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About SGA

The Student Government Association is the voice of the Student Body. The SGA represents the student perspective at James Madison University and works together to bring about positive changes for the James Madison University community.

The SGA is composed of three branches: The Executive Council, The Student Senate, and the Class Councils. Additionally, SGA appoints the students who sit on the University Commissions and Committees. SGA is composed of elected and student appointed members and operate entirely under student leadership. The SGA Constitution, created in 1976 and revised in 2006, is the framework by which the organization operates.

Mission Statement

"Recognizing our responsibility to actively participate in the decision making process, we the students of James Madison University do ordain and establish a Student Government Association, which will promote the ideas of this university, ensure unity through diversity, become the student voice to the faculty and administration, inform, educate, serve and represent the ideas, opinions and concerns of the student body within the precepts of James Madison University's Governance System."

History

In 1914, the James Madison University Honor Committee developed student government, by drafting plans and a constitution for this program. After revisions to the constitution and debate on the actions of this newly proposed self-governing body, students of what was then The Normal School for Girls applied to the faculty for the privilege of self-government. After approval by the faculty and an official presentation to the student body, the officers of the Honor Committee were designated as the first officers of the student government. The Honor Committee also constituted the first Executive Board for the body. The official title for the organization was the Student Association of the State Normal School for Women at Harrisonburg. According to its purpose statement, the organization would act to ‘“preserve student honor; to regulate the conduct of the students of the school; and to enforce such regulations of the institution as do not fall exclusively within the province of the Faculty (Dingledine 73).”’

The constitution of the Student Association required that all students become active members of the organization. The constitution also created three officers: a president, vice-president and secretary, which were all elected and established in the spring of each year. Eventually, the “Installation Ceremony” became one of the biggest events of the school year, featuring speeches by members of the administration and both the incoming and outgoing Student Association presidents. The three officers, in addition to select members of each class, became the Executive Board, replacing members of the Honor Committee.

Like The Normal School for Girls (which became Madison College and ultimately, the present-James Madison University) the Student Government Association has changed over time. Today, the Student Government Association consists of three branches, each entirely under student leadership: the Executive Council and Staff, the Student Senate, and the Class Councils. The Executive Council consists of a president, a vice-president of administrative affairs, vice-president of student affairs, and treasurer. The student body still elects these four officers the spring of each year. The executive staff has seven student-appointed positions: a chief of staff, executive assistant, director of communications, director of information technology, director of leadership programs, parliamentarian, and historian. Elected student representatives from the various colleges and dorm halls at JMU comprise the Student Senate. Class Councils, which also have student-elected officers, give students within the same class a chance to work together on issues of concern to their respective classes.

The Student Government Association has evolved beyond its original objective of preserving student honor, regulating conduct, and enforcing regulations. Now, in addition, the organization works with the administration to influence policies that govern student life, distributes money to clubs and organizations, and offers leadership programs, among other activities. The Student Government Association occupies a central place in the JMU campus community. It is responsive to needs and concerns voiced by students. The Student Government Association operates most effectively when students, through their elective representatives, present issues to this forum. Student participation and involvement are vital.