Can ASGA Help Me?

Whether you’re starting from scratch, recently revived, or reorganizing, ASGA can accelerate your progress toward becoming an established and respected campus organization.

1. Creating Infrastructure. We’ll provide examples of constitutions, bylaws, officer job descriptions, and election codes.

2. Helping You Set an Agenda. ASGA will examine your resources and campus politics to develop a realistic plan of action for the coming year.

3. Starting Signature Programs. Search the SG Database for best practices at similar schools, then implement or emulate what’s working elsewhere.

4. Recruiting New Members. We’ll help you develop a strategic plan to recruit members, retain the ones you have, and move toward contested elections.

5. Developing an SG Brand. We can help you clarify your role on campus and create a marketing campaign so students know you exist and have a clear purpose.

6. Training Your Members. Through conferences and consulting, ASGA can train your officers and members so they know their roles and serve competently.

7. Connecting You With Peers. The SG Database, training events, and online forums provide opportunities to exchange ideas with similar institutions nationwide.

8. Supporting Your Advisor. ASGA provides resources and peer networks to help advisors who have never worked with SG before grow and improve.

9. Improving SG Finances. ASGA can help you make a case for more funding and get better control of the funds you do have.

10. Providing Expert Analysis. ASGA’s panel of SG experts can analyze your situation and provide tailored recommendations on any SG-related question.

The vast majority of SGs nationwide fight to be relevant to students and respected by administrators. ASGA can help struggling SGs make lasting improvements.

1. Determine Your Purpose. Figure out what role your SG should be taking on campus,moving beyond just an activities board toward truly representing students.

2. Improve Voter Turnout. ASGA can help you improve your election turnout.

3. Firm Up Infrastructure. The SG Database provides hundreds of constitutions, bylaws, election codes, and officer job descriptions you can reference.

4. Analyze Strengths and Weaknesses. Focus your limited manpower and resources on improving in your weakest areas.

5. Set Realistic Goals. We’ll help you set an agenda that’s realistic and attainable for the coming year.

6. Survey Your Student Body. ASGA can help you determine what students want and need from their SG.

7. Develop a Marketing Campaign. Create a promotions campaign that makes students aware they have an SG.

8. Recruit New Members. We’ll help you develop a strategic plan to recruit members and ensure contested elections.

9. Improve Administrator Relations. Tips and advice to enhance relations with your administrators, faculty, and staff.

10. Increase SG Funding. Receive more funding, get better control of it, and eventually gain funding authority over other campus organizations.

Your SG is far better than most and you’re growing. ASGA can provide the knowledge, tools, and research to accelerate your progress to the next level.

1. Analyzing Infrastructure. Reviewing your structure and core documents ensures you’re maximizing effectiveness and closing loopholes.

2. Enhancing Voter Turnout. Creative marketing, technology, and new approaches to when and where elections are held.

3. Increasing Recruiting and Retention. Plans to bring in new members and keep current officers engaged and involved.

4. Improving Your Image. Boost awareness through public appearances, advertising, and marketing.

5. Developing New Services. Signature programs that address students’ needs and raise SG’s visibility. The SG Database provides proven examples.

6. Ensuring Smooth Transitions. Improve transition materials so successors step in fully prepared to carry on where you left off.

7. Comparing Your SG With Others Nationwide. Find areas of improvement by comparing your effectiveness with similar institutions.

8. Enhancing Administrator Relations. Improve relationships with administrators, faculty, and staff.

9. Improving Media Relations. Create strategies for generating positive coverage and responding to negative attacks.

10. Conducting Research for You. ASGA will conduct in-depth research on specific projects so your officers don’t have to.

11. Aspire to National Recognition. As your SG improves, consider nominating for ASGA’s national awards, presented at the Spring Summit: SG of the Year, SG President of the Year, and SG Advisor of the Year. Learn more about nominations.

If you’re already a top-notch SG, ASGA can still help you become more efficient. Your time in office is short; ASGA’s resources maximize the limited time you have.

