Some members of the St. Thomas’ Undergraduate Student Government feel the university community needs more knowledge on what their positions do as the 2022-23 elections draw near; Intent to run packets for the upcoming election are due Wednesday, April 13.

Amended: The due date for intent to run packets for specific positions was extended to Wednesday, April 20.

Each USG position, whether it be executive board or general council, is open to any current first-year, sophomore or junior St. Thomas student. To complete the intent to run packet, which can be found on the USG TommieLink page, students will need to obtain 50 signatures from St. Thomas community members to endorse their candidacy.

“A lot of the reasons individuals and students are apprehensive and applying for certain roles during the elections is because they’re not necessarily sure what already goes on within the department,” senior and current VP of Academic Affairs Rosie Salem said.

Salem, who is a current e-board member, highlighted eight open e-board positions: president, executive vice president, vice president of academic affairs, vice president of administrative affairs, vice president of equity and inclusion, vice president of financial affairs, vice president of communications and public relations and vice president of student engagement.

The open general council positions include: sophomore, junior and senior class presidents; two class senators for the sophomore, junior and senior classes; one commuter senator, legislative affairs senator, neighborhood senators, two residential senators, a transfer senator and a Greater Minnesota/Out-of-State Senator. First-year general council positions will be elected in a special election after the class of 2026 arrives on campus next fall.

As for the time commitment involved with joining USG, the general council and e-board meet bi-weekly during convo hour to discuss topics on the agenda and vote on finance requests. On off weeks, students are also able to participate in committee meetings.

“The whole purpose is that during the off weeks that we don’t have meetings, everyone in the general council, in their respective positions, attend their own committee meetings and senate meetings to kind of get the ball rolling on various different parts of the university,” Salem said.

Salem encouraged more students to get involved with USG and submit their intent to run packets by Wednesday.

She said what it takes to be in USG is a person “that’s willing to represent the student body, ensure that they are upholding the mission of the university as well as their core values.”

For more information on specific positions, Salem said students can come to office hours at the USG office on the third floor of the Anderson Student Center or reach out to her via email at rosie.salem@stthomas.edu.

The eight e-board position duties include:

President

A. To preside at all meetings of the USG.
B. To serve in an ex-officio capacity as chief representative of the USG and the student body.
C. To create any temporary committees deemed necessary and to appoint student representatives to existing committees if the need arises pending the approval of the council.
D. To file a State of USG Report at the end of the first semester and at the end of the term.
D. To review receipts following Campus Wide events and Conference & Competitions to assure they are related and in accordance to the request and the University’s reimbursement policy.
E. To serve on the Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee and the Budget Advisory Committee. Section

Executive Vice President

A. To preside at meetings of the USG in the absence or incapacity of the President.
B. To succeed to the Presidency when the office becomes vacant by physical circumstances, resignation or removal.
C. To attend University functions as a representative of the students or in the case of the absence of the President.
D. To serve as the manager of the USG strategic goals.
E. To serve as Chair of the Senate.
F. To serve as Chair of the Public Safety Committee.
G. To sit on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
H. To plan a goal setting session for the Fall and Spring retreats.

Vice President of Academic Affairs

A. To address and enhance academic issues concerning to the University.
B. To serve on the USG Academic Taskforce and to work with the Senators who are working on academic issues.
C. To serve or appoint a student representative to new academic related committees of the University (either short or long-term committees).
D. To work in collaboration with the Dean of Students and any other administrator involved with academic life at the University.
E. To appoint a student representative and/or serve on the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee with the approval of the Elections and Credentials Committee.
F. To prepare and facilitate the William B. Malevich and Distinguished Educator Award to a worthy staff member or administrator with the Executive Board.
G. To serve as Chair of the Elections and Credentials Committee.
1. To convene the Elections and Credentials Committee after petitions or incompetence are received to hear such cases for determination of the validity against members of the general council.
2. To certify eligibility of candidates as per rules in Article II, Section 1 of the USG Bylaws and Article II, Section 2 of the USG Constitution.
3. To certify members after every semester to be in good standing with the GPA requirement and other qualifications.
4. To appoint students as at-large student representatives to various University and USG committees as well as Board of Trustees Liaisons.

Vice President of Administrative Affairs

A. To take attendance at USG meetings and keep records on members’ attendance.
B. To serve as Parliamentarian and advise the President on issues pertaining to procedure.
C. To serve as the interpreter of the Constitution and Bylaws of the USG.
D. To record, publish and distribute General Council and Executive Board minutes and agendas. E. To update the Constitution and Bylaws as needed.
F. To manage the USG office.
G. To serve as Chair of the Dining Services Committee.

