Author: Studentarad

Dear students,

The elections for the Student Council of the University of Iceland will be held on Wednesday, April 2 and Thursday, April 3 as scheduled. The elections are electronic and will take place through the university’s internal website, Ugluna (www.ugla.hi.is). In these elections, students from each academic department will elect representatives to the Student Council for a one-year term.

The Election Board of the Student Council of the University of Iceland (SHÍ) hereby announces the following nominations for the Student Council for 2025.

Nomination Submission Deadline:
The deadline for submitting nominations is 18:00 on March 23, 2025. If you are considering a nomination, please contact kjor@hi.is to obtain the signature list and nomination form. Nominations for the Student Council must comply with the provisions of Chapter VIII of the SHÍ-approved election regulations.
Each candidate must collect ten signatures. If the same organization presents a list of candidates across all departments, the list’s supporters must never exceed 100 in total. In addition, the nomination must designate a proxy with respect to the Election Board, who will handle communications with them.

The Election Board will receive nominations electronically via the email address kjor@hi.is until 18:00 on March 23, and no nominations will be accepted after that time. Should any issues arise, please contact the Election Board through the same email address.

Voter List:
The voter list will be available on March 8, and any complaints regarding the list must be submitted to the Election Board no later than 12:00 on March 15. The voter list includes those students registered for studies at the University of Iceland for the academic year 2024–2025. Guest students and exchange students, as well as students registered in programs with standalone courses (such as in the School of Engineering), do not have voting rights.
A list of students will be provided to the nominees for the purpose of contacting students regarding the elections. This voter list will be merged with the exclusion list from the National Registry (Þjóðskrá), and the phone numbers of those registered there will be removed from the list provided to the nominees. Additionally, the requirements of Section 94 of the Electronic Communications Act No. 70/2022 will be observed. Everyone on the list is also granted the right to object to the use of their personal information for this purpose.

If a student does not wish to be called regarding the elections, they may fill out a form here. Objections can be submitted until 23:59 on March 7. Consideration will be given to objections received by that time.

Nominations are prohibited from calling individuals who do not answer phone calls more than three times. Similarly, nominees are not allowed to send SMS messages or contact an individual who is not a “friend” on social media for the purpose of promoting the nomination.

If you find the calling to be excessively intrusive, you can always contact the Student Council (shi@hi.is) or the Election Board (kjor@hi.is). If you receive a call from a nomination that you believe is illegal or if you wish to stop receiving further calls, you may also send a report to the aforementioned email address, and the nomination will be issued a warning.

Any further questions may be directed to kjor@hi.is.

The Election Board of the Student Council of the University of Iceland for 2025 appoints Albert Guðmundsson (Chairman), Janus Arn Guðmundsson, Benedikt Traustason, and Alexandra Ýr van Erven.

On behalf of the SHÍ Election Board,
Albert Guðmundsson

The Student Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 5:00 PM in room N-132, Askja.

According to Article 9 of the Student Council’s bylaws, council meetings are open to all University of Iceland students. These meetings will be advertised among students, and all interested are welcome to attend.

Please contact the Student Council office at +354 570-0850 or by email at shi@hi.is if you have any questions regarding the meeting or its agenda. Students are also welcome to reach out to the office with questions about their rights.

Agenda:

1. Meeting called to order
   5:00 PM

2. Approval of the minutes from the meeting on January 21, 2025
   5:00–5:05 PM

3. Proposal that SHÍ should advocate for improved organization within departments
   Presenter: Guðlaug Eva Albertsdóttir, alternate member of the Student Council
   5:05–5:20 PM

4. Proposal on the possibility of earning credits for extracurricular activities
   Presenter: Kjartan Leifur Sigurðsson, alternate member of the Student Council
   5:20–5:35 PM

5. Intermission
   5:35–5:45 PM

6. Proposal for increased flexibility in field studies for student teachers
   Presenter: Gunnar Ásgrímsson, Student Council Member
   5:45–6:00 PM

7. Proposal for a statement of support for the divisions of the Faculty of Educational Sciences
   Presenters: Ísleifur Arnórsson and Sóley Anna Jónsdóttir, Student Council Members
   6:00–6:15 PM

8. Recorded matters and announcements
   6:15–6:20 PM

9. Other matters
   6:20–6:30 PM

Voting will take place on items II. – IV. and VI. – VII.

