Meetings every Tuesday at 8 p.m. in Glendenning Annex. All are welcome!
The Student Government Association (SGA) at St. Mary’s College of Maryland exists to uphold the spirit, values, and ideals of the St. Mary’s community while promoting a strong sense of responsibility among students.
As the voice of the student body, we are committed to representing student concerns to the broader campus community and protecting student interests in collaboration with the faculty, administration, and Board of Trustees.
We work to ensure open and effective communication among students and encourage active participation in all areas of campus life.
As a governing body, we review student organizations and college policies, recommending meaningful improvements when needed. We also manage and distribute funds on behalf of the student body and oversee the chartering of student-run clubs and organizations.
Above all, we are dedicated to upholding the values of the St. Mary’s Way through fair, democratic, and transparent leadership.
Interesting in Joining the SGA?
We’d love to have you get involved! To become a part of the Student Government Association—whether you’re aiming for a Senate seat or a position on the Executive Board—you’ll need to run for office.
Here’s how to get started:
- Collect at least 50 signatures from fellow students on a petition to show their support.
- Fill out a brief 250-word statement outlining your platform and ideas.
- Sign to confirm you understand and agree to the election and campaign rules.
- Then, submit your petition to the Elections Committee.
It’s a great opportunity to make a difference on campus, share your vision, and represent your peers. We’re excited to see what you bring to the table!
Executive Board
The Executive Board (or Exec for short) is made up of two councils: the Executive Council and the Representative Council.
- Executive Council includes the President, Vice President, Parliamentarian, Secretary, Senate Leader, Publicity Chair, Treasurer, and Club Coordinators. This group is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Student Government.
- Representative Council includes the Student Trustee, SAAC Representatives, MHEC Representative, IDEs Representative, Alumni Representative, CSD Representative, and Residence Life Representative. Their main role is to represent the diverse voices and communities across campus.
Every member of the Executive Board plays a unique and important role, as outlined in the SGA Bylaws.
The Senate
The Senate is made up of senators from each residence area on campus (including commuters), along with the four Class Presidents. These senators are the voting members of the Student Government and help discuss campus issues, review legislation, approve appointments, and evaluate club constitutions.
Senators are expected to attend every Senate meeting (with up to two excused absences allowed).
If a student wants to start a club or request funding for a student life initiative, they work with their senator to write legislation. That legislation is then brought to the Senate for a vote. Different types of legislation have different requirements to be passed.
In addition to serving in the Senate, Class Presidents lead their class councils and help raise money for senior year events.
Class Council
The Class Council is made up of the executive boards for each of the four current class years at SMCM.
When first-year students arrive, their class receives a set amount of starter funds from the SGA. From there, each Class Council works year after year to grow that fund through various fundraisers—like t-shirt sales, carnation deliveries, and “Grilled Cheese on the Greens.”
The ultimate goal of every Class Council is to raise enough money by senior year to host celebratory events, including:
- 100 Days – a fun countdown event held 100 days before graduation
- 50 Days – a more formal celebration held 50 days before graduation
- Senior Week, which ends with the highlight of it all: Gala
Raising enough for these events takes time, creativity, and effort—so be sure to support your Class Council’s fundraisers whenever you can!
Committees
Committees play an essential role in keeping campus life running smoothly.
They support many aspects of campus life, including daily operations, campus upkeep, communication between students and the SGA, and the overall structure of the Student Government Association.
Each committee is led by a Committee Chair, a member of the SGA responsible for guiding the group’s work. They are supported by Senators, who help the committee achieve its goals, and Student Representatives, who bring the student perspective and assist wherever needed.
Committees ensure that student voices are heard and that the SGA can effectively serve the campus community.
Programs Board
The Programs Board is one of the main groups within the Student Government Association responsible for planning and running SGA-funded events on campus.
The Programs Board Executive Team works alongside general PB members to organize a wide variety of events—like live entertainment, game nights, raffles, and more. If there’s something fun happening on campus, chances are Programs Board helped make it happen!
They also plan one of St. Mary’s biggest annual traditions: World Carnival, held every spring.
So if you’re enjoying an event on campus, thank the Programs Board—they probably had a hand in it!
Clubs
Clubs and student organizations are a key part of life at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
They offer students countless opportunities to get involved—whether it’s making a difference, meeting new people, boosting academics, exploring or sharing culture, expressing creativity, or simply having fun.
We highly encourage every student to join at least one club during their time at SMCM since it’s a great way to connect and grow!
And if you don’t see a club that fits your interests, you can even start your own!
Every semester a Club Fair is also hosted to allow clubs to advertise to students interested in joining.