Duties and Powers of SGA Officers and Members

SGA president

Qualifications for President:

  • Must have experience in a significant campus leadership role, such as being a representative, an executive board member, or holding a recognized leadership role in Student Government Association.

Key Responsibilities of the President:

  • Preside over meetings: Lead and facilitate all meetings of the SGA.

  • Appoint committees: Have the authority to create committees and appoint their chairpersons.

  • Committee membership: Be a member of all SGA committees.

  • Orderly conduct: Ensure that all meetings and functions are conducted properly.

  • Special meetings: Call special meetings when necessary.

  • Student Fee Committee: Serve as a co-chair for the Student Fee Committee.

  • Agenda preparation: Prepare and distribute the agenda before meetings.

  • Club presidents meetings: Attend and participate in all meetings for club presidents.

  • Spokesperson: Represent and speak on behalf of the SGA in regard to policies and actions.

  • Voting: Cast a vote in case of a tie after a period of discussion. The president’s vote will break the tie.

  • CCSG meetings: Attend monthly meetings with the Commonwealth Council of Student Governments (CCSG).

  • Expressing campus votes: Represent the campus vote at CCSG meetings, keeping in mind the opinions of the delegation.

  • Transition: Brief the new president on all responsibilities.

SGA Vice President

The vice president of the Student Government Association (SGA) plays a key supporting role, assisting the president and stepping in during their absence. Here's a breakdown of the key duties:

Key Responsibilities of the Vice President:

  • Act as president in their absence: The vice president is authorized to exercise all the powers of the president and perform their duties if the president is absent or unable to act.

  • Additional duties: Carry out any other responsibilities as assigned by the SGA president.

  • Support for other officers: Step in and assume the duties of any other officer when they are absent.

  • Attend CCSG meetings: Participate in the monthly meetings with the Commonwealth Council of Student Governments (CCSG), including attending at least one meeting at a designated Commonwealth campus.

  • Transition: Brief the new vice president on all of their duties and responsibilities.

SGA secretary

The Secretary of the Student Government Association (SGA) has an important role in supporting the organization’s administrative functions. Here's a breakdown of the main duties:

Key Responsibilities of the Secretary:

  • Acting president in absence of vice president: As the third in line, the Secretary is vested with the powers of the president if both the president and vice president are unable to fulfill their duties due to absence, resignation, or inability to act.

  • Distribute SGA documents: Use Microsoft Teams to distribute SGA-related documents to members.

  • Record meeting minutes: Accurately record the minutes of all SGA meetings, ensuring ample copies are available for distribution.

  • Prepare and publish minutes: After each SGA meeting, prepare the minutes and send them to the Student Affairs staff assistant for publication.

  • Handle correspondence: Manage all communication related to SGA business.

  • Maintain SGA files: Organize and maintain the SGA’s files in Teams.

  • Serve as parliamentarian: Act as the parliamentarian for SGA meetings, ensuring that meetings are conducted according to parliamentary procedure as needed.

  • Attend CCSG meetings: Participate in the monthly CCSG meetings at University Park, with at least one meeting attended at a designated Commonwealth campus.

  • Transition: Brief the incoming secretary on all their responsibilities.

The Secretary’s role is pivotal in keeping everything running smoothly from an organizational standpoint, ensuring that all records are kept up to date and accessible, and that communications are handled efficiently.

SGA treasurer/business manager

The Treasurer/Business Manager position in the Student Government Association (SGA) is a key financial role, responsible for managing funds and ensuring transparency and accountability. Here’s a summary of the main duties:

Key Responsibilities of the Treasurer/Business Manager:

  • Maintain SGA/club funds: Work closely with the SGA Co-Advisor, Jill Bender,  to manage the finances of both the SGA and any associated clubs.

  • Weekly deposits: Ensure that any club funds are deposited weekly.

  • Update clubs on account balances: Provide clubs with updates on their account balances when requested.

  • Record and upload funding approvals: Keep detailed records of all funding approvals and upload them to Teams or SharePoint for auditing purposes.

  • Attend CCSG meetings: Participate in the monthly CCSG meetings at University Park, attending at least one meeting per year at a designated Commonwealth campus.

This role requires a strong attention to detail and organizational skills, ensuring that all financial activities are transparent and documented.

SGA representatives

The SGA Representatives play an essential role in representing the student body and contributing to the success of SGA activities. Here's a breakdown of their responsibilities:

Key Responsibilities of SGA Representatives:

  • Attend SGA-sponsored events: Representatives are expected to attend SGA-sponsored events during their assigned times. They are permitted one absence, except in cases of extenuating circumstances, which should be communicated in advance.

  • Participate in SGA meetings: Be present at all SGA meetings.

  • Serve on committees: Serve faithfully on all committees to which they are appointed, contributing to the work of SGA.

  • Constituency representation: Act as a liaison for their constituency, consulting with and representing the students to the best of their ability.

Representatives play a vital role in ensuring the student body’s interests are heard and acted upon, while also being involved in the operational work of the SGA.

Penalties for unexcused absences

Attendance and Notification:

  • Notification requirement: If a member needs to miss an SGA meeting, office hour, or event, they must submit formal notification, such as a written excuse. This will be documented in the minutes for reference.

Penalties for Unexcused Absences:

  1. Second miss: A warning will be issued.

  2. Third miss: Loss of voting privileges for the next two meetings.

  3. Fourth miss: The member will be removed from their position.

Late Policy:

  • Tardiness: Two late arrivals to any SGA-sponsored event or meeting will count as one unexcused absence.

These policies help ensure that all members stay accountable and involved, which is crucial for maintaining the effectiveness and integrity of the SGA.