Student Government

Carnegie Mellon's Student Government has three branches: the Executive Branch and two legislative branches, the Undergraduate Student Senate and the Graduate Student Assembly.

The Student Body President, Vice President, and Vice President for Finance make up the Executive Branch. Together, the three executives coordinate the efforts of the entire student government. They communicate student concerns to the administration and work to create positive change in all areas of the Carnegie Mellon student experience. The VP for Finance focuses on ensuring the financial well-being of student government and all organizations that are funded by the Student Activities Fee. 

The Undergraduate Student Senate (Senate) is elected by and serves undergraduate students. Its responsibilities include representing undergraduate student interests on a variety of campus life issues, including policy, safety, and facilities; acting as liaison between the undergraduate student body and the Carnegie Mellon administration with regard to academic and campus issues; and providing funding to events through Senate's special allocations process.

The Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) is elected by and serves the graduate student population. Its responsibilities include representing graduate student interests on a variety of campus life issues such as safety, transportation, and facilities; acting as liaison between the graduate student body and the Carnegie Mellon administration on issues such as stipends, health care, academic expansion, and diversity; acting as liaison to national graduate student organizations; providing opportunities for public service through on-campus blood drives and emergency relief efforts; organizing opportunities for meeting other graduate students; organizing events for graduate student orientation; and providing funding for events.

Committee on Student Organizations

The Committee on Student Organizations (CoSO) is empowered by Senate and GSA as the official body that manages student government recognition for student organizations.  It is composed of representatives from GSA, Senate, and several student organizations with advising from Student Activities. Its responsibilities include:

• Granting eligible student organizations official recognition;
• Determining criteria for recognition and the process for being recognized;
• Defining the benefits of recognition;
• Organizing and administering an annual re-recognition process with the assistance of Student Activities

Benefits of Becoming Recognized

Recognition entitles a student organization to many benefits:

• Ability to apply for funding eligibility status from the Joint Funding Committee
• Ability to reserve meeting places on campus and to set up displays in the various campus buildings subject to university regulations.
• Access to the university accounting system to make purchases and deposit allocations and other funds.
• Ability to request a University Center mailbox, an organization email account, and Andrew webspace.
• Eligibility to apply for office or storage space in the University Center and elsewhere on campus.
• Permitted to poster on bulletin boards throughout campus (see the Student Senate Poster Policy) and leaflet or petition on campus.
• Eligibility to participate in the Fall and Winter Activities Fairs.