Sonoma State University

AS Student Government Program Approved Program Plan and Design

It is the mission of Associated Students of Sonoma State University, Inc. (AS) to enrich the lives of students and build a sense of community. The vision of the organization is to "build a vibrant community of students, as well as support and empower individuals by providing resources, leadership opportunities, social connection, and community service."

The student government program has existed as part of the core four programs of the corporation for decades, but unlike its counterparts has changed regularly with the changing leadership and approach of each new group of elected officers. This document will lay out an approved program purpose, organization, and directed deliverables the AS Board of Directors expects from the program.
 

Student Government Program Purpose Statement

The Student Government program of the Associated Students of Sonoma State University will work to provide advocacy on behalf of the student body of the university and student participation in the shared governance processes of the university. Key to these efforts is the opportunity for involvement and participation in these activities by the general student body.

Advocacy

For the purposes of the Student Government program of the Associated Students of Sonoma State University, Inc. advocacy shall be defined as the means and opportunity for students to self-engage, as well as organized advocacy, in the processes of representative governance on the local, state, and federal levels.

The deliverables the AS Board of Directors should expect from the Student Government programs efforts toward advocacy include: 

  1. Voter registration campaign for students to register to vote in all local, state, and federal elections.
  2. Voter Education efforts so Sonoma State students have the opportunity to become aware of the various questions posed by each ballot.
  3. Organized opportunities for students and elected AS Officers to speak directly to elected leaders on issues facing the student body of Sonoma State University. 

Shared Governance

For the purposes of the Student Government program of the Associated Students of Sonoma State University, Inc. participation in the shared governance of the campus shall be defined as the opportunity to participate in the governance committees and task forces of the campus, as well as have direct opportunities to address concerns, ideas, grievances, etc. to their elected student leaders.

The deliverables the AS Board of Directors should expect from the Student Government programs efforts toward shared governance include: 

  1. Opportunities for students to serve on, and report information regarding the activities of, the wide variety of committee and taskforces that serve to give input and direction to the operation and governance of the university.
  2. Outreach and organized opportunities for students to share their voice, concerns, ideas, grievances, etc. with their elected student body organization officers.
  3. A fair, organized, and transparent student body organization officer election process and operation.

Operational Format of the Student Government program 

While all other programs of the Associated Students are free to make changes to their mode of operation, within the policy and procedures of the corporation, without approval from the Board of Directors, provided they still are able to abide by and meet the deliverables of their approved program model. The student government program is unique in that it has limited staff and the majority of the program operation is conducted by elected officers and volunteer students. To that end the program operations documents contained below, should be considered separate from the program plan contained above, but still require Senate action to amend or alter.

AS Student Government Operational Guidelines 

The Student Program operations will be administered and deliverables will be the responsibilities of four (4) taskforces led by elected officers and populated by elected officers, student volunteers, and AS staff. The task forces will be responsible for the execution of at least one of the defined deliverables contained in the Student Government program plan. The taskforces and their basic outline are contained below.

Engagement Taskforce

The Engagement Taskforce will be responsible to plan, organize, and execute plans that provide student engagement from the Associated Students organization to its student members. These will be organized opportunities for students to share their voice, concerns, ideas, grievances, etc. on university affairs with their elected student body organization officers. The Engagement Taskforce will also be responsible for the planning and execution of the AS Spring Election.

The taskforce will be composed of the AS President, who shall serve as the leader and administrative officer, 2 members of the Senate, as appointed by an act of the Senate, and as many volunteer students as the AS President determines to be practicable.

The taskforce will be responsible for the Shared Governance #2 and #3 deliverables contained in the Student Government program plan. The leader of the taskforce should be prepared to ensure all outreach activities are contained in the outreach activities list as detailed in AS policy, as well as be prepared to give regular updates to the AS Senate on the status of its assigned deliverables. 
 

External Affairs

The External Affairs taskforce will be responsible to plan, organize, and execute campaigns that provide the means and opportunity for students to self-engage, as well as organized advocacy, in the processes of representative governance on the local, state, and federal levels.

The taskforce will be comprised of the AS Vice-President of External Affairs, who shall serve as the leader and administrative officer, 2 members of the Senate, as appointed by an act of the Senate, and as many volunteer students as the AS Vice-President of External Affairs determines to be practicable.

The taskforce will be responsible for the Advocacy #1, #2, and #3 deliverables contained in the Student Government program plan. The leader of the taskforce should be prepared to give regular updates to the AS Senate on the status of its assigned deliverables. 
 

Committee Taskforce

The Committee Taskforce will be responsible to plan, organize, and execute campaigns that provide opportunities for students to serve on, and report information regarding the activities of, the wide variety of committee and taskforces that serve to give input and direction to the operation and governance of the university

The taskforce will be comprised of the AS Executive Vice-President, who shall serve as the leader and administrative officer, 2 members of the Senate, as appointed by an act of the Senate, and as many volunteer students as the AS Executive Vice-President determines to be practicable.

The taskforce will be responsible for the Shared Governance #1 deliverable contained in the Student Government program plan. The taskforce will also oversee and administer the existing Calling All Student Leaders program to recruit, appoint, train, and support students serving on university committees and taskforces. The CASL program will also be responsible for recruitment and appointment, in consultation with the taskforce leadership, on student volunteers for the AS Student Government taskforces leader of the taskforce should be prepared to give regular updates to the AS Senate on the status of its assigned deliverables. 

Adopted at a regular meeting of the Associated Students Senate by a unanimous vote on August 19, 2025.