Student
Government
Association
of Graduate Students
Student
Government, Inc.
Association of
Graduate Students
The Association
of Graduate Students (AGS) is the governing body
for all graduate students. Voting representatives
are chosen by each department. Public meetings of
the AGS are held every two weeks in the Memorial
Union and should be attended by the department
representatives.
The AGS offers a
number of services, including grants for research
and travel each semester, and funding for clubs
and organizations. The AGS sponsors the annual
Graduate Recognition Ceremony and accompanying
reception in May, on the evening before
Commencement. The AGS is the primary sponsor of
the Graduate Research Exposition. The Exposition
is held annually, presenting the final results or
exhibiting works in progress of graduate
students' research. For more information please
call or visit our office located in the Ormand J. and Miriam K.
Wade Center for Leadership, first floor, Memorial Union (581-4548).
The Graduate Center
The Graduate
Center is a resource for all graduate students
and includes a computer cluster, equipment and
software capable of producing slides, a copying
machine, a reference room (containing catalogs
from other institutions and a limited amount of
grants/funding information), and a social area. A
number of workshops are sponsored through the
Graduate Center each academic year. Examples of
past workshops include presentations on income
tax preparation, resume writing, and time
management. In addition, the Association of
Graduate Students maintains a satellite office to
serve the needs of graduate students. The
Graduate Center is located on the first floor of
Estabrooke Hall, 581-3278.
Student
Government, Inc.
Student
Government, Inc. is the representative and governing body for
UMaine’s undergraduate students. Students are the
decision-makers and policy-shapers. They are involved in
hundreds of University of Maine programs and policies. Student
Government, Inc. consists of an Executive & Administrative
Branch which is lead by the President of Student Government. The
President is advised by a cabinet consisting of the Vice
Presidents and eight student organization presidents.
The Executive
& Administrative Branch is responsible for four divisions:
Student Organizations, Financial Affairs, Student Entertainment
and External Affairs. The Executive & Administrative branch is
overseen by the General Student Senate.
Student
Government, Inc. is a completely separate entity of the
University of Maine and is funded by the Student Activity Fee, a
fee assessed to members of the undergraduate student body.
Student Government can be reached on the web at
http://www.ume.maine.edu/~sgov/sgov/pages/sgov.html and
during the daytime hours at (207) 581-1775.
General Student Senate (GSS)
The General
Student Senate (GSS) is the fiduciary body of Student
Government. It consists of no more than 35 Student Senators who
serve as direct representatives of students in their respective
colleges. The Vice President of Student Government is the
President of the GSS. The GSS has final authority on all Student
Government monetary issues, student organization matters and
student administrative committee appointments. It is also takes
official stances on student concerns. Weekly meetings are open
to the public and broadcast on the campus channel. Any member of
the campus community may address the GSS during the General Good
and Welfare section of the meeting. Elections occur every
September.
The Division of Student Organizations
The Division of Student Organizations ensures that student
groups have ample representation. It sets the general guidelines
that student groups follow and it exists to help student
organizations with elections, fundraising and securing an
on-campus location. This Division is Student Government’s
largest. It recognizes 155 clubs, 3 community associations and 5
standing boards. It is lead by the Vice President for Student
Organizations.
The three community associations recognized are the Student
Women’s Association (SWA), the Student Heritage Alliance Center
(SHAC) and Wilde Stein. The five standing boards are Residents
on Campus (ROC), the Off Campus Board (OCB), the Panhellenic
Council (Panhel), the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and the
Student Athletic Advisory Board (SAAB).
The Division of Financial Affairs
The Division of Financial Affairs provides the monetary
framework for Student Government’s activities. It oversees all
contractual, accounting and auditing activities. At its core is
the Executive Budgetary Committee (EBC) which makes
recommendations to the General Student Senate on how Student
Activity Fee money should be spent and saved. The division is
lead by the Vice President for Financial Affairs.
The Division of Financial Affairs is active throughout the
summer months. It is also audited annually by the accounting
firm Loisselle, Goodwin & Hinds.
The Division of Student Entertainment
The Division
of Student Entertainment provides programming events for the
student body through the guidance of the Student Entertainment
Committee. The primary goal of the organization is to provide
low cost, high quality events, shows and concerts. The Vice
President of Student Entertainment leads and coordinates the
division. The Vice President of Student Entertainment also
presides over the Student Entertainment Committee.
Subsidiary
programs of the Student Entertainment Division include the Guest
Lecture Series, the Senior Council, the Frequency Series, Event
Programming and Bumstock.
The Division of External Affairs
The Division of External Affairs is responsible for all the
publicity, marketing and outreach of Student Government. The
purpose of the division is to keep the student body and other
parties informed on Student Government activities and interests.
The division is lead by the Director of External Affairs, who is
an ex-officio member of the Student Government Cabinet, the GSS
Legislative Affairs Committee and the GSS Public Relations
Committee.
The Division of External Affairs maintains the Student
Government website, puts out a weekly newsletter and handles
advertising requests made on Student Government’s behalf. It
also publishes the Prism yearbook. It has close ties to
the University of Maine Alumni Association (UMAA) and the
university’s department of Public Affairs.
Student Legal Services
Student Legal Services is a professional law office retained by
Student Government. The law office’s services are provided on a
contractual basis with a local law firm. Legal advice and/or
representation is provided to undergraduate students who have
paid the Student Activity fee. Legal Services also advises
Student Government Inc. with regard to contracts and legal
matters.
Interfraternity
Council (IFC)
The 13
fraternities at the University are represented by
the Interfraternity Council. Membership consists
of two members from each fraternity, the
president, and one other member. The officers of
IFC are elected at the end of the fall semester
by the entire fraternity system. The Board
sponsors programs for the fraternity system of an
educational and social nature and assists in the
development of University policies that affect
fraternities.
Off-Campus Board
(OCB)
The OCB's
purpose is to represent the off-campus student
population to groups such as the General Student
Senate, UMaine administrators, and the University
of Maine system. Furthermore, the Off-Campus
Board shall provide services and implement
policies aimed at maintaining the well-being of
off-campus students. The Off-Campus Council
serves as the chief legislative body of the
off-campus community. The 20 to 30-member body is
elected by off-campus students once a year
(581-1840).
Panhellenic Board
(PANHEL)
The Panhellenic
Board is the representative board for sorority
women on-campus. Panhel coordinates activities
for sororities and co-sponsors events with IFC,
such as Greek Week and Winter Carnival. Panhel is
also involved in fund raising for charity. The
election of officers is held in the fall of each
year.
Residents On
Campus (ROC)
The mission of
Residents on Campus is to promote and represent
the interests of resident students. In acting as
the chief legislative body of the on-campus
student population, ROC provides support,
guidance, and organizational structure to the
Hall Governing and Area Boards. ROC also provides
and supports programming for resident students
that addresses students' issues and needs.
Finally, ROC serves to promote understanding and
increased communication between Campus Living,
Administration, and resident students.
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