Key Takeaways
- Student government gives students a meaningful voice on campus and enhances the overall college experience.
- Participation helps students build leadership, communication, and professional skills that transfer to academics, careers, and personal growth.
- Serving in student government provides real-world governance experience, from budgeting to event planning to advocacy.
- Student leaders have the opportunity to advocate for positive change, amplifying the concerns and goals of their peers.
- Involvement fosters networks with faculty, staff, and fellow students — opening doors to mentorship and future opportunities.
- Being active in student government strengthens your resume or graduate school application, demonstrating leadership and initiative.
- Getting involved can deepen your sense of belonging, civic engagement, and community connection throughout your college journey.
Your college years span a brief time in life when you have access to unique opportunities. Taking advantage of these prospects, such as participating in student government or student council, could help you develop your leadership skills while enriching your overall college experience.
Why Student Government Matters
Student government gives a voice and platform to a university’s student body while helping to provide participants with invaluable leadership development opportunities and a richer college experience.
What Is Student Government? Defining Student Government and Student Council
The terms “student government” and “student council” are sometimes used interchangeably, but on some campuses, they refer to distinct and separate organizations.
- A student government is a student-run campus organization with a formal structure that typically mirrors the branches of the federal government.
- A student council is a less formally organized group of students who are elected to represent and advocate on behalf of a larger portion of the student body.
Both groups provide campus advocacy and student body representation while working to improve campus life and the educational experience.
How Student Government Participation Enhances Your College Journey
Participating in student government could enhance your journey through college both directly and indirectly. Individuals in student government can benefit from leadership development opportunities. They gain hands-on experience in decision-making, financial management, conflict resolution, and governance while navigating complex situations. Additionally, student leaders have the opportunity to improve their collaboration abilities while developing a sense of responsibility for their university journey.
Indirectly, students who participate in student government may benefit from the difference that they make in their positions. The student council is responsible for advocating for and implementing policy changes and student resources that benefit students and improve campus life.
When students arrive on campus, finding their place can feel both exciting and overwhelming. For Anastasia Dedgjonaj, now president of the Student Government Association (SGA), the turning point came with one simple piece of advice from her older sister, Simona: “Put yourself out there.” Explore how student government helped Anastasia grow as a leader — and how it could do the same for you.
Understanding Student Government Roles
Numerous student government roles are available in different university groups.
Common Structures
The structure of student government varies between different types of organizations, such as:
- Student Government Association (SGA)
- Student Council (Student Parliament)
- Online Student Governance (Council for Online Student Experience, or COSE)
- Clubs
The structure of these campus organizations commonly mimics that of government bodies and branches (e.g., legislative, executive, and even judicial). Positions often include:
- President
- Vice President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Representatives
- Committees
- Boards and chairs
Types of Roles
The roles in student government, student council, and campus clubs may consist of three main categories of elected positions:
- Executive – These roles include president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.
- