Student Government Association (SGA): The Student Government Association is the primary channel through which students participate in College policymaking. The SGA serves as the studetns' primary representative body in the Middlebury College community.
The SGA is committed to creating and encouraging the development of policies that bring positive and realistic change; to fostering full, open, and accessible communication on College policy and affairs; and to deliberating and acting on all issues that concern student life. To achieve these goals, the SGA maintains a dual role of (1) representing the interests of the student body to members of the faculty, administration and trustees and (2) providing leadership in student activities.
The SGA is composed of the Student Senate, a Presidential Cabinet, and several standing committees.
- The Student Senate, or legislative branch of the SGA, is composed of 17 elected representatives. This body consists of two senators from each class, one senator from each commons, one senator representing the Feb classes, one senator from IHC, the President, and the SCCOCC.
- The President appoints members of the Presidential Cabinet after consultation with the Co-Chair of Community Council. The Cabinet sets the agenda for the SGA and constitutes the governing body of the organization. This body executes the decisions of the Senate and ensures that the student voice is heard on all major College issues. The Presidential Cabinet positions include:
- President
- Co-Chair of Community Council
- Chief of Staff
- Treasurer/Finance Committee Chair
- Director of Membership/Elections Council Chair
- Director of Student Organizations/Constitution Committee Chair
- Press Secretary
- Director of Academic Affairs
- Director of Social Affairs
- Director of Environmental Affairs
- Director of Institutional Affairs
- Director of Institutional Diversity
- Director of Alumni Relations (advisory position)
There are numerous ways to become involved in SGA. The SGA's various committees provide forums for discussing and addressing concerns related to all facets of student life. With different mandates, each committee strives to improve our community in a unique way. Please refer to the SGA website (the link at the top of the page) for information on how to get involved.
Community Council: The Community Council is the most influential non-academic committee on campus. It meets regularly to consider campus issues, such as the reform of student social life, residential life, and other issues as they arise. The Council is also responsible for the annual review of Academic Interest and Social Houses. The Community Council is composed of students, administration, staff and faculty.
Comprehensive Fee Committee: The Comprehensive Fee Committee examines yearly operating costs and recommends the comprehensive fee for the following year. The Treasurer of the SGA chairs the Comprehensive Fee Committee.
Diversity Affairs Committee: This committee considers and discusses matters related to diversity within the student community. The Committee also makes proposals to the administration and trustees.
Environmental Council (EC): A standing committee of the College, the Environmental Council focuses on campus environmental affairs with the mission of assisting the College to reduce its overall impact on the environment. Faculty, staff and students serve on the committee.
Institutional Affairs Committee: This committee, chaired by the SGA Director of Institutional Affairs, works with the office of Facilities Planning to develop campus building plans and to make recommendations on how to improve existing infrastructure.
Publications Committee: This ad-hoc Committee is responsible for reviewing existing student publications and overseeing the establishment of new student publications. One member of this committee also serves on the Finance Committee.
SGA Constitution Committee: The Constitution Committee ratifies all constitutions of student organizations before they can be formally recognized as organizations and receive funding.
SGA Election Committee: This committee is responsible for overseeing the SGA election process.
SGA Finance Committee: The Finance Committee, chaired by the SGA Treasurer, is responsible for managing and distributing the Student Activities fee, which supports all student-run clubs on campus with fiscal resources.
SGA Student-Alumni Relations Committee (SARC): This committee assists the SGA Director of Student-Alumni Relations in serving as the liaison between students, alumni, and parents.
Academic Affairs Committee
SCCOCC-Appointed Committees:
Curriculum Committee: The Curriculum Committee's principle responsibility is the administration of the non-major aspects of the College's curriculum, particularly the First-Year Seminar Program and Winter Term programs (courses, internships, and independent projects). New Fall and Spring Term courses must be presented to this Committee for approval, but departments are given substantial discretion in this area.
Independent Scholar Committee: This committee meets to approve or disapprove applications by students who wish to pursue an independent plan of study. Once approval is granted, the Independent Scholar Committee meets to insure that the student is proceeding in accordance with the plan of study established by the Committee. The Committee is also responsible for handling any difficulties that arise for Independent Scholars.
Programs Abroad Committee: This Committee reviews all applications of students who plan to study a semester or more abroad on a non-Middlebury program. Working in collaboration with the Office of Off-Campus Study, Committee members accept or reject an application on the basis of an applicant's academic background in addition to the quality and academic rigor of the proposed program.
Student Educational Affairs Committee(SEAC): Working with the Faculty Educational Affairs Committee, the SEAC makes recommendations on matters of educational policy. In the past, this committee has addressed issues related to degree requirements (majors and concentrations), the creation and deletion of new academic departments, Winter Term academic regulations, and course registration procedures.
SGA_Constitution