Class Councils & Trustees

Trustees and Class Council members are charged with identifying and programming events to serve the unique needs of their respective classes. Alumni Association staff advise and support the First-Year, Second-Year and Third-Year Class Councils and Fourth-Year Trustees in selecting Council members, organizing the class gift, and planning events such as Lighting of the Lawn, Dinner Series, and First Year Formal.

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2025–2026 Class Officers

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Roles & Responsibilities

The Class Councils and Trustees are expected to play a crucial role in the life of their class, specifically focusing on bringing everyone together and creating a lasting affection for the University and the Alumni Association. More specifically, the councils and trustees assist in planning activities for the class, including: social events and dinners, career workshops, wellness programs, and other activities that meet the needs of their class.  Each council puts on signature events that celebrate different milestones, depending on their class year (e.g. Third Year Ceremony and Fourth Year Graduation Party).  The Fourth Year Trustees are additionally responsible for selecting a Valediction speaker, maintaining class communications surrounding Final Exercises, and executing a class giving program. Council and trustee members are led by the elected president and vice-president of their class, with advisement from the Alumni Association and the Division of Student Affairs.

Members are selected each spring, based on their ability to represent and serve their classmates. Representation within the general body is a priority and, as such, previous leadership positions are not as important as the ability and willingness to communicate with diverse groups of classmates.

Eligibility Requirements

Students must fulfill specific requirements to serve as a council member or trustee:

• The Class of 2026 Fourth Year Trustees is made up of students preparing to graduate from any of the undergraduate schools in the academic year 2025–2026
• The Class of 2027 Third Year Council is made up of students preparing to graduate from any of the undergraduate schools in the academic year 2026-2027
• The Class of 2028 Second Year Council is made up of students preparing to graduate from any of the undergraduate schools in the academic year 2027-2028
• The Class of 2029 First Year Council is made up of students preparing to graduate from any of the undergraduate schools in the academic year 2028-2029
• Members are required to attend bi-weekly general body meetings while classes are in session, in addition to committee meetings which may occur on a weekly basis.
  • General body meetings typically occur on Sundays, with the following schedule: Fourth Year Trustees 1–2 p.m., Third Year Council 2–3 p.m., Second Year Council 3–4 p.m., First Year Council 4–5 p.m.
  • Note: Fourth Year Trustees commit to serve for six years total: one year as a fourth-year trustee, and the five years following graduation as a post-graduate trustee.
• Members are expected to attend and support all council-planned activities, regardless of the sponsoring committee, as their academic and personal schedule allows. It is important to realize that the meetings are not the only time commitments. The majority of the work is done outside of formal meetings in the planning and implementation of events.
• Finally, in addition to the primary responsibilities outlined above, members also serve on a committee. (See below for examples, but please note that committees are chosen each year at the discretion of the officers, as they see fit, to meet the needs of the class).
  • Academic & Career Development: Responsible for planning the professional activities for the class, including publicizing career services for students and planning events to ease members’ transitions into the career/post-graduate environment.
  • Community Engagement: Responsible for organizing initiatives that provide opportunities to engage in the Charlottesville community, both through community service and philanthropic events.
  • Diversity & Outreach: Responsible for organizing events that celebrate and recognize underrepresented groups on Grounds and for creating initiatives that generate spirit for the University and the class.
  • Social and Entertainment: Responsible for planning and organizing numerous small-scale and large-scale events to entertain and foster unity among members of the class.
  • Marketing and Communications: Oversees and executes all advertising, media, communications, and class-branded merchandise.
  • Wellness: Responsible for planning programs and events that promote mental, physical, and emotional health and well-being.
  • Class Giving (Fourth Year Trustees only): Responsible for organizing a marketing strategy to motivate a record number of people to participate in the Class Giving Program. Publicize and cultivate support for the Giving Program throughout the Class, and organize events to increase participation. All Trustees are required to solicit donations for the class giving campaign
  • Graduation (Fourth Year Trustees only): Plan and organize the valediction ceremonies and related events, select the Valediction Speaker, work with University administration to ensure the class has an adequate voice in graduation concerns.
  • Third Year Ceremony (Third Year Council only): Plans Third Year Ceremony for the third-year class, which traditionally has occurred on Family Weekend. Must facilitate the ring scholarship application and selection process, secure a speakers, work with University event planning staff, coordinate with ring company, promote ring sales, manage communications to the class and families, and run the day-of event logistics.

Selections Timeline

• First Year Council: Members are selected for First Year Council through an election, held in September of their first year.  Three representatives are elected per dorm and two representatives per residential college.
• Second Year Council, Third Year Council, and Fourth Year Trustees: Rising second-, third-, and fourth-years can submit an application in the spring semester to serve on the following year’s council.  Applications are available in February ad are typically due the week after Spring Break.
• Transfer Students: Second-year and third-year transfer students are selected by application (and sometimes interview) in September of each year.

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For more information, please reach out to the following advisor contacts: