Saint Francis University

Senators are elected or appointed to the Student Government Association according to their class, academic school, and campus organizations. There are many ways that a student can become a part of the Student Government Association.

1.) Become Elected – In order to be elected according to your class or academic school, one must complete a petition of 25 signatures from their respective constituencies. For example, if you wanted to run for the South Side Senator position, your petition would need 25 signatures from students who live on the South Side of campus. Elections are held every first Tuesday in November, and terms run from January 1 to December 31. Please pay attention for the deadlines of Senator Petitions.

2.) Become Appointed by an Organization – Many organizations receive an appointed Senator position within the SGA. Students have the opportunity to find out which organizations receive an automatic Senator position, and you could then inquire within your organization and expressed desire to be appointed to the SGA. Organizations that can appoint representatives include:

• Campus Ministry
• International Student Union
• Student Athletic Advisory Committee
• Student Activities Organization
• Inter-Fraternity Coucil/Inter-Sorority Council
• Residence Life
• Multicultural Awareness Society

3.) Become Appointed after the Election – the SGA understands that all college students become extremely busy and forgetful at times. Usually after the election, a few Senate seats are still vacant. If this is the case and you are interested in an available position, you can still apply! The process for appointment is as followed:

1. Fill out a Senator Application form
2. Turn it in to a member of the Executive Board
3. Present your desire to become a Senator in front of the Senate
4. Senate must pass your application by a majority vote

There are numerous advantages to become a part of the Student Government Association. Involvement with student government helps students gain skills that will greatly benefit all careers. Diplomacy, teamwork, leadership, communication, and other skills can all be improved with your membership in the SGA. In addition to these perks, becoming a part of the SGA is a great way to make lasting connections with faculty, staff, alumni, professionals, and of course, other students. Most importantly, becoming a part of the SGA allows you to directly voice your constituent’s concerns, and it gives you the opportunity to directly find efficient ways to address student problems. If you are interested, feel free to contact the SGA Office for more information.