Student Senate

Frequently Asked Questions

If you want to know, odds are someone else does too.

What is Student Senate?

Student Senate is the officially recognized voice of the Student Body at MSUM.  It strives to be a democratic forum, generating opinions in the form of motions that represent the will of the Student Body.  It advocates to the administration of the university, MnSCU, local, state, and federal governments.  Student Senate also implements projects that will help further the sense of community and involvement on campus, helping make things run further for the Students on our campus.

How Are Senators Elected?

Student Senators are elected each winter and spring for academic or residential based seats.  One half of the Senate is made up of Senators representing each college, the other representing the different geographic areas.  Anyone may file to be on the ballot and winners of the elections become Senators the next semester.  Executive Board members go through a similar procedure in the spring of each year.  For more information regarding requirements of Senators and Executive Board members, please refer to the Student Senate constitution.

How Does the Senate Work?

The Senate is broken into five committees: Campus Affairs, Committee on Committees, Legislative/Internal Affairs, Marketing, and Tuition & Fees Oversight.  Each of these committees serves the dual role of debating issues and creating motions to present before the Senate as a whole and serving as workgroups to implement projects.  Any student may serve on a Senate committee.  the chairs of each of these committees meet as a cabinet guided by the president to give direction to the overall work of the Senate.  the Executive Board also meets weekly to discuss logistical issues.  The Senate meets as a whole every Thursday at 5:00 PM.

What Is MSUSA?

MSUSA, the Minnesota State University Student Association, is a collection of the 7 state universities student governments working together to influence MnSCU, state, and federal policy.  Each student body president serves on the Board of Directors, and there are also 4 At-Large Board positions.  This body directs the organization.  A State Chair is elected each spring.  MSUSA's offices are a few blocks from the capitol, with a full time staff advocating student positions on issues.  For more information, visit their website. 

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