Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is SGa?

The Student Government Association (SGA) is the official student-led organization representing the student body's voice and interests within Alliant International University - Fresno. As a bridge between students and administration, SGA advocates for student concerns, works to improve campus policies, and ensures that student needs are heard and addressed. In addition to its advocacy role, SGA plans and oversees campus events, allocates funding to student clubs and organizations, and promotes student engagement and community involvement. Through elected positions such as chair, treasurer, and various representatives, SGA members take on leadership responsibilities that help shape the student experience and foster a stronger, more connected campus community.

WHat is the purpose of sga?

• To maintain effective communications with faculty and administration.
  
• To promote social interactions and cohesion among all students from all programs on the Fresno campus.
  
• To manage fiscal resources.
  
• To be a positive catalyst for change at all levels of the Alliant community.

Who can be a part of sga?

Any student enrolled at Alliant International University, Fresno, and in good academic standing can join SGA. Position elections are held annually, but all students may attend meetings. 

​What are the elected positions?

We hold elections annually with the following positions available:

Student Elected Positions

• Clinical PhD Representative
  • Must be a Clinical PhD student not entering internship during their year of service.
  • Each representative serves in the position for one year (Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters).
  • Must be a registered clinical PhD student in good standing
  • Must not be in internship during year of service.
  • Attend PhD Faculty meetings and present student concerns to the faculty
  • Submit a summary of PhD Faculty meetings to SGA within 24 hours of the faculty meeting.
  • Attend all SGA meetings to advocate for PhD students
  • Send invitation emails to PhD students for monthly MET meetings.
  • Attend all MET meetings to gather student concerns and feedback
  • Welcome PhD student emails with questions, concerns, or issues to discuss with SGA and PhD faculty. 
  • Act as the third-party SGA representative for the PhD student when needed as support and/or neutral party with peers, colleagues, faculty, and/or staff. 
  • Assist with SGA events when necessary
• Clinical PsyD Representative
  • Must be a Clinical PsyD student not entering internship during their year of service.
  • Each representative serves in the position for one year (Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters).
  • Must be a registered clinical PsyD student in good standing
  • Must not be in internship during year of service
  • Attend PsyD Faculty meetings and present student concerns to the faculty
  • Submit a summary of PsyD Faculty meetings to SGA within 24 hours of the faculty meeting.
  • Attend all SGA meetings to advocate for PsyD students
  • Send invitation emails to PsyD students for PsyD meetings.
  • Attend all PsyD meetings to gather student concerns and feedback
  • Welcome PsyD student emails with questions, concerns, or issues to discuss with SGA and PsyD faculty. 
  • Act as the third-party SGA representative for the PsyD student when needed as support and/or neutral party with peers, colleagues, faculty, and/or staff. 
  • Assist with SGA events when necessary
• MACC Representative
  • Must be a MACC student. 
  • Each representative serves in the position for one year (Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters).
  • Must be a registered MACC student in good standing
  • Attend MACC faculty meetings and present student concerns to the faculty
  • Submit a summary of MACC Faculty meetings to SGA within 24 hours of the faculty meeting.
  • Attend all SGA meetings to advocate for MACC students
  • Send invitation emails to MACC students for MACC meetings.
  • Attend all MACC meetings to gather student concerns and feedback
  • Welcome MACC student emails with questions, concerns, or issues to discuss with SGA and MACC faculty. 
  • Act as the third-party SGA representative for the MACC student when needed as support and/or neutral party with peers, colleagues, faculty, and/or staff. 
  • Assist with SGA events when necessary
• Org PsyD Representative
  • Must be an Org PsyD Student not entering internship during their year of service.
  • Each representative serves in the position for one year (Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters).
  • Must be a registered Org PsyD student in good standing.
  • Must not be in internship during year of service.
  • Attend Org PsyD faculty meetings and present student concerns to the faculty
  • Submit a summary of Org PsyD Faculty meetings to SGA within 24 hours of the faculty meeting.
  • Attend all SGA meetings to advocate for Org PsyD students
  • Send invitation emails to Org PsyD students for Org PsyD meetings.
  • Attend all Org PsyD meetings to gather student concerns and feedback.
  • Welcome Org PsyD student emails with questions, concerns, or issues to discuss with SGA and Org PsyD faculty. 
  • Act as the third-party SGA representative for the Org PsyD student when needed as support and/or neutral party with peers, colleagues, faculty, and/or staff. 
  • Assist with SGA events when necessary.
• DEI Representative
  • Must be a member of the DEI committee.
  • Each representative serves in the position for one year (Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters).
  • Must be a registered student in good standing.
  • Monitors university-wide policy updates, newsletters, and official communications related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and campus culture.
  • Reviews monthly university updates (e.g., from the President’s Office or Campus Director) and identifies any relevant changes or announcements impacting DEI-related matters.
  • Reports findings to the SGA Executive Board and provides updates during monthly SGA meetings.
  • Serves as a point of contact for student feedback or concerns related to DEI and inclusive campus experiences.
  • Assist with SGA events when necessary.
• Media Manager
  • Each Media Manager serves in the position for one year (Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters).
  • Must be a registered student in good standing
  • Attend all SGA meetings
  • Collects and maintains a chronicle of SGA activities (photos)
  • Collects and solicits photos from all students, faculty, and staff
  • Decorate and make use of SGA notice boards (Downstairs by the hallway and upstairs outside the SGA office)
  • Updates and maintains SGA website and social media accounts
  • Assists in marketing activities for SGA-sponsored activities
  • Assist with SGA events when necessary
• Member-at-Large (4 positions)
  • Each Member at Large serves in the position for one year (Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters).
  • Must be registered students in good standing
  • Required to attend all meetings of the SGA
  • Assist Project Coordinators with events
  • Assist with SGA events 
  • Submits a brief summary at the end of the term outlining contributions and involvement in SGA activities

