Policy Advocacy

University policies and procedures can have a significant and powerful impact on the experiences of students. Ongoing governance is expected to be cooperative effort between the various governing bodies on campus. The Wellman Document states that the Board of Trustees “recognizes that the faculty, the students, and other groups within the University have the right, the responsibility, and the privilege of advising on policies affecting the University” (Wellman I.A.4).

Wellman outlines a number of opportunities to engage students in the governance process of the University. In some instances students are given the “primary responsibility,” which is defined as “the capacity to initiate recommendations, after appropriate consultation.” The SGA developed a set of procedures

  • The ability to create University policies and procedures;
  • The privilege of contributing to long-range planning, the preparation of the annual budget request, and allocation of available resources;
  • “Primary responsibility” for managing student political affairs and organizational matters, and setting standards for student behavior, conduct, and discipline;
  • “Primary responsibility” for services and activities which are designed primarily to serve students or those which are financed primarily by students;
  • “Assured the opportunity” of participating in developing academic policies and evaluating degrees, programs, and courses; and
  • “Assured the opportunity” of participating in evaluating a faculty member’s effectiveness.


One of the main objectives of CEPA is to work with students and administrators to improve institutional policies that impact students.