The University of St. Thomas

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is the Undergraduate Student Government?
  2. What positions are available?
  3. What is the election and application process?

1. What is the Undergraduate Student Government?

The Undergraduate Student Government (USG) is the student governing body of the university. Made up of 38 representatives, the USG acts as the voice of the student body. USG members work with faculty, staff, administration and other students to promote positive change and foster St. Thomas tradition in an effort to provide students with an exceptional college experience.

2. What Positions are Available?

Council Membership: The council is comprised of six executive board and twenty-nine general council positions, ranging from presidential to senatorial positions.

  • Executive Board Positions: President, Executive Vice President, VP of Administrative Affairs, VP of Financial Affairs, VP of Public Relations, and VP of Academic Affairs.
  • General Council Positions: Class President (for each class), 2 Class Senators (for each class), Legislative Affairs Senator, 2 Neighborhood Senators, 2 Residential Senators, Commuter Senator, Transfer Senator, Elections and Credentials Chair, Student Organizations Representative, STAR Representative, RHA Representative, HANA Representative, International Student Representative, 2 Student Athlete Representatives, St, John Vianney Representative, and Commuter Center Representative.
  • USG Committees: Three committees exist to add additional voices and make recommendations for various USG decisions: Finance Committee, Student Organizations Committee and Elections and Credentials Committee.
  • University Standing Committees: The University has seventeen committees that deal with specific student concerns. These range from the Alcohol and Drug Advisory Committee to the Student Life Committee.
  • Student Liaisons: These students serve as liaisons between the Board of Trustees and the USG. The three Board of Trustee Committees are the Student Affairs Committee, the Financial Affairs Committee, and the Academic Affairs Committee.

3. What is the Election and Application Process?

Elections for the majority of General Council positions are held in the spring of each year. However, four positions are always reserved for incoming freshmen. The elections for these positions are held within the first two weeks of fall semester.

Occasionally, various positions remain unfilled after the spring elections. If this occurs, these positions will be included with the Freshmen Elections in the fall.

For committee and liaison positions, applications will be due in the spring before the position begins. Applicants are notified of their placements in May pending council approval. Many committee positions remain vacant until the fall application process. These positions are open to anyone in the undergraduate student population.

Each candidate or applicant must fill out an election packet. These packets will be available outside the USG office, located in 111 of the Murray-Herrick Campus Center, or online at our website.

For more information about the Undergraduate Student Government please contact us at usg@stthomas.edu or (651) 962-6144.