• The leader and primary voice of SGA.
• Appoints and provides direction to Executive Branch officers.
• Works with other SGA members to develop and implement initiatives to improve the education and experience of UMBC students.
• Attends weekly meetings and other meetings necessary to advance initiatives.

The SGA President takes the lead in setting SGA’s agenda, tone and strategy for the year; represents the entire undergraduate student body on formal occasions like Convocation and Commencement and in behind-the-scenes meetings about campus policies and plans; and manages a staff several layers deep, with over 100 members. The role of President is extraordinarily challenging, partly because you’re called upon to be so many things at once: a diplomat, a public speaker, a masterful organizer of people and information, a motivator and a mentor, all on top of your ongoing responsibilities as a student, a friend, etc.  But the experience can be deeply rewarding and teach lessons for a lifetime.

The Executive Vice President assists the President in all of these tasks, has powers and responsibilities designated by the President and consistent with the SGA Constitution and Bylaws, and assumes the office of President in the event that the President cannot fulfill his/her duties.

NOTE: The President and Executive Vice President are elected as a ticket.  To run for either office, you must have a running mate.

Vice President for Student Organizations

• Promotes and supports UMBC’s student organizations through programs, services and work with campus partners.
• Serves as a voting member on the Finance Board and represents SGA on the Student Organizations Committee.
•  Attends weekly meetings starting at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday with the Finance Board, as well as with the Executive Cabinet (to be scheduled).

The VPSO guides the department of Student Organization Supports in providing information and help to UMBC’s 250+ student organizations. The VPSO also serves as a member of the SGA Finance Board and of the UMBC Student Organizations Committee, a student-staff group that manages the student organization recognition and registration processes.  If you’re the VPSO, you’ll spend a lot of time each week in meetings, brainstorming and making plans and decisions with SGA colleagues, other students and staff.

Treasurer

• Manages SGA’s finances and financial processes for student organizations.
• Works with the Finance Board to allocate funds and develop an annual budget.
• Attends weekly meetings of the Executive Cabinet and other meetings necessary to advance initiatives.
• Is a voting member of the Finance Board which meets at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday.

The Treasurer is SGA’s chief financial officer, managing and tracking roughly $1,000,000 in Student Activity Fee funds. This requires both diligent record-keeping and skill in communicating with the many people and organizations relying on the funds. The Treasurer provides training to all student organization Treasurers, serves as the first point of contact for student organizations’ funding requests, and serves as a member of the SGA Finance Board.

Senator

There are 11 Senate positions available.

• With other SGA members, develops and implements initiatives to improve the education and experience of UMBC students.
• Participates in discussions and decision-making.
• Connects with students.
• Attends weekly meetings starting at 5:30 p.m. every Monday, and other meetings necessary to advance initiatives.

The Senate is SGA’s engine for collecting ideas from students and turning them into campus change initiatives. Members meet weekly to discuss and develop initiatives, talk with campus administrators and take positions on issues. But most of the Senate’s work takes place between the weekly meetings. Members spend time talking with students, representing all undergraduates on university committees, meeting in project working groups and doing the follow-up needed to get initiatives off the ground. It can be both challenging and exhilarating to serve as a Senator because, by necessity, you learn so much about UMBC’s structure and decision-making processes as well as many specific issues.

NOTE: The Senate is elected “at large.” The 11 candidates with largest number of votes will be the winners (as long as they receive votes on at least 5% of all ballots).

Finance Board Representative

There are 5 Finance Board positions.

• Allocates funds to support student organizations.
• Attends weekly meetings starting at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday, as well as other regular and special meetings.

The Finance Board provides funds to support student organization activities: $230,000 this year. Most work is done at weekly meetings, where student organization leaders present requests and Finance Board members ask questions and make decisions. Finance Board members have to wrestle with complex issues: applying university policies, striking a balance between supporting amazing events and stretching funds across the entire year, thinking about the precedent-setting impact of their decisions. But they have a lot of fun too, partly because it’s so interactive and engaging.

NOTE: The Finance Board is elected “at large.” The 5 candidates with largest number of votes will be the winners (as long as they receive votes on at least 5% of all ballots).