FAQs:

What is CSR?
- CSR, or the Council of Student Representatives, is comprised of 13 members--four representatives from each class and one representative from the LLM class. CSR is charged with representing the interests of the law school student body to both the law school and university administration. Additionally, CSR is responsible for allocating funds to student groups.

What does CSR do?
- CSR usually meets once a week. CSR meets with the administration regularly to address student concerns. For example, in the past CSR has discussed (and proposed solutions for) issues relating to financial aid availability, course selection, printer access, academic advising, student group funding and school safety.
- CSR plans the annual law school prom, as well as other social events, including beer and pizza for the 1Ls post- exams each semester. Additionally, CSR plans a handful of other law-school wide social events throughout the year.
- CSR appoints students to various law school committees—including the admissions and recruitment committees—and also appoints law school representatives to the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly of the University of Pennsylvania.

What is GAPSA?
- GAPSA is the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly. This group is comprised of representatives from all of the graduate and professional programs at UPenn; the population of the graduate school determines the number of representatives from each program.
- This group collaborates on University-wide initiatives. GAPSA allocates the student fee paid by each graduate student amongst the various graduate programs. CSR, in turn, specifically represents the law school and allocates the monies received by GAPSA.
- You can find more information about GAPSA at http://www.gapsa.upenn.edu/.

When should I talk to a CSR representative?
- You should talk to a CSR representative any time you have a question, issue, or concern about any aspect of the law school program. If there’s an issue you don’t feel comfortable bringing to the administration, CSR can be a great resource for you. We have worked with the administration on numerous occasions and have experience in approaching the administration about various issues.
- If you have any ideas for academic or social events, or ways to improve any aspect of the student life here at Penn Law, CSR would love to hear from you. You may email the CSR account directly at csr@law.upenn.edu, or you may email any representative. You can find a link to the contact member for each representative on the CSR homepage.

How do you become a member of CSR?
- You must be elected to serve as a class representative. Elections for 1Ls are held at the beginning of each fall semester, and elections for 2Ls and 3Ls are held in the spring semester.
- There are also appointed committee positions that provide a valuable way to get involved in CSR and the law school.

What are committees?
Please see the committee descriptions provided as a link from our main home page.

When are elections?
Elections occur twice a year -- in September for the 1L and LLM representatives, and around March or April for the 2L and 3L representatives. Specific dates are announced a few weeks prior to the election.

How do you run?
In order to run for CSR representative, you have to submit a Candidate Application, with three (3) copies of your Candidacy Statement and three (3) photos of yourself. The Candidate Application has additional information.

How do I apply for student group funding?
In order to apply for student group funding please complete a budget request form (found in the “forms” section of the CSR website) in the greatest detail possible. Please understand that although CSR tries to accommodate all student group requests, not all student groups receive the amount of funding they ask for. It is advisable to submit a complete application and include as much detail as possible.

How are funds allocated?
Funds are allocated based on a number of variables including prior history of strong activity on campus, amount of detail put into the budget request, the number of members the organization serves, and breadth of activities planned. The CSR board will meet in a timely manner after all budget requests are submitted to apportion funds to the student groups. If this is the first year of your group's existence, please have your group approved by Dean Clinton in addition to submitting a budget request.

How do I request a reimbursement for my student group?
In order to request a reimbursement for your student group please download a copy the CSR reimbursement form from the CSR website or pick up a copy from the CSR mailfolder. Fill out ALL requested information, STAPLE your receipts to the form, and return the form and receipts to the CSR reimbursement folder which is located in the CSR mailfolder. The Treasurer will cut checks in a timely fashion (usually every two weeks) and will email you when your check is available for pick up at Julie Colleluori's cube in the Dean's Suite.

Can I attend a CSR meeting?
Yes! CSR general body meetings are open to the public and announced in Law School Notices. In order to accommodate visitors, please contact CSR Secretary, Olivier Kamanda (kamanda@law.upenn.edu) at least two days before each CSR meeting.

How do I share my concerns with CSR?
- There are a number of ways to share your concerns with CSR. Every student has a class representative listed on the CSR website. Feel free to email your CSR representative with questions or concerns.
- Beginning this fall, CSR will hold regularly scheduled Comment Tables. At each comment table you can choose to anonymously submit concerns in writing about classes, professors, financial aid or any other quality of life issue. CSR will review these comments and find the appropriate venue to voice them to the administration.
- Finally, you are more than welcome to attend CSR general body meetings. In order to accommodate visitors, please contact CSR Secretary, Olivier Kamanda (kamanda@law.upenn.edu) at least two days before each CSR meeting.