1. National Awards. ASGA presents national awards at the Spring Summit for SG of the Year, SG President of the Year, and SG Advisor of the Year. If your SG has earned recognition, nominate your SG or advisor.

2. Enhancing Voter Turnout. Continue to improve through innovative marketing, technology, strategic polling locations, and timing.

3. Improving Public and Media Relations. Develop a strategic publicity campaign to better promote your services to students and administrators.

4. Enhancing Administrator Relations. Develop strategies to improve your relationship with administrators and ensure SG has a voice on all school-wide committees.

5. Providing In-Depth Analysis. ASGA can analyze very institution-specific issues. Our SG Consulting Group can personally visit your campus, conduct a detailed examination, and provide guidance.

6. Knowledge of SG Trends Nationwide. ASGA’s SG Database lets you quickly search catalogued data and SG precedents, saving countless hours of research.

7. Analyzing Your Strengths and Weaknesses. Once you’ve identified areas for improvement, contact peer schools for advice and ask our panel of SG experts for feedback.

8. Conducting Research for You. Save time, money, and effort by letting ASGA do SG-related research for you.

9. Developing Signature Programs. Create tangible services that will gain respect and visibility for your SG.

10. Connecting You With a Vast Peer Network. Share ideas with peers nationwide through the SG Database, conferences, and online forums.

11. Presenting at ASGA Conferences. ASGA members have presented workshops at the National SG Summit. If your SG has research or a program worth sharing with peers nationwide, ask about presenting at an upcoming conference.

Large SGs often have more manpower potential, but football games, fraternities, sororities, and other diversions compete for students’ attention.

1. Improving Your Image and Credibility. Boost awareness through a strategic outreach plan. Better PR makes your organization more visible and effective.

2. Helping You Develop an Agenda and Focus. ASGA can map out feasible short- and long-term goals that, once accomplished, demonstrate that SG does something on campus.

3. Increasing Recruitment and Retention. Strategies to bring in new members and keep current officers engaged, including meeting efficiency tips and parliamentary procedure.

4. Resources to Increase Election Turnout. Online voting, new marketing campaigns, and strong PR can improve turnout and capture the administration’s attention.

5. Enhancing Administrator Relations. Strategies to improve your SG’s relationship with administrators and ensure SG has a voice on all school-wide committees.

6. Improving SG Finances. Allocating funds fairly and making them stretch as far as possible will improve your credibility with students and administration.

7. Connecting You With a Vast Peer Network. The SG Database, conferences, and online forums let you communicate with peers nationwide and learn about best practices.

8. Providing Organizational Evaluations and Research Assistance. ASGA can analyze your strengths, weaknesses, governing documents, and any institution-specific problems you’re having.

9. Enhancing Transition Plans and Materials. Effective transitions allow your SG to move forward on multi-year commitments rather than starting over each year.

10. Training Your Members and Advisor. ASGA training workshops prepare your officers, members, and advisors for the year ahead.

Small-college SGs are often “up and down.” They have a few strong leaders for a year or two, then slip badly after those officers graduate. ASGA’s executive director served as SGA vice president at a small community college, so these challenges are familiar.

1. Improve Infrastructure and Structure. Strong governing documents so you don’t have to amend them constantly, and a structure that ensures every position is filled and has a purpose.

2. Set an Agenda. A pragmatic agenda maximizes your limited manpower and makes you more credible to students and administration.

3. Recruit and Retain Members. A strategic plan to recruit members, retain the ones you have, and move toward contested elections.

4. Develop Signature Programs. Focus on a few projects you can actually accomplish. Survey students, search the SG Database, and implement what works.

5. Train Members and Advisors. Through conferences and consulting, ASGA trains your officers and members to maximize your small team.

6. Improve Your Image and Participation. Create a marketing campaign to effectively promote your programs and projects.

7. Connect With Peers. Exchange ideas and network with similar institutions nationwide through the SG Database and training events.

8. Gain Control of Funding. ASGA can help you make a case for more funding and get better control of the funds you do have.

9. Improve Relations With Administrators. Make the administration an ally. More respect can lead to office space, a student trustee position, and more funding.

