Model UN Conference 2017

High School Students step into the shoes of delegates from 193 UN member states to debate some of the world’s most troubling issues. The “delegates” prepare draft resolutions, plot strategy, negotiate with supporters and adversaries, resolve conflicts and navigate the UN’s rules of procedures to promote international cooperation, design agreements, and resolve problems.

UNAR locates hotels and makes special price arrangements for out-of-town delegates. Fabulous meals are provided in the dining facilities on the beautiful campus of St. John Fisher College. Meals are included in the conference registration fee. UNAR locates and invites a UN official keynote and a dozen plus professional speakers to present information to committees on the pressing topics on the floor at the UN itself including the Security Council.

What is Model UN?

Model UN is a UNA-USA program that teaches hundreds of high school students how the United Nations works by giving them the opportunity to conduct a Model UN where they work out their own solutions to real international problems. For over 40 years, UNAR has sponsored the UNA-USA program by holding an annual Model UN Conference in the Rochester area. For more information about Model UN in general, please visit the UNA-USA Model UN website.

50/50 Grant Program

UNAR introduced the 50/50 Matching Grant which allows MUN Club Advisors and Students to apply for a grant for 50% of student registration fees or 50% club transportation to participate in the UNAR MUN Conference in March 2017. The remaining 50% is provided by the individual, club or school.

The 50/50 funds are provided by Student UNAR delegates fund raising efforts through a contest called “Jar Wars”. Students raise money by donating pocket change to support an international charity and their fellow students.

Awards are granted based upon the following criteria:

  • Expressed need
  • New delegates
  • Experienced delegates
  • 3 student awards per school

$2,000 total per year is awarded overall: $1,000 to support individual registration fees and $1,000 to support transportation costs.

Model UN Chair Letters

General Assembly

General Assembly Plenary
Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural (SHC)
Territories and Foreign Intervention (TFI)
Special Political (SpecPol)
Disarmament (Disarm)
UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
United Nations Development Programme

Economic and Social Council

Economic and Social Council Plenary (ECOSOC)
UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
UN Environmental Programme (UNEP)
UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
World Health Organization (WHO)
Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ)

Crises and Specialties

UN Security Council (UNSC)
International Criminal Court (ICC)
Press Corps
United States Forum on the Cold War (1962)
45th Revolutionary Committee of the Great Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Model UN Conference 2016

UNAR-MUN-2016

MUN 2016 Chair Letters

General Assembly

Economic and Social Council

Crises and Specialties

Model UN Conference 2015

During the 43rd annual UNAR-sponsored Model UN conference, student delegates offered solutions to some of the world’s toughest problems. These individuals sat in tense committee meetings debating topics such as environmental sustainability, nuclear disarmament and global health epidemics. Much like UN delegates, they were expected to adhere to their countries’ policies without sacrificing productivity. Everyone was up for the challenge.

Austin Clyde, an award-winning delegate, chairperson, and currently a freshman at the University of Chicago states that “In a connected world, policies and social change are not isolated. Change is global. Model UN engages us through diplomacy and delegation to accept all ideas for the sake of understanding. Model UN then urges us to critically explore all of the global impacts, and to create action for the welfare of people, not states or agendas.”

Kristen O’Brien, long-time Model UN Club advisor at Webster Schroeder High School contends, “Model UN helps students to become culturally aware citizens of the world. It allows students to see the problems our world faces and think about how to effectively problem solve some of the toughest issues we face as a global community. Students take a leadership role where they not only benefit by learning and practicing essential skills such as collaboration and public speaking but in the end our communities benefit by having active, involved citizens walk across the stage on graduation day.”

Vidhya Jeyadev, a Brighton student and long-time Model UN delegate, chairperson AND Secretary-General remarks that

“Model UN has not only given me some of the best memories of high school, but has given me the passion and confidence to pursue International Relations. It has taught me about the world.”