Azusa Pacific University's Student Government Association (SGA) was founded in 1945 and has since served as a key resource of cohesion, communication, and representation between APU students and administration. SGA believes that all student voices deserve to be heard and acts as advocates for the student body’s questions and concerns. The SGA vision statement is that “SGA will effectively serve Christ by boldly initiating positive change for the student body through accessibility and advocacy.”
This school year, the team is comprised of 11 members elected by the student body or appointed by student officers serving on four standing committees, Executive, Student Advocacy, Events, and Public Relations (PR), and various as needed committees.
The Executive Committee is led by the president and consists of the vice president, director of communications, and director of finance. “The Executive Committee exists to help the entire SGA work together and align our priorities which helps the team run smoothly,” said Travis Gray ’25, president and finance and computer science double major. “We make sure that each project within the SGA receives the support it needs, ensuring that every member has the opportunity to accomplish their goals.” They also hold regular meetings with department heads, members of the President’s Cabinet, and President Adam J. Morris, PhD, to advocate for students and complete projects in a timely manner.
The Student Advocacy Committee includes two senators and the freshman representative led by the vice president. They serve as the direct point of contact between SGA and the student body. Committee members collect feedback from students through biweekly 30 Second Surveys and tables on Cougar Walk to initiate meaningful projects. “The student Advocacy Committee is where we turn good ideas into positive change on campus,” said Jonathan Offhaus ’27, vice president and business management and honors humanities double major with a prelaw minor. This semester, the committee is implementing weekly “Hangtime” sessions on Cougar Walk where students can talk one-on-one with SGA members to give direct feedback on any student experience matters along with receiving support and various resources.
The Events Committee is led by the director of finance and includes two senators. The committee’s purpose is to plan events and activities for students to connect with SGA while also informing the student body about events and activities going on around campus from a variety of departments including athletics, music, and theater arts. “Last semester, we hosted Mac and Mingle before Thanksgiving break for students to get to know their peers and the SGA team while enjoying a festive meal,” said Damaris Galindo ’25, director of finance and accounting and honors humanities double major. This semester, the Events Committee will be hosting an on campus drive-in movie event for students, faculty, and alumni. More information about the event will be released later in the semester.
The PR Committee is focused on SGA’s outward image and communication with all outside sources. As the director of communications, I work with the team’s two strategists to handle SGA’s social media accounts, monthly newsletters, and the designing of promotional materials. I believed that joining SGA would be a great opportunity to connect with the student body and enhance the student experience. PR has allowed me to help bridge the gaps in communication between students and the SGA as well as various on campus organizations and departments to cultivate an involved and well informed student body.
This semester, SGA will have three as needed committees. First, the Elections Committee will be responsible for overseeing SGA elections and appointments for the next school year. An informational session about applying to be a member of SGA will take place on Jan 29 from 6-7 p.m. in LAPC followed by the annual elections chapel on Feb 24, where candidates will make speeches to the student body. Second, the Survey Committee is refining and shortening SGA’s yearly survey to receive student feedback on a variety of topics from multiple departments on campus. Third, on April 4, I will be leading the Table Committee in hosting SGA’s yearly event, The Table. The event was created to promote inclusivity and open discussion among students, faculty, staff, and leaders in the local community. This year, we are slightly reworking the event to be a more casual summer barbecue theme. More details will be released later in the semester.
SGA holds weekly business meetings on Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in the President’s Dining Room. During the meetings, members hear proposals from on campus organizations and departments, vote on matters of business, and discuss committees’ current projects. The meetings are open to all students, so SGA encourages anyone interested in the student body climate to attend.
For more information on all SGA events coming up this semester including the drive-in movie night, elections, The Table, and APU and Biola fellowship worship nights, follow SGA on Instagram: @apusga. To contact SGA, email [email protected], reach out to them via Instagram, or stop by their office located on East Campus to the right of Marshburn Library. To learn more about SGA or how to apply for the upcoming school year, visit their website.