10. Draft Transition Materials. Effective transition materials keep continuity from one year to the next so you’re not starting from scratch.

Community college populations are mainly non-traditional, part-time commuter students who work full-time and support families. These SGs often have to start over from scratch every year. ASGA’s executive director served as SGA vice president at a community college, so these challenges are well understood.

1. Improve Infrastructure. Strong governing documents are the foundation of any great SG.

2. Reconsider SG Structure. We’ll help you determine what structure is most logical to serve your student body.

3. Develop a Recruiting Plan. Find the students on campus who are willing and competent to serve.

4. Engage Current Members. Ways to keep officers and members involved and interested in SG business.

5. Develop Signature Programs. Programs that get your student body’s attention and make them respect SG.

6. Train Your Advisor and Members. When everyone understands their responsibilities, transitions are easier and you save time and money.

7. Develop Marketing Plans. Campaigns to effectively promote your programs and projects beyond just fliers.

8. Determine Your Strengths and Weaknesses. Once you know where you stand, you can determine the best plan of action for the year.

9. Become Student Advocates. Help you grow beyond being just an activity board. Great SGs advocate for their fellow students.

10. Build Credibility. Tips to increase respect with administrators, faculty, and staff.

Commuter students often balance full-time jobs and families. Traditional evening events won’t be heavily attended. ASGA has more commuter-school SG members than any other institution type.

1. Helping You Survey Your Students. Find out exactly what students want from SG, then develop plans and goals around those needs.

2. Increasing Recruitment. A plan to aggressively recruit students to run for office and get involved in SG.

3. Creating New Programs and Tangible Benefits. Signature programs that address commuter students’ needs and make SG well-known and respected.

4. Improving Voter Turnout. Strategic marketing, multiple polling places over several days, and innovative voting times.

5. Reconsidering Meetings. Redefining how, when, and where meetings are held to open SG to non-traditional students.

6. Reconsidering Your Structure. Reorganize so all positions are filled with committed members and projects are realistic.

7. Developing Transition Materials. Documents that share project progress and reduce successors’ learning curves.

8. Recruiting a Competent Advisor. Help finding an advisor who can navigate campus politics and share information with your successors.

9. Reconsidering Your Purpose. Examine your overall purpose to maximize limited manpower and show that you get things done.

10. Enhancing Administrator Relations. Improve or repair relationships with administrators, faculty, and staff.

Graduate and professional students are usually non-traditional, balancing jobs and families alongside school. SGs at these schools must think outside the box to increase participation.

1. Helping You Survey Your Students. Find out exactly what graduate and professional students want from SG.

2. Increasing Recruitment. A plan to recruit students to run for office and engage in SG at a graduate level.

3. Creating New Programs and Tangible Benefits. Signature programs that address your unique student body’s needs.

4. Improving Voter Turnout. Strategic marketing, multiple polling places, innovative voting times, and technology.

5. Reconsidering Meetings. Redefine how, when, and where you conduct meetings and business.

6. Reconsidering Your Structure. Reorganize so all positions are filled and projects are realistic.

7. Developing Transition Materials. Documents that share project progress and reduce successors’ learning curves.

8. Recruiting a Competent Advisor. An advisor who can help navigate campus politics and support your successors.

9. Reconsidering Your Purpose. Maximize limited manpower and demonstrate that your SG gets things done.

10. Enhancing Administrator Relations. Improve or repair relationships with administrators, faculty, and staff.

If you’re trying to form and improve a high school Student Government, ASGA can give you the tools to be successful.

1. Creating Infrastructure. Examples of constitutions, bylaws, officer job descriptions, and election codes.

2. Helping You Set an Agenda. A realistic plan of action that makes you more credible to students and administration.

3. Starting Signature Programs. Search the SG Database for best practices you can implement to get the attention of your fellow students and teachers.

4. Improving Meetings. Parliamentary procedure materials and tips for running more effective meetings.

5. Developing an SG Brand. Help clarifying your role so your organization has a clear purpose and better chance of survival.

6. Training Your Members. Through conferences and consulting, ASGA trains your officers and members to serve efficiently and competently.

