The Student Government Association has been accepting applications for the 2026-2027 administration.
Leonna Benton, president of the SGA and a senior pre-law and political science double major, explained the election process and the positions students can apply for.
She explained that students can apply for SGA elections by submitting an application through Engage. Election applications close April 2. After applying, candidates must meet with Chief Justice Wanjiru Theuri and learn about campaigning.
The campaign period opens on April 6, and those who have met with Chief Justice Wanjiru Theuri can run a campaign.
The polls open April 13
The campaign period ends April 19.
The process ends with the election results being announced April 21, the SGA Inauguration April 23, and the first general assembly meeting with the 2026-2027 administration April 30.
The executive branch of the SGA consists of the president, executive vice president, attorney general and chief financial officer.
“We mainly deal with external communication, so we’re meeting with departments about any student concerns and things like that from outside reach, so we’re mainly the voice of our entire organization and for the students,” Benton said.
Benton described vice president Mackenzie Hinton’s role as, “She’s more internal. She deals with more over the legislative branch, so anything that any of the SGA members need, they’ll go to her.”
The chief financial officer deals with money, as they are the official treasurer of the SGA.
The attorney general looks over the bylaws, rules and constitution.
The chief justice leads the university court. They deal with appeals, such as parking tickets.
“Mainly people join because they want to help students,” Benton said. “So SGA is definitely that direct way to do that because through SGA you’re able to meet with different departments as well, talk to different students and really get that one-on-one connection with the student to better help them and give them resources.”
She also said SGA is an amazing way to network with people and get involved with the student community.
“Whenever election and voting and all of that goes out, it’s kind of fun,” she said.
The full election calendar, as well as additional information, can be found on the SGA’s Instagram, @usisga.
Prospective candidates can apply on Engage.