The mission of the Student Government Association (SGA) is to promote the rights of each student of The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, to provide the official voice through which student opinion may be expressed, to ensure student participation in the decision-making processes of The University, to assist in enhancing the quality and scope of education at The University, and to provide services which enrich the student’s college experience. SGA will also serve and protect the student body and its interests through the development of relationships and lines of communication between the student body, the administration, faculty, staff, and the community in order to maximize educational and personal growth. Furthermore, the SGA will encourage and provide opportunities for student involvement to develop in each student a lifetime relationship with the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College and to keep UTB/TSC at the forefront of higher education.  Copies of the Student Government Association constitution are available in the SGA office, Student Union 2.16B .

The Student Government Association is granted authority and recognized by the UT System Board of Regents:

The University of Texas System

Rules and Regulations of the Board of Regents Series: 50203

 Download Full Document off UT System Website here (Adobe PDF)

1. Title

Participation in Student Government

2. Rule and Regulation

Sec. 1 Student Associations. Students' associations currently

authorized at the institutions of The University of Texas System

are hereby approved. They shall have such jurisdictions and

shall exercise such powers as the Board of Regents may now or

hereafter delegate to them.

1.1 Associations in Force. The constitutions and bylaws of

the several associations in force at the date of adoption

of these Rules and Regulations are hereby approved.

1.2 Approval of Changes. An amendment to the constitution

or bylaws of a students' association may be adopted by

an association, in accordance with its constitution and

bylaws, but the change shall not become effective until

transmitted to and approved by the chief student affairs

officer, the president, and the appropriate Executive Vice

Chancellor.

1.3 Amendment or Repeal of Provisions. The chief student

affairs officer shall have the power, when in his or her

judgment the interests of the institution require it, to

amend or repeal any provision in the constitution or

bylaws of the particular association, but such action shall

not be effective until approved by the president and the

appropriate Executive Vice Chancellor.

1.4 Approval of Employees. All persons officially employed

on salary by or under the direct supervision of a students'

association shall be subject to approval by the chief

student affairs officer and the president.

1.5 Required Financial Reports. Every officially recognized

students association shall make annually a complete

financial report to the institutional chief business officer

and shall make such special reports as may be called for

by such business officer. A duplicate copy of each report

shall be filed with the chief student affairs officer.

Committees and administrative units of a students'

association shall make such interim reports of financial

condition as may be required by the chief student affairs

officer.

Sec. 2 Student Opinion. The students' association on each campus

shall be a recognized forum of student opinion.

2.1 Recommendations to the Board of Regents. When a

students' association takes a position with reference to

issues directly related to a component institution and its

operations, its recommendations to the Board of Regents

shall go through the chief student affairs officer, the

president, the appropriate Executive Vice Chancellor,

and the Chancellor.

2.2 Position on Non-University Issues. When a students

association takes a position on non-University issues, it

shall make clear the fact that it does not speak for the

institution.

2.3 Conditions for Getting Feedback. A students' association

may conduct polls, initiate petitions, and/or establish

forums for debate or discussion under conditions

approved by the chief student affairs officer.

2.4 Personal Views of Officers. Officers of a students

association may so identify themselves when they

express their personal views, but they shall then make it

clear that they are not speaking for the institution, or for

the student body, and they shall make it clear they are

not speaking for the students' association unless the

legislative body of that association has authorized the

statement in advance.

3. Definitions

Chief Student Affairs Officer – the administrative officer or officers directly

responsible for student affairs at each component institution

4. Relevant Federal and State Statutes
None

5. Relevant System Policies, Procedures, and Forms

None

6. Who Should Know

Administrators

Dean of Students

Chief Student Affairs Officer

Students

7. System Administration Office(s) Responsible for Rule

Office of Academic Affairs

Office of Health Affairs

8. Dates Approved or Amended

December 10, 2004

9. Contact Information

Questions or comments regarding this rule should be directed to: bor@utsystem.edu