7. Connecting You With Peers. Opportunities to exchange ideas with SG members from all types and sizes of institutions nationwide.

8. Supporting Your Advisors. Most teachers have never worked with SG before. ASGA provides resources and peer networks to help advisors grow.

9. Improving SG Finances. Knowing how to raise money and stretch limited funds accelerates your development as an organization.

10. Providing Expert Analysis. ASGA’s panel of SG experts can analyze your unique situation and provide tailored recommendations.

Residential SGs generally see higher student participation than commuter campuses. But with numerous programs and activities competing for attention, students have plenty of other diversions, and negative rumors spread quickly in a close-knit environment.

1. Managing Your Image. Outreach plans including public appearances, advertising, and marketing to boost opinions of SG and overcome the rumor mill.

2. Increasing Recruitment and Retention. Plans to aggressively recruit new members, retain current ones, and move toward contested elections.

3. Developing Signature Programs. Programs that address students’ needs and capture their respect. The SG Database provides proven examples.

4. Connecting You With a Vast Peer Network. The SG Database, training events, and online forums provide opportunities to develop coalitions with nearby SGs.

5. Enhancing Voter Turnout. ASGA can help you increase turnout even further,the key to administrator respect is demonstrating you represent students.

6. Developing Transition Materials. Documents that share project progress and keep transitions smooth for successors.

7. Improving Administrator Relations. Strategies to improve your SG’s relationship with administrators and ensure SG has a voice on campus.

8. Supporting Student Advocacy. Help growing beyond being just an activity board to truly representing and championing student issues.

9. Training Your Members and Advisors. Through conferences and consulting, ASGA trains your officers and members to serve competently.

10. Improving Funding. Make a case for more funding and get better control of the funds you do have.

Faith-based schools range from major research universities to small seminaries. Students often share a commitment to serving others,but if dedicated students don’t see value in your SG, they won’t join it.

1. Improving Your Image. Promote SG as an organization that benefits students’ future careers and callings to serve.

2. Reconsidering Your Structure and Purpose. Reorganize so all positions are filled with committed members and projects are realistic.

3. Connecting You to Peers Nationwide. ASGA has more than 1,029 private religious-affiliated institutions in its database,your SG should be tapped into trends at these like institutions.

4. Improving Relations With Your Administrators. A close working relationship allows you to better address concerns specific to faith-based institutions.

5. Increasing Recruitment and Retention. Emphasize the servant-leadership component of SG positions to attract members aligned with your school’s mission.

6. Conducting Research for You. We’ll provide background information and conduct research on any SG-related question or problem you need data to support.

7. Providing Expert Analysis. ASGA’s panel of experts can examine your organization and provide tailored recommendations specific to faith-based institutions.

8. Helping You Survey Your Student Body. Determine what support students need from their SG, then point you to programs that have worked at similar institutions.

9. Developing Transition Materials. Documents that provide continuity from one year to the next.

10. Training Your Members and Advisors. Through conferences and consulting, ASGA trains your officers, members, and advisors to serve efficiently and competently.

SG is historically an afterthought at most technical, trade, and city colleges. Students often doubt SG will be useful, and administrators from non-higher-education backgrounds don’t fully grasp how a strong SG can help with recruiting and retention.

1. Improving Your Image. Promote SG as an organization that benefits students and their career objectives.

2. Developing Infrastructure. A strong constitution, bylaws, election codes, and documentation that will endure long after your term.

3. Improving Relations With Administrators. Get along with campus administrators and work cooperatively on projects that benefit the school and student body.

4. Drafting Transition Materials. Effective transitions keep continuity from one year to the next.

5. Improving Meeting Management. Run meetings effectively to save time and keep everyone on task.

6. Developing Signature Programs. Programs that matter to students and help SG gain attention and respect.

7. Improving Funding. Fundraising ideas, data, and precedent for increasing SG funding, plus tips for making money stretch further.

8. Training Your Members and Advisor. ASGA training workshops prepare your officers, members, and advisors for the year ahead.