Internally Elected Positions (to be voted on by the Executive Board):

• Chair
  • Must be a registered student in good standing
  • Must be a registered student in good standing
  • Are the official representatives of the SGA on campus
  • Are the chief executive officers of the SGA and preside over all SGA meetings
  • Are required to attend all SGA meetings 
  • Coordinates campus committee membership and oversees spring elections
  • Are ex-officio members of all task forces of the SGA
  • Monitors the fulfillment of duties by SGA members, including the Co-chair, and recommends removal from office duties if not fulfilled
  • Represents the campus at System-wide Student Government Association (SSGA) meetings and conference calls
  • Attends the in-person SSGA executive meetings in the Fall and Spring
  • Leads efforts for recruiting new SGA officers and holding elections
  • Participates in discussions but shall have no vote in the SGA meetings, except in the case of a tie, where both co-chairs will have to make a unified decision and cast the deciding vote
• Chair-Elect
  • Each Chairperson-Elect serves in the position for one year (Summer, Fall, and Spring Semester), understanding they will then serve as Chair for the subsequent year.
  • At the end of the semester, the Chairperson-Elect is automatically promoted to the position of Chairperson unless blocked by a majority vote from the outgoing Executive Board (The Chairperson-Elect does not vote in this decision).
  • A new Chairperson-Elect is appointed by a majority vote from the new Executive Board.
  • The new Chairperson will propose for an eligible member to be appointed to the position of Chairperson-Elect (Any Executive can second the proposal).
  • The new Chairperson can choose to open the proposal to the rest of the Executive Board.
  • Shares the workload with the Chairperson and familiarizes themself with faculty and staff.
  • Adheres to the same rules and tasks that apply to Chairperson. 
• Treasurer
  • Each Treasurer serves in the position for three semesters (Summer, Fall, and Spring)
  • At the end of the Spring semester, the Treasurer steps down from the position.
  • If the Treasurer-Elect is blocked from the promotion, a new Treasurer is then appointed by a majority vote from the outgoing Executive Board from the eligible pool of people
  • Must be a registered student in good standing
  • Required to attend all SGA meetings 
  • Required to attend all monthly SSGA meetings.
  • Required to meet with SSGA treasurer monthly.
  • Serves as the official custodian of the funds of the campus SGA
  • In the absence of either Chairperson, the Treasurer presides over SGA meetings
  • Keeps full and accurate records of all banking accounts and financial transactions, including the recording and monitoring of reimbursement claims (for student dissertation and conference expenses)
  • Adheres to the procedural guidelines as stated in the Article IV and ensures accurate and updated policies are documented, based upon changing system and organization needs 
  • Assures financial requests and proposals to the SGA are considered and processed in a timely manner
  • Preferred prior knowledge of bookkeeping or financial software, or must be willing to learn bookkeeping or financial software
  • Responsible for preparing a projected budget for the Fall and Spring (two-third vote to approve budget)
  • Once the budget is approved, responsible for ensuring other officers stay within budget and adjust the budget according to circumstances to avoid deficits
  • Responsible for budgeting and proposing the use of SGA Reserve funds. 
  • Presents monthly financial reports at SGA meetings, as needed
  • Develops a formal financial report of income and expenses at the end of each semester and presents it to the SGA at the beginning of the next semester 
  • Dispenses stipend payments to officers and representatives each semester
  • Distributes reimbursements and payments within 30 days of the due date of a reimbursement application
  • In charge of Doctorate's graduation gift purchase
• Treasurer-Elect
  • Each Treasurer-Elect serves in the position for one year (Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters), understanding they will then serve as Treasurer for the subsequent year. 
  • At the end of the semester, the Treasurer-Elect is automatically promoted to the position of Treasurer unless blocked by a majority vote from the outgoing Executive Board (The Treasurer-Elect does not vote in this decision).
  • A new Treasurer-Elect is appointed by a majority vote from the new Executive Board.
  • The incoming Chairperson will propose for an eligible member to be appointed to the position of Treasurer-Elect (Any Executive can second the proposal).
  • The new Chairperson can choose to open the proposal to the rest of the Executive Board. 
  • Must be a registered student in good standing
  • Required to attend all SGA meetings 
  • Assistant to the Treasurer
  • In charge of Master’s graduation gift purchase
  • Oversee and manage clubs/organizations on campus to ensure accountability/compliance with current guidelines and code of conduct found in the Clubs Handbook. 
• Chief Administrative Officer
  • Each Chief Administrative Officer serves in the position for one year (Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters).
• Project Coordinator (4 positions)
  • ​Each Project Coordinator serves in the position for one year (Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters).
  • Must be registered students in good standing
  • Required to attend all SGA meetings 
  • Organizes a minimum of four events related to social engagement, community outreach, academic enrichment, or professional development, depending on current campus needs.
  • Provide weekly updates to the Chairpersons as needed
  • Prepare and present a report at SGA meetings
  • Organize an annual event (Annual Toast) to be held every Spring
  • Assist Admissions team in planning New Student Orientation
  • Attend all meetings related to the New Student Orientations
  • Is accessible to the student body and gathers information as requested
  • Perform other duties as may be required
    
    

how can i get involved with sga?

You can run in student elections, apply for an open seat or committee role, or attend public SGA meetings to share input and stay involved.

How much time does SGA involvement take?

It depends on the role. Internally elected positions usually require weekly meetings, event planning, and active participation in SGA initiatives. Please click HERE to refer to our Bylaws, which outline the responsibilities for each elected position.

Why should I care about SGA?

SGA decisions impact student life, including funding for clubs, campus improvements, and policy changes. Being involved or voting in elections helps ensure your voice is represented.