SUN (UN and SLP) has been influential in the creation of university policy, as well as consultation for student input on university and budgetary decisions. SUN works to support Naropa students in many ways.
A few of the previous accomplishments of SUN include:

Institutionalization of a permanent Board of Trustee Student Representative position (since 1990).
Establishment of the Student Emergency Fund for students facing emergency conditions.
Initiation of all campus drinking fountains containing filtered water.
Granted the SUN Award to recognize graduating students who have embodied SUNs vision.
Creation of the housing coordinator position to help current and incoming students find off-campus housing
Creation of the student life diversity coordinator and senior diversity officer positions
Designing of the UN and SLP bodies in 2007 with a closer alignment of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s vision

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