ASWWU Government Elected Position Summaries

The AS President is the chair of the Executive Board. They ensure that the Board’s goals and operations are in alignment with the AS Government Charter, prepare weekly meeting agendas, and manage communications to and from the student body. Crucially, they act as an important link between students and the university administration, advocating for student issues, serving as a voting member on the President’s Advisory Group, and regularly presenting reports to the Board of Trustees and the President’s Cabinet. They also represent students to the state legislature as a member of the Washington Students’ Association’s Board of Directors.

The VP for University Operations works heavily with budgets. They communicate regularly with the President’s Cabinet, specifically Business & Financial Affairs and University Advancement. Importantly, they make sure to host community forums and listening sessions as appropriate. Facilities Development and Operations, the WWU Foundation, and University Communications also frequently meet with this position.

The VP for Governmental Affairs works to build student awareness of local, state, and federal legislation and encourage involvement in political change. They maintain their knowledge of government activities to plan and create an agenda for Western’s annual Lobby Day and chair the Legislative Affairs Council. They also work heavily with Civic Action Programs, especially the Coordinator of Legislative Affairs, to coordinate opportunities to increase student political involvement relating to local issues, lobbying, and voting.

The VP for Diversity works with university administration to advocate for the needs of underrepresented groups and promote the empowerment, retention, and inclusion of these groups on campus. They frequently communicate with The Centers for Student Access, Community, and Intercultural Engagement, and act as a voting member on a variety of boards and committees related to DEI, social justice, and undocumented student support.

The VP for Student Services works closely with a variety of campus entities to ensure and improve student wellbeing and basic needs access. They are a primary liaison with the Division of Student Affairs as well as various on-campus organizations related to physical and mental health, safety, food services, sustainability, and housing. Importantly, they help to coordinate listening sessions and community forums to understand the changing needs of the student body and how the university can better serve those needs.

The VP for Activities focuses on everything to do with student extracurriculars. They remain in communication with student clubs, student engagement program offices, Athletics, the Rec Center, student publications, and the Viking Union, ensuring student voices are included in decision-making to ensure the vitality of Western’s student life. Similarly, they serve as a voting member on several boards, such as the Student Publications Council and Student Union Advisory Group.

The VP for Sustainability supports the environmental and sustainability interests of students. They work with university administration by serving on the President’s Sustainability Council. They maintain relationships with sustainability-related student clubs and groups through leading the Student Sustainability Coalition (SSC) with support from the Sustainability Engagement Institute. As the chair of the Sustainability, Equity and Justice Fund committee and AS Transportation Advisory committee, they help to manage funds to increase campus sustainability.

The Senate President acts as the head of the Student Senate. They lead and create agendas for Senate meetings and are the primary liaison between the Senate and the student body, Executive Board, and university administration. They also help manage committees and related issues that may arise. In addition to maintaining communication with university administration, the Senate President attends the meetings of the Board of Trustees and Faculty Senate.

Twenty senators along with the Senate President make up the ASWWU Senate.
There are two senators from each college (including Fairhaven College and Graduate School) and four At-Large senators responsible for representing the student body as a whole.

The Senate primarily focuses on issues related to Academic Affairs and students’ academic experience at Western. Issues include academic standards, curriculum design and advocating for efficiencies in academic programs.

They assess department policies and academic support services, presenting a student perspective on matters like academic dishonesty. They may sit on academic committees, meet with their student constituents, and work alongside faculty and administration to address student needs. They also have freedom to work on non-academic projects across the university.

To represent this college, you must be officially listed in Western's system as a major or pre-major for a program in the college.

To represent this college, you must be officially listed in Western's system as a major or pre-major for a program in the college.

To represent this college, you must be officially listed in Western's system as a major or pre-major for a program in the college.

To represent this college, you must be officially listed in Western's system as a major or pre-major for a program in the college.

To represent this college, you must be officially listed in Western's system as a major or pre-major for a program in the college.

To represent this college, you must be officially listed in Western's system as a major or pre-major for a program in the college.

To represent this college, you must be officially listed in Western's system as a major or pre-major for a program in the college.

To represent this college, you must be officially listed in Western's system as a major or pre-major for a program in the college.

Responsible for representing students without an officially designated major or pre-major and programs/areas within Academic Affairs that are not covered administratively by a particular college (e.g. Western Libraries).