Frequently Asked Questions
VAMUN
What is VAMUN?
Who runs VAMUN?
What are VAMUN's rules on delegation size?
Committees
Preparation
At the Conference
Miscellaneous
Glossary
I have other questions.
What is VAMUN?
For more than 30 years, the Virginia Model United Nations Conference (VAMUN) has been hosted by the International Relations Organization (IRO) at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. All conference events take place on the historic Grounds of the University, which provide an excellent atmosphere for delegates to engage in the debate and diplomacy of Model UN. Last year over one hundred IRO members contributed to the organization, research, and staffing involved in hosting the nearly one thousand high school students who attended VAMUN.
VAMUN XXXII will take place from November 2 to November 4, 2012. See the Schedule Page for the tentative conference schedule.
Hopefully we have anticipated many of your questions with the following information, but if we have missed anything, please do not hesitate to contact the Secretary-General, Elsa Schultze.
Who runs VAMUN?
VAMUN is governed by an seven member Secretariat:
- The Under-Secretary-General for Delegations, Kate Travis, will be working with sponsors to coordinate registration.
- The Under-Secretary-General for Business, Public Relations & Giving, Nikki Kaul, will be working with our corporate sponsors, as well as the University community, in regards to the business aspects of our conference.
- The Under-Secretary-General for Crisis Committees, Saiful Khan, the Under-Secretary-General for GA and Specialized Committees, Kate Kingsbury, and the Under-Secretary-General for Staff, Katherine Baird, handle the UVa side of the conference, working with committee chairs and assigning committee staff.
- The Under-Secretary-General for Administration & Logistics, Natalie Holmes, will be coordinating building reservations and publications.
- Finally, the Secretary-General, Elsa Schultze, coordinates and oversees all of the different aspects of the conference.
Please read our Secretariat Biographies for more information on the VAMUN XXXII Secretariat.
While each Secretariat member serves a specific function, all have a broad understanding of VAMUN and are able to answer any questions or concerns you may have before and during the conference. Please do not hesitate to contact or talk to any of us, or any of the UVa students staffing VAMUN. We are here to make sure you and your delegates have the best experience possible!
What are VAMUN's rules on delegation size?
One of the hallmarks of VAMUN is our small size and the intimate feel of our committees. Because we are limited in terms of facility space, hosting the conference on the Grounds of the University instead of at a hotel, we choose to limit delegation size to 125 delegates per school (schools have the option of bringing as many sponsors and chaperones as they wish.) In extreme situations, we can increase the delegation size by a few delegates on a case by case basis, but we ask that schools honor this request and limit the size of their delegations to 125. Please contact the USG for Delegations, Joe Choi, with questions.
How are committees organized?
Different Model United Nations conferences vary in the types, sizes, and number of committees they offer. VAMUN offers a wide variety of committees, with exciting and diverse topics and structures.
This year, VAMUN will have approximately 20 committees covering both historical and current events, from various branches of the United Nations to national cabinets to specialized agencies.
Committees can be broken down into three categories based on size: General Assembly, Specialized agencies, and crisis simulations.
General Assembly: These committees are the standing committees of the United Nations. All member countries of the United Nations are represented on these committees. As in the UN, these committees tend to be somewhat large (over 60 delegations). Speakers lists, and the use of moderated caucuses, which allow for shorter speaking times, help chairs give all delegates an opportunity to express their opinions. The GA committees are designated double-delegation and, will be the only committees at VAMUN XXXI that allow partners.
Specialized: The committees in this category are smaller than GAs. They allow for more speaking time and delegate interaction, but also require more specialized knowledge of a topic.
Crisis Committees: All remaining committees are designated crisis committees. They range from joint crises simulations to individual national cabinet simulations. These committees are much smaller (they will have between 10 to 20 positions) and designed for experienced delegates. Students must be prepared to represent the interests of their position as well as deal with crises developed by the committee staff, designed to simulate real situations and challenge delegates' debate, diplomacy and creative thinking skills.
What are committee topics?
Each committee chair designates three areas of interest which will be the committee's central focus during the conference. These topics are chosen based upon their international importance, diversity of available viewpoints, and general interest to delegates. Students should be well versed on all topics, although committees often spend more time on one than another. These topics, as well as background guides providing preliminary groundwork for delegate research, will be available at the beginning of the 2012 school year on the VAMUN website.
How do I select committees?
When you register for VAMUN, along with submitting your school name, address, and delegation size, you also can request committees you would like your delegates to participate in. With so many options and variations, this process can seem confusing. We have done our best to simplify it and explain it here, but please do not hesitate to ask if you have any questions!
Delegations who register early will have preference in committee choices so please register as soon as possible.
The General Assemblies, Specialized, and some Crisis committees are populated by countries, that is, each delegate or pair of delegates represents a nation. However, not all nations are represented on all committees. We have provided a spread sheet listing which countries are represented on which committees. When selecting countries, keep in mind both which committees your delegates would be best suited to, and the total number of positions available per country. We will do our best to give each school its requested choices, but please understand that not everyone can be the United States, and that often a less familiar nation presents a better opportunity for students to research and appreciate a different world view. All nations have an equal vote and are given equal speaking time on all committees.
Crisis committees are usually represented by people or positions (such as the National Security Advisor on the National Security Council), rather than countries. After selecting countries, select which specialized committees you would like to have spots on. Please keep in mind that spaces on specialized committees are limited. We will try to fill everyone's requests, but cannot promise that the committees assigned will match the committees requested. Because specialized committees are so small, chairs design issues and crises in which all positions are necessary. If you request a specialized committee, please make sure to fill that position; if a crisis committee delegate drops, please notify us or replace them with another delegate.
