About us

The Student Government Association consists of nineteen voting members and functions as both an active liaison between the students and administration and a project-oriented organization that mobilizes students to address campus and community concerns. Positions are obtained by election or application.

The SGA Council

The executive committee is comprised of ten SGA officers and the faculty sponsor. Responsibilities include long- range planning, agenda setting, and general supervision of projects and activities of the SGA. The executive committee should seek to maintain personal integrity and a high level of commitment to Christ and to service of the student body. All SGA Council members are elected in the spring semester and receive a stipend for their service to the student body.

SGA President (Stipend) Rank: A

The resident chairs both the Executive Committee and the Student Government Association. Serving as the primary liaison between students and administration, the resident's duties include meeting with the SGA advisor, the university president, the Executive Committee and the Student Government Association. The president is responsible for maintaining organizational control over student government activities in the interest of accomplishing the goals and purposes of the SGA and meeting the needs of the student body. The SGA president sits on the Student Life Council (Faculty/Staff Committee).

SGA Executive Vice President (Stipend) Rank: B

Serving as the general adjunct, the executive vice president assumes the role of the president in the president's absence. The vice president is the SGA parliamentarian, chairs the Constitutional Evaluation Committee and oversees the SGA senate. The executive vice president also directs the freshmen class in selecting a sponsor and the election of class officers. In the case of a vacancy in the office of president, the vice president assumes the duties of President.

SGA Vice President of Communications (Stipend) Rank: B

The vice president of communications is responsible for the maintenance of all official SGA documents including minutes, agendas, motions, memos, and correspondence. The vice president of communications also chairs the Voting Committee.

SGA Vice President of Finance (Stipend) Rank: A

The vice president of finance oversees all financial transactions of the Student Government Association. This includes preparation and presentation of the annual budget, monitoring SGA expenses, and regular reporting to SGA. The vice president of finance chairs the SGA Finance Committee.

SGA Vice President of Activities (Stipend) Rank: A

As chairperson of the Student Activities Committee (SAC), the vice president of activities works closely with the director of student activities and the Student Life Office in planning and implementing many of the co-curricular programs on campus. The goals of SAC-sponsored activities are to improve the quality of campus life, to foster community development, and promote the educational goals of the university.

Student Chaplain Rank: B

The student chaplain is appointed by the university chaplain to serve on SGA and represent the needs of the student body to the department of Spiritual Life and Ministry. The student chaplain assists with chapel, Cadence, Spiritual Emphasis Week, and other programs concerning the spiritual development of students.

Senator for Clubs (Stipend) Rank: B

The senator of clubs acts as a key resource for all SWU clubs. Responsibilities include supervising elections of club officers and sponsors, maintaining records of club meeting minutes, encouraging and advising clubs regarding activities and fund raising, and reporting to SGA concerning the status of clubs and their activities. The senator of clubs sits on the SGA Finance Committee.

Senator at Large (Stipend) Rank: B

The senator-at-large acts as a special assistant to the SGA president. Responsibilities include chairing the food committee, representing the student body in fulfilling social amenities, coordinating service projects, sitting on the Finance Committee, supervising special projects, and handling committee obligations as assigned by the president.

SGA Representatives

The SGA Representatives present the needs and concerns of their constituency to the SGA; however, their input on the overall mission and goals of SGA is also important. Like their SGA Council associates, representatives should seek to maintain personal integrity and a high level of commitment to Christ and to service of the student body. Most representatives are elected in the spring semester.

Class Presidents (4 positions) Rank: B

Class presidents lead all class meetings, provide leadership to their class executive committees, and are voting members of the SGA. In addition to their executive responsibilities (see Class Officers section), they are the primary spokespersons of their classes to the SGA. Elections for the sophomore, junior, and senior classes are held each spring with freshman elections early in the fall semester.

Minority Student Representative Rank: B

The minority student representative is responsible for voicing the concerns of minority students to SGA and working with the appropriate SGA and Student Life personnel to address issues and provide activities and programs for minority students.

Commuter Representative Rank: B

The commuter representative is responsible for voicing the concerns of commuter students to SGA and working with the appropriate SGA and Student Life personnel to provide activities and programs for commuters.

Residence Hall Representatives (2 positions) Rank: B

Two residence hall representatives are elected to express the needs and concerns of resident students to the SGA. One representative is elected from Stuart-Bennett and Childs Halls and one representative is elected from the apartments.

SGA Committees

Constitutional Evaluation Committee (5 positions) Rank: C

The Constitutional Evaluation Committee interprets the meaning of the constitution when questions arise and studies the constitution to make recommendations to the SGA regarding changes as needed. The Constitutional Evaluation Committee is chaired by the SGA executive vice president.

Finance Committee (5 positions) Rank: C

The Finance Committee monitors the use of all student agency funds by student organizations. It also proposes allotments for all SGA organizations and clubs. The SGA Finance Committee is chaired by the SGA vice president of finance.

Student Activities Committee (6 positions) Rank: C

The Student Activities Committee (SAC) plans and sponsors activities for the student body. Activities include concerts, movies, off-campus events, games, banquets, and parties. The goal of SAC-sponsored activities is to contribute to the quality of campus life, to foster community development, and to promote the educational goals of the University. The SAC is chaired by the vice president of activities.

Voting Committee (9 positions) Rank: C

The Voting Committee is responsible for all voting-related matters brought before the student body (SGA and class elections, homecoming court, faculty and staff of the year, etc.). The SGA vice president of communications chairs the Voting Committee.

Homecoming Committee (9-10 positions) Rank: B/C

The Homecoming Committee is comprised of the chairperson (Rank B), an assistant chairperson (optional, Rank C), and two representatives from each class (Rank C). The committee selects the homecoming theme, manages the budget, plans and implements activities, decorates for the homecoming chapel and court presentation, and organizes the court dinner.

Student/Faculty Committees (22 positions) Rank: C

The faculty and administration of Southern Wesleyan University greatly value the input of students in the university's decision-making process. As a result, students are invited to participate in several important committees that affect the direction of the entire institution. Students are appointed to the committees by SGA and ratified by the committee chairpersons.

Class Officers (12 positions) Rank: B/C

Each class elects four officers (Executive Committee) to provide leadership for their class and represent them on the SGA. The president (Rank B) leads all class meetings, provides leadership to the class Executive Committee, and is a voting member of the SGA. The vice president (Rank C) assists the president and serves as the president in the president's absence. The treasurer (Rank C) oversees all financial matters of the class. The secretary (Rank C) handles all correspondence and promotion and keeps an accurate record of all class proceedings. The Executive Committee of each class is responsible for holding meetings, setting goals, planning activities, raising funds, and motivating class enthusiasm and participation.