Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BSUSA?
Any person enrolled for at least one credit hour are members
of the Bemidji State University Student Association (BSUSA). The BSUSA Student
Senate is the official representative and governing body of the students in
the BSUSA. Members of the BSUSA may:
* Vote in any BSUSA election
* Attend any BSUSA Student Senate function, meeting, or event
* Participate on any Student Senate committee, or any University committee
that calls for a student representative
* Seek election to and serve on the Student Senate, so long as they are
currently enrolled for credit at BSU, maintain a 2.0 grade point average,
and maintain a minimum of six semester credits for their entire
term of office.
What is Student Senate?
The Student Senate is the voice of the students at BSU. It represents
the student association, to which all students belong, at all levels of administration,
faculty, and staff as well as all levels of government. It is also the official
body that recognizes student organizations that are in compliance with BSUSA
and University policies and constitutions. Acting in compliance with a form
of parliamentary procedure, the Senate proposes regulations, creates services,
initiates activity or policy, enforces compliance, petitions particular action
by appropriate authority, and adopts resolutions to benefit the students of
Bemidji State.
How does the Senate work?
The Student Senate is comprised of five committees in which a
majority of the work for the students is done. Those five committees are: Legislative
Affairs, Academic Affairs, Student Services, Public Relations, and Diversity
Awareness. As events, issues and problems are brought to the Senate’s
attention, or sought out by the Senate, it is filtered through to the appropriate
committee. The committee then works to implement policy or action on behalf
of the Student Senate. Before action is officially taken, though, the entire
Senate votes to approve it.
The chairs of these committees, in addition to the Secretary/Treasurer,
the President, and the Vice-President meet on a weekly basis to discuss upcoming
activities and issues that each committee might be handling, as well as to
discuss the general direction of the Senate body.
Any student at BSU is welcome to join a Senate committee, as
well as any university committee that requires student input. We also welcome
any students that wish to attend our weekly full senate meetings. They are
held every Wednesday at 6:00 pm in the North Conference Room of Hobson Memorial
Union.
What is MSUSA?
The Minnesota State University Student Association is the officially
recognized state student organization that acts on behalf of all students in
the Minnesota State Universities. The decisions of MSUSA are made by the Board
of Directors, which is composed of the seven state university Student Senate
presidents at monthly meetings held at the state universities throughout the
state.
MSUSA Staff consists of an Executive Director, an Office Manager,
Director of Campus Relations, Director of Communications, Director of Research
and Policy, Director of Advertising and Creative Design, Director of Development,
Director of University and Gov't Relations, the State Chair, the Vice Chair,
Treasurer and interns. The staff coordinates lobbying efforts for all state
university students and represents students to all areas of higher education
policy making. It is funded by a 39 cent per credit per semester fee paid by
all state university students
What is MnSCU?
MnSCU is the officially recognized state organization representing
Minnesota’s 55 state universities, community colleges, and technical
colleges
How Can I Get Involved in the Student
Senate?
* Vote in elections
* Attend Student Senate meetings every Thursdays at 4:00 pm in the North
Conference Room of the Lower Union
* Join a Senate or University committee.
* Attend MSUSA functions: conferences, fundraisers, benefits, etc.
* Seek appointment to a Senate committee. You DO NOT have to be
a senator to be a committee chair
* Run for Student Senate in the Fall or Spring of every year.
**YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A SENATOR TO ATTEND SENATE FUNCTIONS
AND/OR TO BE A MEMBER OR CHAIR OF A COMMITTEE
For more information on the Student Senate committees, please
see the section dedicated to our committees. If you have a question that has
been not been answered by this or any other section of our website, please
feel free to e-mail us at bsustudentsenate@bemidjistate.edu
