ELECTIONS AND POSITIONS

Nominations open

〰️

Nominations open 〰️

Positions include all 7 executive roles and four SAS reps to GAPSA, which come with academic and research stipends, as voted on by the General Body. Nominate yourself or a friend.

More information about the positions and election rules below.

THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

The term of office of members of the executive Board shall be one year, beginning on May 15 of the year in which they are elected and ending one year thereafter.

The Executive Board shall meet bi-weekly.

Attendance at Executive Board meetings is mandatory for all of its members.

Each position comes with a $2000 academic and research stipend for the academic year. Executive board members are compensated for their time and work and are ineligible to apply for SASGov funding as a result.

Prior experience is not required to run.

If you are interested in running for a position, please fill out the form above with your nomination.

For further attributions about the roles and responsibilities, please refer to our constitution.

    1. Leads the General Body and Executive Board on all matters.

    2. Sets the agenda for all executive board and general body meetings.

    3. Serves as the primary SASGov liaison to the School of Arts & Sciences.

    4. The President organizes, motivates, and empowers student volunteers in support of all SASGov projects, initiatives and events.

    5. Serves on the graduate education committee in the School of Arts & Sciences and the Graduate Council of the Faculties to discuss academic policies for the university.

    Time Commitment:

    Light weeks - 4 hrs.

    Heavier weeks - 10 hrs

    Email for more information: sasgov-pres@sas.upenn.edu

    1. The Vice President for Policy monitors and evaluates policies of SASGov per the Constitution and all federal, state, local, School & University policies that concern SAS graduate students; and bring them to the attention of the General Body.

    2. The Vice President for Policy recruits and recommends graduate student candidates to the General Body for election to the University committees and other bodies.

    3. The Vice President for Policy chairs the Administration and Policy Committee, which is responsible for organizing the annual Town Hall with the graduate dean of SAS.

    Time Commitment:

    Light weeks - 3-5 hrs

    Heavier weeks - 8-10 hrs

    Email for more information: sasgov-policy@sas.upenn.edu

    1. The Vice President of Communications records the minutes of all Executive Board and General Body meetings and reports those minutes to each body as soon as possible.

    2. The Vice President of Communications serves as the primary school representative to the General Assembly of the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (GAPSA) and adheres to all GAPSA policies of being a general assembly representative, working with our other elected SAS reps to GAPSA.

    3. The Vice President of Communications maintains a record of all SASGov proceedings and keep on file all resolutions approved by the General Body.

    4. The Vice President of Communications monitors, screens, and disseminates all SASGov e-mail communications.

    5. The Vice President of Communications chairs the Communications Committee.

    Time Commitment:

    Lighter weeks: 3-5 hrs

    Heavier weeks: 5 - 6 hrs

    Email for more information: sasgov-comm@sas.upenn.edu

    1. The Vice President of Finance prepares the annual SASGov budget.

    2. The Vice President of Finance maintains accurate and current financial reports and records.

    3. The Vice President of Finance oversees, evaluates, and processes all applications for grants distributed by the General Body, including individual funding and group/event funding.

    4. The Vice President of Finance administers the funding for Graduate Groups and Graduate Programs as Described in Article VII.B of the Constitution.

    5. The Vice President of Finance chairs the Finance Committee.

    Time Commitment:

    Light weeks: 2 - 3 hrs

    Heavier weeks: up to 8 hrs

    Email for more information: sasgov-finance@sas.upenn.edu

    1. The Vice President of Operations coordinates room reservations, happy hour reservations, catering for meetings, and other logistical tasks associated with having a meeting.

    2. The Vice President of Operations arranges purchase order (PO) payments for all meetings and associated happy hour food/drink through the business office.

    3. The Vice President of Operations facilitates and monitors any online meeting attendance via Zoom.

    4. The Vice President of Operations is responsible for maintaining attendance during General Body meetings.

    5. The Vice President of Operations is responsible for registering all happy hours with the Office of Community Care.

    6. The Vice President of Operations chairs the Operations Committee.

    Time Commitment:

    Light weeks: 2 - 3 hrs

    Heavier weeks: up to 8 hrs

    Email for more information: sasgov-finance@sas.upenn.edu

    1. The Vice President of Public Affairs works with school newspapers, newsletters and other channels to promote the communication of information between SASGov and graduate and professional students in the School of Arts & Sciences.

