University at Albany Student Association
AbbreviationUAlbany SA
PredecessorMyskania
Formation1923
Legal status501(c)(3)
Location
  • 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York, 12222
Membership
12,000+
President
Jalen Rose
Vice President
Amelia Crawford
Chair of the Senate
Erin McGrath
Chief Justice
Tolu Anjorin
AffiliationsUniversity at Albany
Budget
$3 million[1]
Websitesaualbany.com

The University at Albany Student Association is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization[2] and the undergraduate student government of the University at Albany. It is the largest student run organization at the university.[3] Established in 1923, the University at Albany Student Association is the official on-campus undergraduate student government. The Student Association exists in order to provide and encourage opportunities beyond those offered in the formal curriculum.[4]

The UAlbany Student Association comprises four branches; Legislative, Judicial, Executive, and Finance. They also operate several departments that execute the Student Association's plan throughout school years.[5]

The focus of the Association is to provide the undergraduate student population with a positive campus experience.[6] The Association funds over 180 student groups and events on campus, including social, cultural, academic, and professional organizations.

History

Early Years and Formation as Myskania (1914-1921)

Interest in forming a student government dates from 1914. However, President Milne rejected a student petition at that time, stating, "There is no place in this institution for the association and activities contemplated in this petition." President A.R. Brubacher (1915-1939) took a more favorable attitude toward student government. In response to a 1915 student petition, he instructed Professor Risley to form a committee to study the possibility of creating a student government. An attempt at forming a rudimentary student organization was made in January 1916. As a result of Risley's study, Myskania was formed in 1917. Myskania, initially referred to as the student council, was an honorary body comprising seniors responsible for representing student opinions and improving the student body's department. In 1921, Myskania played a crucial role in suggesting the formation of the Student Association, the official student government.[7]

Early Structure and Responsibilities (1921-1928)

The Student Association was officially formed in 1921 with the purpose of managing all non-academic student matters. It had legislative, financial, and executive powers. Myskania served as a single judicial branch and guardian of school traditions. The Student Association's executive branch was initially managed by the Executive Board, consisting of the president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer, who carried out the provisions of the Assembly and acted as a court of appeals.[7]

Evolution of the Executive Branch (1928-1970)

By 1928, a new constitution altered the executive branch's structure. The Student Council replaced the Executive Board, and it included the president, vice president, secretary, and presidents of the four classes. The new Student Council had broader duties, such as arranging programs for Student Association meetings and executing all legislation passed by the Student Association.[7]

Engagement with Contemporary Issues (1930s-1940s)

During the 1930s and 1940s, the Student Association assemblies addressed contemporary issues, including presidential campaigns, the New Deal, and World War II. In 1949, the Student Association was involved in a project called CARE, aimed at assisting children affected by war.[7]

Emphasis on Student Rights and Equal Opportunity (1960s-Present)

From the late 1960s onward, the Student Association placed increasing emphasis on student rights and equal opportunity. Minority groups, such as the Women's Liberation Front, Black Students Alliance, and Lesbians for Freedom, gained formal recognition from the Student Association. Initiatives like the Equal Opportunity Program (EOP) were developed in 1973.[7]

Environmental and Academic Initiatives (1980s-Present)

The Student Association extended its focus to environmental issues, with the recognition of NYPIRG on campus in 1982. It also supported academic initiatives like the Frosh Reading Program.[7]

Involvement in Academic Affairs (1970s-1990s)

From the 1970s through the 1990s, the Student Association gained influence in academic affairs, including assessing the competence of teaching faculty and publishing the results of surveys in ACT and SCATE Booklets.[7]

Recent Developments (2017-present)

In 2017, Jerlisa Fontaine was elected as the University at Albany Student Association president. Fontaine was celebrated as the first black woman to assume the position, and the first female president in seventeen years. Fontaine's plans for the Student Association focused on improving budget transparency and emphasizing academic excellence and mentorship.[8]

In the 2019-2020 academic year, the Board of Finance launched an investigation into the Student Association president Desann Chin-Carty for the misuse of funds.[9] The investigation found them guilty, and the Student Association Senate voted for impeachment based on Article I: abuse of power and Article II: Neglect of duty.[7]

In June 2020, a petition initiated by members of the University at Albany appealed to the university to rename Indian Quad to Indigenous Quad as a part of a broader movement towards cultural sensitivity and inclusivity. It also urged the university to establish a task force responsible for identifying and renaming buildings that presently bear names reflecting racist ideologies or histories.[10]

In 2023, President Jalen Rose and Vice President Crawford engaged in talks with UAlbany’s Provost, Carol Kim, discussing various academic-related matters including extending the S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) course option dates, addressing issues related to academic advisors and faculty advisors not meeting students' expectations, and reducing the cost of printing for students[11]

Operations

Much like the U.S. federal government, the University at Albany's Student Association has a three-pronged structure, governed by executive, legislative and judicial branches.[12] The University at Albany Student Association is structured as follows:

  • The Executive Branch, responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations.
  • The Legislative Branch, consisting of the Student Association Senate.
  • The Judicial Branch, serves to solve disputes within student organizations.
  • The Finance Branch, consists of the office of Comptroller, who manages supplementary requests.
  • The Board of Finance, an independent committee that produces the budget.
  • Elections Commission, an independent commission that facilitates Student Association elections.

References

  1. ↑ Roberts, Leigh (6 February 2023). "Upcoming Referendum to Address Mandatory Student Activity Fee". Albany Student Press. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  2. ↑ Roberts, Andrea Suozzo, Alec Glassford, Ash Ngu, Brandon (9 May 2013). "Student Association At State University Of New York At Albany I - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Retrieved 27 October 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ "UAlbany Student Association 2018 Block Party". Capital Region Chamber. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "Administration | University at Albany". www.albany.edu. University at Albany. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  5. ↑ Johns, Alexis (October 4, 2021). "UAlbany Student Association Announces Fall 2021 General Election Winners". Albany Student Press. Albany Student Press. Albany Student Press. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  6. ↑ Johns, Alexis (7 December 2022). "UAlbany Student Association Announces Fall 2021 General Election Winners". Albany Student Press. Albany Student Press. Albany Student Press. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Student Association Records, 1921-2020 - M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections & Archives". archives.albany.edu. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  8. ↑ Matson, Zachary (2017-05-06). "UAlbany junior first black female to lead Student Association". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  9. ↑ Gazette, More from the Daily (2020-02-09). "Potential impeachment brews at UAlbany as student president accused of misusing student money". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  10. ↑ Mikati, Massarah (22 October 2020). "UAlbany students push swift renaming of Indian Quad". Times Union. Times Union. Times Union. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  11. ↑ Ness, Shawn (September 4, 2023). "UAlbany's Student Association Holds First Meeting of the Fall Semester". Albany Student Press. Albany Student Press. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  12. ↑ Silberstein, Rachel (19 February 2020). "An impeachment trial unfolds at UAlbany". Times Union. Times Union. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.