SGA Exec Board
Mark Snyder
President
Katherine
Monahan
Vice President
Nate Hetzler
Treasurer
Pamela
Schrenk
Parliamentarian
Johanna Laue
Secretary
Anna Danz
Director of Campus Programming
Matt Pindell
Director of Campus Organizations
Katie Caffey
Director of Publicity
Maurielle
Stewart
Student Trustee
Michael
Hullett
MHEC Representative
Welcome
The Student Government Association (SGA) at St. Marys College of Maryland (SMCM) is dedicated to serving all SMCM students. The SGA acts as a liaison between the students and the college administration, charters and funds all campus clubs and organizations, and plans campus events. We encourage you to visit this website frequently, stay informed, talk to your SGA representatives, attend Senate meetings, and get involved.
SGA Senate meetings are held every Tuesday night in Schaefer Hall, Room 106 at 8:00 p.m. Student Speak Out is held at the beginning of every meeting and is open to all students. You don't have to stay the whole meeting, but we'd love to hear what you have to say!
Announcements
- Student Fees Increase Referendum!
- Q: What Are Student Fees?
- A: Every year when you pay your bills to the college, there is a “mandatory full time fee.” Student Fees make up $235 of that fee that the Student Government Association (SGA) collects from the college once you pay. The SGA can raise this amount, but only with a successful referendum of the student body.
- Q: What are these Student Fees spent on?
- A. The list is literally too long to put here, but to give you a brief idea: Every club and club sport on campus, most programming events (Movies, Comedians, Coffee House, World Carnival and many more), The Point News, the Hawk Radio and Safe Ride. A complete list of SGA expenditures can be obtained by emailing the SGA Treasurer, Matt Smith (mgsmith@smcm.edu).
- Q: Weren’t Student Fees raised last year?
- A: Yes. Last year they were raised by $10 and in 2008 by $25. Both of these increases went to green projects. The $25 increase allowed the SGA to buy Renewable Energy credits to offset the college’s carbon footprint. The $10 increase went to the Green St. Mary’s Revolving Loan Fund (GSMRF), an ever-growing fund for student lead on campus green initiatives.
- Q: Why do they need to be raised? A: Student fees have not been raised to benefit the SGA’s Operating Budget (this pays for all the things listed in question 2) for 8 years. Since 2003, prices for all goods and services have risen due to inflation an poor economic conditions. As a result, the budget has become more and more tight and consequently, next year’s budget is unbalanced. Simply put, rising costs with out increasing revenue cannot be sustained indefinitely.
- Q: What will happen to the Bike Shop and the Student Farm if fees are not raised?
- A: Either one or both will be cut from the budget. These were not traditional SGA expenditures. Physical Plant stopped paying for the Bike Shop this fall and the Campus Farm was only created a year ago. Consequently, the SGA has agreed to cover their costs in the short term, but cannot continue to do so unless Student Fees are raised.
- Q: Won’t the SGA just waste my money again like they did on restoring that barn at HSMC?
- A: No. Any money from this Student Fees increase will go towards core SGA activities. The largest beneficiaries will be Clubs, World Carnival, and Programs Board. With the exception of the Bike Shop and the Campus Farm, this fees increase will not go towards new expenditures.