    2. The Vice President of Public Affairs manages the SASGov website, social media accounts and Eventbrite for ticketing of events.

    3. The Vice President of Public Affairs devises, implements, and monitors SASGov advertising, public relations, and communications initiatives.

    4. The Vice President for Public Affairs chairs the Public Affairs Committee, which is responsible for evaluating the Penn Grad Talks applications and selection of judges, in conjunction with LPSGov and the School of Arts an dSciences.

    Time Commitment:

    Light weeks: 1 - 2 hrs

    Heavier weeks: up to 4 hrs

    Email for more information: sasgov-paffairs@sas.upenn.edu

    1. The Vice President of Social Affairs is responsible for coordinating SASGov sponsored athletic, cultural, social, and special events. These may include and are not limited to films, receptions, social events, speakers, and any other such events that may arise.

    2. The Vice President of Social Affairs works closely with the Vice President of Finance to manage the social budget and with the Vice President of Public Affairs to disseminate all publicity related to social events.

    3. The Vice President of Social Affairs shares responsibility for organizing SASGov’s role in welcoming incoming graduate students at a reception at the beginning of the academic year.

    4. The Vice President of Social Events chairs the Social Affairs Committee.

    Time Commitment:

    Light weeks: 1 - 2 hrs

    Heavier weeks: up to 4 hrs

    Email for more information: sasgov-social@sas.upenn.edu

SASGOV REPRESENTATIVES TO GAPSA

The General Body shall elect five graduate students from the School of Arts & Sciences to serve as School Representatives to the General Assembly of the Graduate and Professional School Assembly (GAPSA).

  1. The Vice President of Communications serves ex officio as a representative to GAPSA, and attends each GAPSA GA meeting and reports on their relevant activities, initiatives, and programs to the SASgov General Body and Executive Board. 

  2. GAPSA Representatives are not required to be SASGov Representatives.

SASGov Representatives to GAPSA are required to attend all GAPSA general assembly meetings as well as join and attend committee meetings. 

SASGov Representatives to GAPSA are required to attend at least three meetings of the SASGov General Body and shall report on the activities of GAPSA to the General Body. 

Elections for the SAS Representatives to GAPSA take place following the GAPSA Executive Board elections in the Spring semester. If all positions are filled, then a further round of elections will be held in the second meeting of the following Fall semester.

These positions come with a $500 academic and research stipend for each academic year, conditional on satisfying all GAPSA attendance policies. GAPSA representatives are compensated for their time and work but are eligible to apply for SASGov funding.

If you are interested in running for a position, please fill out the form above with your nomination.

ELECTION NOMINATIONS

Nominations can be self nominated or by a third party, either before the elections meeting by submitting the form above to the Vice President of Communications, or at the elections meeting. The election meeting is open to members of the School at large, who may participate in discussion. However, only members of the SASGov General Body may vote (in person only).

ELECTION ORDER

Positions shall be voted on in the following order:

  1. President

  2. Vice President of Policy

  3. Vice President of Communications

  4. Vice President of Finance

  5. Vice President of Public Affairs 

  6. Vice President of Social Affairs

  7. Vice President of Operations

  8. SASGov representatives to GAPSA

ELECTION PROCEDURE

After nominations for a position are closed, each candidate shall be given a three minute period to discuss their candidacy, to be followed by a three-minute question and answer period. No other candidates for the position may be in the room at this time. After all candidates have spoken, all candidates will leave the room and the general body shall have an open period to discuss the candidates. At the close of the discussion, voting will take place via paper ballot.

The current Executive Board may not vote, but may take part in the discussion if directly asked for their opinion by a member of the general body.

Should any candidate not win a position, they are welcome to run again for any other position that remains to be filled.