9. Improving Records. A record-keeping system so successors don’t have to start over each year.

10. Recruiting New Members. Spread the word that SG offers valuable management, finance, and public relations experience that will look great on a resume.

If you’re trying to form a Student Government consisting of homeschool students, ASGA can give you the tools to be successful.

1. Creating Infrastructure. Examples of constitutions, bylaws, officer job descriptions, and election codes to forge the backbone of your organization.

2. Helping You Set an Agenda. A realistic and attainable plan of action for the coming year.

3. Starting Signature Programs. Search the SG Database for best practices you can implement or emulate.

4. Improving Meetings. Parliamentary procedure materials and tips for making your meetings more effective.

5. Developing an SG Brand. Clarify your role so your organization has a clear purpose.

6. Training Your Members. Through conferences and consulting, ASGA trains your officers and members to serve efficiently and competently.

7. Connecting You With Peers. Opportunities to exchange ideas with SG members from all types and sizes of institutions nationwide.

8. Supporting Your Advisors. ASGA provides resources and peer networks to help advisors,usually parents,grow and improve.

9. Improving SG Finances. Raising money and stretching limited funds accelerates your development as an organization.

10. Providing Expert Analysis. ASGA’s panel of experts can analyze your unique situation and provide tailored recommendations.

Public SG offers rich leadership experiences that often mirror local, state, and federal government. Most state constitutions provide explicit rights and responsibilities for SG at public institutions,but as an organization supported by public funds, you’re also more accountable to students and taxpayers.

1. Improving Your Image and Credibility. Marketing and outreach plans to promote your programs and make the organization more visible and effective.

2. Mapping Out Feasible Short- and Long-Term Goals. Tried-and-true programs that have worked at other SGs you can adopt on your own campus.

3. Enhancing Transition Plans and Materials. Effective transitions allow your SG to move forward on multi-year commitments rather than retreading old ground.

4. Resources to Increase Election Turnout. Online voting, new marketing campaigns, and strong PR to improve turnout and capture the administration’s attention.

5. Supporting Your Student Trustee. Training and perspective on national trends to help your trustee be more effective. If you don’t have one yet, ASGA can help you get there.

6. Improving SG Documents and Structure. Strong governing documents and a structure that ensures every position is filled and has a real purpose.

7. Increasing Recruitment and Retention. Strategies to bring in new members and keep current officers engaged.

8. Providing Lobbying Resources and Support. ASGA has data and contacts for every statewide student lobbying group in the nation.

9. Creating a Network of Local, Regional, and National Colleagues. Develop coalitions with nearby SGs and similar institutions to increase your authority on issues.

10. Training Your Members and Advisor. ASGA training workshops and conferences prepare your officers, members, and advisors for the year ahead.

Private institution SGs face unique challenges. Their schools aren’t obligated to provide public records. Boards of trustees are appointed rather than publicly selected. And without state funding, students are often more at the mercy of administrative decisions.

1. Tailored Support and Resources. Private institutions range from 200-student undergrad colleges to major universities,ASGA’s support applies regardless of size or need.

2. Training for Your Members and Advisor. ASGA training workshops prepare your officers, members, and advisors for the year ahead.

3. Support for a Student Trustee. Examples of students who have successfully added a student trustee position at private schools and how they accomplished that goal.

4. Funding Assistance. Use the SG Database to find funding data at similar schools, then present it to your administration as precedent for why you should receive more.

5. A Network of Local, Regional, and National Colleagues. Develop coalitions with nearby SGs and similar institutions to learn about best practices.

6. Resources to Increase Election Turnout. Online voting, new marketing campaigns, and strong PR to improve turnout and demonstrate that SG represents students.

7. Ways to Increase Recruitment and Retention. Bring in new members and keep current officers involved using innovative meeting times and methods.

8. Tips for Improving Relations With Your Administrators. A united front between SG and administration usually leads to better press for the school and more gains for your organization.

9. Guidance Drafting Transition Materials. Effective transition documents provide continuity from one year to the next.

10. Support to Become Student Advocates. Help growing beyond being just an activity board to truly representing and championing student issues.