Please see our Registration Guide for more information.
How do I assign delegates to committees?
A difficult question for sponsors and delegates alike is often deciding which committees are best for which students. We have tried to break down committees into delegate levels to make these decisions as easy as possible, but we know that students cannot be easily categorized.
Again, please see our Registration Guide or Committees page for more information.
While hopefully these descriptions and delineations provide some guidance, there is no substitute for your knowledge of your own students' skills and ability. We encourage delegates to challenge themselves as much as possible. We want VAMUN to be a learning experience; students who wish to push themselves or hone learned skills are encouraged to do so on whichever committee they feel comfortable.
How do delegates prepare for VAMUN?
Prior to the conference, all committees will have background guides available on the VAMUN website. These background guides are meant to provide a starting point for delegates to begin their own research. Chairs will supply additional articles, links, and readings which might help in this endeavor. In order to facilitate debate and real world conflict, it is important that students research not only the topics at hand, but the position they will take on those topics. VAMUN delegates in General Assemblies and Specialized committees are asked to write a position paper outlining their views, aims, and country's stand on the topics given.
The background guides are not meant to be exhaustive, and to truly do well in committee, delegates need to go above and beyond in their research and preparation. VAMUN, after all, is a learning opportunity. We have provided a list of resources on our links page in order to assist delegates in finding additional research.
Sponsors who are interested in learning more about Model UN and helping their delegates prepare can visit our Sponsors Page and How to Start a MUN Club page for additional resources and tips.
How do I register for VAMUN?
We strive to make registration as easy and convenient as possible. This year, complete registration, including committee selection is available online. Registering for VAMUN involves four easy steps:
Step One: Fill out the online form on the Registration page, including committee selection. After we receive your registration, we will send you an e-mail confirmation. Please check that all the information is correct.
Step Two: Send your school registration fee of $65 made payable to the International Relations Organization to the address:
VAMUN
Box 400435
Newcomb Hall Station
Charlottesville VA, 22904-4435
Step Three: After we receive your school fee and committee requests, we will e-mail you your committee and country assignments. Fill out the names of your students serving in each position and return this form to us, along with delegate fees. Delegate fees are $55 per student. There is no cost for chaperones and sponsors. Checks should be made payable to the International Relations Organization and sent to the address above.
Step Four: On either Thursday, November 1 or Friday, November 2 (the exact time may be found on the Schedule Page), come to Newcomb Hall to check in and complete final registration.
What is VAMUN policy regarding position papers?
Position papers are required at VAMUN XXXI in all General Assembly and Specialized Committees, and they will factor into consideration when committee awards are decided. Position papers are a wonderful opportunity for delegates to put their research to tangible use, and as a way to organize their policy initiatives before the conference. VAMUN asks for position papers to be at least three pages long - one page per topic - although delegates are welcome to write more if they wish. The paper ought to be divided into sections according to the agenda topics, and within those sections, the delegates should first give a general overview of their country's position on the topic, and then proposals on solutions to the issue from their nation's perspective. As pre-written resolutions are not allowed at VAMUN, this section should be a more general approach to the issue, rather than a comprehensive set of solutions.
We ask that all papers be typed, using standard size font, with reasonable margins and spacing. As always, papers must feature clear citations, and we expect a reference page at the end of any papers that have sources cited.
Each chair will post their individual guidelines regarding position papers on their committee page, should they have any. Some of the committees will feature different structures or will not have a pre-assigned agenda, so delegate preparation for those simulations will be left to the discretion of the committee staff.
All position papers should be turned in to the chair during the first committee session.
What are the fees and refund policy?
Please see our Fees Page for information and payment options.
Fees:
$65 school fee
$55 fee per delegate
We do not charge any fees for sponsors and chaperones. Please note that the fees cover only the cost of the conference. Food, lodging, travel, and other expenses are separate from the total assessed to you by VAMUN.
We understand that often circumstances change and delegates suddenly cannot attend. While school fees are nonrefundable, delegate fees are refundable in full until October 17, 2011, the final deadline to submit delegate names and fees. We understand many schools register long before numbers are finalized. After that date, delegate fees are refundable only by 50%.
Where do we stay?
VAMUN does not reserve rooms on behalf of schools; this is the responsibility of the sponsor. Most of these hotels are within walking distance of University Grounds (ten to fifteen minute walk to most committees.) When choosing a hotel, please take location into consideration as you must supply your own transportation to committee and other conference events. Here are some convenient and reasonably priced options:
Red Roof Inn
1309 W. Main Street
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434) 295-4333
Hampton Inn & Suites
900 W. Main Street,
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434) 923-8600
Cavalier Inn
105 North Emmet St
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434) 926-8111
What are workshops?
We will offer several workshops for sponsors and chaperones throughout the weekend, including a mock committee session and a workshop on how best to prepare delegates for Model United Nations conferences. For more information, please contact Elsa Schultze.
What are your policies on delegate conduct?
Sponsors are responsible for making sure that they and their delegates are familiar with all conference policies, found here. VAMUN XXXI is not liable for delegate conduct during the conference, or for supervising delegates outside of committee sessions or VAMUN-sponsored events, nor will any staff prevent a delegate from leaving a committee session or event.
What types of tours do you offer?
We can arrange tours of the University of Virginia grounds, and can provide information on other historic tours available in the area, such as Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello. For more information, contact Alex Webb, USG for Business and Public Relations.
I have other questions.
Please email the Secretary-General, Elsa Schultze, with further questions.