About the Emory SGA
Welcome to Emory University's Student Government Association! The SGA first emerged in 1966 on Emory's Atlanta campus. The organization was founded to serve as a vehicle through which students can have their concerns addressed by elected student representatives. Since its inception, the SGA has had an industrious and successful tenure. The organization has offered a legitimate voice to the University administration, championing students' interests and funding various speaking events and campus structures. For example, within the past five years, the SGA secured funding for lights on the lower fields, new equipment in the Woodruff PE Center, and a new surface and drainage for McDonough field. Through continuous student participation, the SGA works to address the needs of our growing and evolving community.
SGA Structure
The SGA, like the United States' federal government, is composed of three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. These branches combine to serve as Emory's representative body.
Executive Branch
The responsibilities of the Executive Branch vary based on position, but the
President, in conjunction with the cabinet, work closely with the University
administration to communicate the interests of the student body. This branch
is composed of a President, Executive Vice President, Attorney General,
Chief of Staff, Vice President for Programming, Vice President for Finance,
Vice President for Communications, and Vice President for Alumni Relations.
Legislative Branch
The Legislature addresses student needs and concerns by producing and
considering legislation. If approved by the legislature, this legislation can
either mandate an action through a bill (purchasing gym equipment, for
example) or communicate the opinion of the SGA through a resolution. The
Legislature is composed of 39 representatives from the various divisions that
collectively form Emory University. Each division is allocated a number of
seats (or representatives) based on its size relative to the entire Emory
student body. Emory is composed of 9 divisions: Allied Health, College,
Graduate Arts and Sciences, Graduate Business, Graduate Nursing, Law,
Medical, Oxford, Public Health, Theology, Undergraduate Business, and
Undergraduate Nursing.
Judicial Branch
The judiciary is composed of the SGA's Constitutional Council and the various
judicial councils from recognized Divisional Councils. The judiciary is
responsible for deciding questions of constitutionality and equity of any
university action that affects the rights of any student or student
group.
Divisional Councils and the Student Activity Fee
As previously discussed, we recognize 9 divisions of the University, three of them having both graduate and undergraduate programs. From each division, the SGA collects a Student Activity Fee. The Student Activity Fee is a fixed amount set by the SGA Legislature, which is collected from each student each semester. Currently, the Student Activity Fee is $86.00 per student per semester. After the fee is collected, the money is then redistributed to all 9 divisions and the SGA based on fixed percentages in the Fee Split. After each division receives its portion of the Student Activity Fee, the money is divided among the various student organizations within that division. The amount each organization receives is determined during the university-wide budgeting process, which takes place in the spring semester of each year. Each division is governed by its own student government, called divisional councils. While each divisional council (such as the College Council) maintains some fiscal autonomy, the SGA is responsible for approving all financial transactions from the Student Activity Fee. Additionally, all divisional councils must adhere to the various SGA governing documents. The graphic below will help you better understand how the various divisions and divisional councils are related to the SGA.
The SGA strives to represent the interests of all Emory University students by actively seeking their input while acting proactively to help the Emory community flourish. We look forward to meeting you.