UMass Student Governance

Under Trustee Document T73-098 (also known as known as The Wellman Document), UMass Amherst students are granted “primary responsibility for services and activities which are designed primarily to serve students or those which are financed primarily by students, managing student political affairs and organizational matters, and setting standards for student behavior, conduct, and discipline.” This responsibility is defined as “the capacity to initiate recommendations, after appropriate consultation.”

Student Government Association

The Student Government Association (SGA) is the official body that students use to exercise this responsibility. The SGA is also responsible for managing the Student Affairs Trust Fund -SATF by allocating funding for all RSOs and a number of agencies that provide student services and promote student welfare. Additionally, the SGA provides a vehicle for students to engage in advocating for student needs and shaping the campus community through collaborative involvement with campus committees and programmatic and divisional leadership.

SGA on Instagram SGA on Instagram

Graduate Student Government

Graduate Student Government (GSG) is one of the formally recognized governance bodies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The GSS serves as the graduate students’ representative body, working and communicating with the University administration, the Board of Trustees, and other governance bodies to present the views of, advocate for and protect the interests of UMass Amherst graduate students. It pursues policies and objectives that serve to advance the social, cultural, material and academic needs of the graduate student community.

GSG Website GSG Website