University coalitions for global health exist at many universities in the United States and serve to coordinate the various global health activities and efforts taking place on campus. Each coalition serves as an umbrella organisation for pre-existing university groups, centres, and faculty working on global health related issues. In general, faculty and student leaders will meet periodically to coordinate activities, co-sponsor events, share research and information, internship and travel opportunities and generally create a forum for the exchange of ideas and the strengthening of the campus’s global health movement and voice. Coalitions aims to serve as a communication liaison between the university and the community, as well as the interface between nationwide campaign efforts to promote global health awareness, education and advocacy, and the growing constituency of university students and faculty.

The UCGH-Resource Group assists campus to create their UCGH membership by making initial contact with students, faculty and administrators and facilitating the initial collaboration. A Campus Organiser will be selected by the group to act as the liaison to the nationwide UCGH effort and the UCGH Resource Group. Some activities might include, with full support from the Resource Group:

• taking the lead in organising events on campus and with the community for national global health campaigns;
• co-sponsoring panels, speakers and other global health-related events;
• working with community groups to raise awareness of global health issues;
• creating a university-wide calendar and/or listserv to publicise global health events happening on campus;
• organising a university-wide awareness day around a global health issue, with supporting activities;
• publicising and creating new internship, research and travel opportunities for students interested in global health; and
• co-writing articles or opinion pieces in campus and community newspapers on issues of global health.

Support from the Resource Group can be requested by individual campuses at any time, and may include:

• access to speakers bureau;
• development of toolkits for campaigns;
• technology support for campaigns: email alerts, calendar of events, newsletter;
• access to research documents on campaign theme;
• networking & professional development opportunities; and
• workshops on advocacy & action.

Global Health Campus Organisers meet face-to face to conduct planning and co-ordination. In May 2005, Global Health Campus Organisers from around the country met in Washington, D.C. for a global health conference and organiser training in preparation for the Fall Campaign 2005 - 'Rx for Child Survival: A Global Health Challenge.'

The UCGH website aims to help support planning and coordination. It offers resources such as a list of global health organisers, guides for organising and creating an action plan, and background information about the Resource Group. The Resource Group also hopes to provide all coalitions with a ‘front-page’ web page presence to serve as a central place for university and nationwide communication on important global health issues and campaign efforts.

Health

The Resource Group is a coalition of global health organisations. The UNICEF Campus Initiative is a grassroots movement that affirms the power of college students to make a difference in the life of a child. The Student Campaign for Child Survival is a national advocacy movement that works with students across the country to raise awareness and promote better policies regarding child survival as part of a broader global justice agenda. The Global Health Council is dedicated to advancing policies and programmes that improve health around the world. The Council’s University Program seeks to engage universities and students in the broader global health policy dialogue and increase global health action on campuses and in communities. SPW is an international development charity working in Africa and Asia. Through community and school-based programmes they work to empower young people, to help them get involved in the decisions that shape their future. The Student Global AIDS Campaign (SGAC) is a national movement with more than 85 chapters at high schools, colleges, and universities across the United States committed to bringing an end to AIDS in the U.S. and around the world through education, informed advocacy, media work, and direct action.