About SGA
What is the Student Government Association?
The Student Government Association (SGA) is the university's student government and official student representative organization. The Student Government Association is composed of an internally-selected representative from each of the recognized student organizations on campus. As such, the SGA is the recognized student government body on campus.
Representation in SGA is optional for the organizations; however, in order to be eligible for SGA funding, an organization must designate an SGA representative and must regularly attend SGA meetings.
When does SGA meet?
Meetings are held weekly on Tuesdays during the fall and spring semesters or as often as determined necessary by the membership. During the summer, meetings are generally held once per month. For exact meeting times, dates and room numbers please contact Student Life Office.
Who runs SGA?
The President, Vice-President - Committee Coordinator, Vice-President - Student Outreach and Communications, and Recording Secretary are elected each April by a majority vote. These four officers comprise the Student Government Association Executive Council. Each serves a one-year term of office, commencing on the day of the annual Student Life Banquet, which is held in late April.
All members of the SGA Executive Council must officially represent a recognized UHCL student organization. As such, each SGA leader has an equal voice and vote with all other SGA representatives.
What's the SGA quorum?
A quorum (50% + 1) of SGA members must be in attendance to conduct official business. During the summer, a quorum will be based on the number of student organizations which are active during June, July and August to conduct SGA business
Who Advisers SGA?
The Student Government Association is advised by the Student Life Staff on budget, event funding and operational matters, and by the Associate Vice President/Dean of Students on administrative matters.
What are the functions of SGA?
The Student Government Association has three primary functions:
Provide input to university administration
The Student Government Association, as a general rule, provides input to the university administration in the following ways:
- When an organization encounters a problem or policy which is causing some difficulty, confusion or misunderstanding, and after attempts to informally elicit change have failed, the organization's representative can seek the support of the Student Government Association to demonstrate more widespread concern for the issue to the administration.
A resolution may be passed and sent through the Office of the Associate Vice President/Dean of Students to the appropriate administrative offices. Issues may also be brought to the Student Government Association by persons other than organization officers and members.
- When the university is contemplating a change in policy or needs student opinion on a particular issue, this information is passed along to the Student Government Association. The members in turn discuss it and provide ideas and suggestions to the appropriate administrative office concerning the issue.
Appoint/elect students to university committees
Elections for student positions to university committees shall be announced to the Student Government Association and publicized throughout the university by the Student Life staff and the SGA Executive Council. All UHCL students are eligible for committee membership
Student representatives to the five shared governance committees and all general university and advisory committees are elected. Student representatives to the various advisory boards and to ad hoc committees or task forces are appointed by the SGA Executive Council. All student representatives are selected from among those students submitting applications.
Elections - Elections are held in mid-April and early September of each year. The Committee Brochure and application forms are made available to interested students at various locations on campus.
Allocate organizational funds
The amount of funding available to the Student Government Association for each academic year is determined by recommendation from the Student Life Council to the President in the spring of the preceding school year. SGA submits a request for funds to be budgeted from Student Service Fees for this purpose.
These funds are to be used in subsidizing or sponsoring those events that are designed to compliment the further development of the organization or program area. Examples of such expenditures include speakers, seminars, workshops, special events, and conference travel.
The Student Government Association controls the allocation of these funds and has established procedures by which student organizations can request money. These procedures are discussed in detail in Section Three - Funding Guidelines.
How do I get involved with SGA?
Get in touch with Student Life Office.