Please note that the international officer, student interest representative, and student loan representative hold open office hours every week. This gives students the chance to stop by the office and discuss any concerns or issues with the respective representatives.

Spring Semester Office Hours

International Officer: Tuesdays from 10:00–12:00 and Wednesdays from 15:00–17:00

Student Interest Representative: Tuesdays from 10:00–12:00 and Wednesdays from 11:00–13:00

Student Loan Representative: Wednesdays from 12:30–14:00

The general office hours for the student rights office are Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 17:00. Students can also reach out by emailing shi@hi.is or calling 570 0850.

We proudly present SHÍ’s Annual Festival which will be celebrated on February 21st, 2025 at Hlíðarendi and the theme is Premier. The house opens at 18:00 and the dinner starts at 18:30. The ball starts at 21:30 and ends at 01:00.

Ticket sales for the ball take place in the Aur app and at the Student Council’s office on the 3rd floor at Háskólatorg:

Ball = 6,990

Note: registration for dining is done through the student organizations. Tickets are paid for at the Student Council’s office on the 3rd floor at Háskólatorg.

Table service + Ball = 9,990

Frequently asked questions

Why can’t I find the ticket sales in the Aur-app?

You can find the ticket sales in the so-called Klink in the Aur-app. In order for the ticket sales to appear, you need to have an electronic student ID. If you have a “kennitala” you can apply for it here: Nemendaskírteini – Note that it may take some time for the student card to appear in Aur. If you don’t have a “kennitala” you can buy the ticket at the Student Council’s office on the 3rd floor at Háskólatorg.

What is the cost for the annual celebration?

The ticket price for the ball is 6,990 ISK. A ticket for the dinner and dance costs 9,990 ISK.

Can I buy a ticket just for the dinner?

No, unfortunately not. We are doing our best to keep ticket prices low, and unfortunately, there is no room for purchasing just a ticket for the dinner.”

I bought a ticket but can’t attend – can I get a refund?

I applied for an electronic student ID but don’t see it in the Aur app – what can I do?

It may take two to three days for the student ID to appear. If more time has passed, you can try reapplying for the ID. It’s important to make sure all the information is correct, such as your ID number and your university email address.

Meeting Notice – 6th Meeting of the Student Council

The Student Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 5:00 PM in room N-132, Askja.

According to Article 9 of the Student Council’s bylaws, council meetings are open to all University of Iceland students. These meetings will be advertised among students, and all interested are welcome to attend.

Please contact the Student Council office at +354 570-0850 or by email at shi@hi.is if you have any questions regarding the meeting or its agenda. Students are also welcome to reach out to the office with questions about their rights.

Agenda:

1. Meeting called to order
   5:00 PM
2. Review of ongoing issues
   Visit from Jón Atli Benediktsson, Rector
   5:00–5:10 PM
3. Approval of the minutes from November 12, 2024
   5:10–5:15 PM
4. Introduction of the new SHÍ representative
   5:15–5:30 PM
5. Proposal for the Student Council to join Festa, the Center for Sustainability
   Presenter: Arent Orri J. Claessen
   5:30–5:40 PM
6. Intermission
   5:40–5:50 PM
7. Proposal for the installation of “nests” at the university campus (spaces for students with children)
   Presenter: Katla Ólafsdóttir, Leader of Röskva and Student Council Member
   5:50–6:00 PM
8. Proposal for a resolution demanding improved options for distance learning
   Presenter: Gunnar Ásgrímsson, President of the School Council for the School of Education
   6:00–6:10 PM
9. Proposed amendments to the bylaws from the Bylaws Committee
   Presenter: Arent Orri J. Claessen
   6:10–6:40 PM
10. Recorded matters and announcements
    • Confirmation of the election of Diljá Valsdóttir to the School Council of Humanities
    • Confirmation of the new observer in the Safety Committee: Dagmar Ísleifsdóttir
    • Confirmation of nominations from Röskva and Vaka to the Election Committee
      6:40–6:50 PM
11. Other matters
    6:50–7:00 PM

Applications are now open for the second allocation of the Student Fund this school year. You can apply for grants here until 12:00 PM on December 27th. We strongly encourage you to follow the instructions in the application form as thoroughly as possible, as any deviations from the rules may result in a dismissal of the application.

Before applying, we recommend familiarizing yourself with the Student Fund on the Student Council’s website, especially its laws and code of practice. Please note that diagnostic and maintenance grants will be granted in this allocation.