Vice President of Equity and Inclusion

A. To serve as a student representative to the Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees.
B. To work in collaboration with the University Associate Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, the Office of International Students and Scholars, and Student Diversity and Inclusion Services.
C. To work in collaboration with the USG Spirituality, Sustainability, and Diversity Committee Chairs, and the International Students Representative.
D. To serve as the co-Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

Vice President of Financial Affairs

A. To manage and oversee the planning of the USG budget.
1. To record all income expenditures.
2. To present the finalized semester budget to the General Council for a vote.
B. To serve as Chair of the USG Finance Committee.
1. To present budget requests to the Finance Committee for discussion and approval.
2. To make recommendations to the General Council on budget requests.
C. To communicate with student clubs and organizations regarding club funding and budget approvals
D. To review receipts following Campus Wide events and Conference & Competitions to assure they are related and in accordance to the request and the University’s reimbursement policy.
E. To serve on the Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee and the Budget Advisory Committee.

Vice President of Communications and Public Relations

A. To create and design all public relations media for the USG to promote its activities, events and programs.
B. To serve as Chair of the Public Relations Committee.
C. To work with the President to prepare reports to the Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees.
D. To inform students of USG the issues by the Newsroom, TommieMedia and other media outlets.
E. To update the USG web page throughout the year.

Vice President of Student Engagement

A. To represent the interests of student clubs and organizations on the USG Executive Board.
B. To serve as the chair of the Student Organizations and Clubs Committee.
C. To coordinate with the Assistant Director of Campus Life in notifying clubs and organizations of changes in their status at the beginning of each semester.
D. To service on the Student Life Committee
E. To call special meetings of the USG Executive Board and of the USG after two days’ notice has been given to the members, and likewise postpone or cancel meetings with the previous stipulation on notification being served.
F. To attend University functions as a representative of the students.
G. To serve as an ex-officio member of the Student Organizations Committee.
H. To provide monthly updates on USG’s progress to the Director of Campus Life and the Executive Director for Campus Inclusion and Community.
I. To appoint students as at-large student representatives to various University and USG committees as well as Board of Trustees Liaisons.
J. To facilitate the USG Administrator’s Breakfast and provide the General Council with updates on the information provided at the breakfasts.
K. To serve as a member of the Student Life Committee and the Student Activity Fee Allocation Committee.
L. To meet regularly with the members of the USG.

The general council position duties include:

Class Presidents

A. To serve as Chair, arrange, and promote class council meetings.
1. To maintain and recruit members of the class council.
2. To create programming that includes both educational and recreational or social events.
B. To manage the class budget, allocated for use in class events and other initiatives of the class council.
C. To serve as a representative on the USG Finance Committee and the Student Organizations Committee.
D. To coordinate class information to be included in USG emails.

Senators

A. The USG Senators shall be divided into two groups: Class Senators and Special Interest Senators.

B. The Class Senators
1. To work with Class Presidents to organize and promote class council and address class initiatives.
2. To organize and facilitate the USG strategic goals as defined by the General Council.
3. To decide on the definition and composition of the strategic goal task forces in the fall and serve on the task forces throughout the year.
4. All Senators shall be responsible for updating the General Council with their progress throughout the year.
5. To serve on the Senate.

Special Interest Senators

1. Commuter Senator
i. To represent those students who do not reside in Union Park or Macalester-Groveland communities.
ii. To work closely with Off Campus Student Life on programs and addressing issues.
iii. To work on USG goals that are geared towards students in the commuter population.
iv. To support commuter students by providing information such as on-campus parking and academic resources.
v. To serve on the University Parking Appeals Committee.
vi. To serve on the Senate.

2. Legislative Affairs Senator
i. To work and share information and services with other colleges and universities that would benefit student life and legislative action.
ii. To work closely with the Vice President of University and Government Relations on all USG goals that pertain to legislative areas.
iii. To represent the University of St. Thomas and the USG at Minnesota Association of Private College Students (MAPCS) meetings.
iv. To serve on the Legislative Affairs Committee of MAPCS and to report necessary information regarding MAPCS to the USG.
v. To participate in the Minnesota Private College’s Day at the Capitol.
vi. To serve on the University of St. Thomas Legislative Action Team.
vii. To serve on the Senate.

3. Neighborhood Senators
i. To work on USG goals that are specifically geared towards students that live in the direct neighborhood of St. Thomas.
ii. To work with the St. Thomas Neighborhood Liaison to accomplish different goals.
iii. To serve on the West Summit Neighborhood Advisory Committee (WSNAC).
iv. To serve on the Senate.

4. Residential Senators (2)
i. To work on USG goals that are specifically geared towards students that live on campus.
ii. To work in collaboration with Residence Hall Association and Residence Life student staff to identify the key issues that on-campus students face.
iii. To serve on the Senate.

5. Transfer Senator
i. To work closely with the Dean of Students in identifying the needs of transfer students at the University.
ii. To consult with the USG Vice President of Academic Affairs on issues of academic concern to transfer students.
iii. To serve on the Senate.

6. Greater Minnesota/Out-of-State Senator
i. To work closely with the Dean of Student in identifying the needs of Greater Minnesota/Outof-State students at the University.
ii. To consult with the Vice President of Student Affairs on issues of concern to Greater Minnesota/Out-of-State students.
iii. To serve on the Senate