Model United Nations FAQs

• The first team of the National Model United Nations was started at Rider College in 1968 by Dr. Kenneth L. Maxwell of the Department of Political Science.
• From 1969 to 1973, Dr. Chau T. Phan (then known as Dr. Phan T. Chau, therefore the nickname "PT") of the Political Science Department joined Dr. Maxwell as Co-Advisor. From December 1973 until May 2003, Dr. Chau T. Phan was the sole Program Director/Faculty Advisor.
• The 2006 Rider NMUN Team is the 39th Team we have fielded continuously since 1968. We have also been a long-time Institutional Affiliate of the National Collegiate Conference Association, Inc., which is the official organization of the National Model United Nations program.

Any matriculated student in any college of the university, regardless of major, with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 may join as a candidate.

No specific prerequisite, other than the GPA minimum, is required. However, prospective team members are highly recommended to complete Global Politics (POL 215), Nationalism in World Politics (POL 225), and/ or Global Issues (POL 315).

Enthusiasm, cooperativeness, punctuality, honor, initiative, self-reliance, and commitment to the team's success. Model UN is not a place for domineering types. Members will be chosen by the team leadership (in consultation with the faculty advisor) by November. No current team member is automatically considered a team member for the following year until without completing the try-out process again (as every other applicant). As Model UN is neither a club nor a required class, all decisions about team membership are final within the team and not appealable to anyone else. 

A new Rider NMUN Team starts immediately after the final meeting of the previous year's Team meeting. Members planning to return in the Fall constitute the core of the new Team. Recruiting for the new Team starts during the final weeks of the Spring semester and resumes in earnest after the Fall semester starts. Members begin to learn the abbreviated rules of procedure during the Fall semester, when we do light simulation sessions, with returning members coaching new members.

• Once the team is consolidated after the try-out process concludes, team leaders arrange to meet in person at least once before the Fall semester ends. This allows team members to get to know one another in advance and develop a positive team atmosphere. In November, team leaders contact team members to create a prospective partner list and committee assignments. During Winter Break, several meetings occur to share important information with the team, including key calendar dates for the Spring semester and position paper writing workshops. Until the Conference, the team meets regularly as an evening class for 3 hours each week during the Spring semester.
• Committee assignments start in December, and most preliminary research on committee topics is done during Winter Break in January.
• During the Spring semester, before the Conference, we have weekly formal simulations, with speakers’ lists and caucusing periods. The faculty advisor stays in the background to observe, correct factual and committee-mandate mistakes, help student delegates stay in character, and make recommendations.
• Our training emphasizes mastery of the rules of procedure, being in character in representing one's assigned country, professional conduct, creative diplomacy in caucusing and drafting working papers/resolutions, and teamwork.

Students receive 3 credits for POL 317, Model United Nations in the Department of Government, Politics and Law in the Spring semester and may repeat the course a second year/multiple years. The whole team debriefs with the faculty advisor during the class period after the Team returns from New York, and each member provides detailed feedback based on their whole NMUN experience. Then next year's Team is formed.

For a complete answer, refer to Rules of Conduct.

For a complete answer, refer to Dress Code.

POL 317 Model United Nations is a three-credit course, and due to the fact that the team represents a different UN member state each year, the course can be repeated by students. Team leaders are elected by the team and register for POL 490: Independent Research and Study. Unlike POL 317, POL 490 must be approved by the College of Arts and Sciences associate dean. A member enrolled in POL 490 must submit a lengthy research paper at the end of the semester on some aspect of the country's foreign policy, which is represented by the Team that year. Consult the current year catalog or the Department of Government, Politics and Law chairperson for details.

Team leaders are elected by the current team, with advice from departing team leaders from among those who indicate that they will return to Rider University for the next full academic year. Leadership consists of one head delegate and two co-leaders. Leaders are chosen for their collegial and leadership qualities. They also need to be outstanding delegates with superb writing and speaking skills. 

There are specific steps on how to run for team leadership and how the voting procedure works, outlined by the leadership and the faculty advisor to the team at the end of the academic year.

Our program is strongly supported by the Administration of Rider University and our NMUN alumni, who highly value what we now call "The Rider NMUN Experience." We have a fairly big Model UN alumni website, which features all former Rider NMUN Teams. We have an active network of alumni. Each year, during Homecoming Weekend, a Rider Model UN Alumni meeting is completed with a UN flag-raising ceremony. We also have three Rider Model UN endowed funds to which alumni have contributed. The funds’ earnings help our team members meet some of their incidental expenses. Rider University pays the travel costs, hotel bill, affiliation, and delegate fees. Our Team does not traditionally engage in fundraising for itself.