Any questions can be directed to Viktor Pétur Finnsson, the fund’s chairman, at studentasjodur@hi.is or to the Student Council’s Rights Office.

The University Idea Sprint (Hugmyndahraðhlaup háskólanna) will be held at Gróska on the weekend of January 4 – 5, 2025.
This is a solution-oriented competition open to all university students in Iceland, offering an opportunity to form teams and develop innovative ideas within a strong supportive environment.

The winners will receive generous prizes and a guaranteed spot in the final competition of the Golden Egg (Gulleggið)!

All information about the University Idea Sprint can be found at gulleggid.is/hh

A new position of a labor and rights representative for university students will be established as part of a collaboration agreement between the Student Council of the University of Iceland (SHÍ) and Viska. This is the first time such a service will be available to university students in Iceland. This is not only a milestone in SHÍ’s services to university students but also a new step in the service offerings of Icelandic labor unions.

Arent Orri J. Claessen, President of SHÍ, and Gauti Skúlason, Communications and Marketing Project Manager at Viska, signed the agreement at Háskólatorg recently. The labor and rights representative will provide services and advice, in addition to raising awareness among university students about their rights in the labor market.

“We at SHÍ are incredibly proud to be able to offer students at the University of Iceland a labor and rights-related service, and we believe this position is long overdue. Such a service has never been offered before in Iceland, so this is a historic milestone in student services. The next step is to advertise the position of the labor and rights representative at the SHÍ office, and shortly after, this new service will be available to students at the University of Iceland. We at SHÍ are very happy with our collaboration with Viska and are excited for the future,” says Arent Orri.

At Viska, a special service for university students was established, which works in such a way that students who register with Viska gain access to all of its services, including free smart insurance for computers, phones, and bikes.

“The position of the labor and rights representative for university students is based on a Nordic model, where it has proven its importance. In conversations with university students, we have found that there is significant demand for education on labor rights and conditions among young people, and we want to respond to that call. By establishing this position, we aim to emphasize support for young people who are acquiring knowledge and higher education, as they are a crucial group for the future. In this way, we are demonstrating in practice that university students matter,” says Gauti.

The Student Council of the University of Iceland will hold a meeting on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at 5:00 PM in HT-102, Háskólatorg. Student Council meetings are open to all University of Iceland students, and interested students are encouraged to attend and stay informed on the council’s activities.

The agenda includes key proposals and presentations of action plans, along with discussions on various matters affecting student life at the university. Interested students can contact the Student Council office for more information.

Agenda:

I. Meeting called to order 5:00 PM – 5:05 PM
II. Approval of the minutes from September 26, 2024 5:05 PM – 5:10 PM
III. Review of ongoing issues 5:10 PM – 5:20 PM
IV. Proposal for the Student Council office to establish an environmental policy 5:20 PM – 5:30 PM
V. Proposal for a more efficient room booking system at the university 5:30 PM – 5:40 PM
VI. Proposal to submit comments on public university law changes 5:40 PM – 5:50 PM
VII. Presentation of the International Committee’s action plan 5:50 PM – 6:00 PM
VIII. Break 6:00 PM – 6:10 PM
IX. Presentation of the Environment and Transportation Committee’s action plan 6:10 PM – 6:20 PM
X. Presentation of the Bylaws Amendment Committee’s action plan 6:20 PM – 6:30 PM
XI. Presentation of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Committee’s action plan 6:30 PM – 6:40 PM
XII. Proposal to increase the availability of menstrual products in university buildings 6:40 PM – 6:50 PM
XIII. Proposal for health program entrance exams beyond Reykjavík 6:50 PM – 7:00 PM
XIV. Proposal for annual funding to SHÍ committees to enhance social activities 7:00 PM – 7:10 PM
XV. Recorded matters and announcements 7:10 PM – 7:15 PM
XVI. Other matters 7:15 PM – 7:20 PM

Applications are now open for the first allocation of the Student Fund. You can apply for grants here until 2:00 PM on November 3rd. We strongly encourage you to follow the guidelines in the application form as closely as possible, as deviations from the rules will result in the application being rejected.

Before applying, we urge you to familiarize yourself with the Student Fund on the Student Council’s website, particularly its laws and code of practice. Please note that research grants and maintenance grants will not be awarded in this allocation.

Questions should be directed to Viktor Pétur Finnsson, the Chairman of the Fund, at studentasjodur@hi.is, or to the Student Council’s Rights Office.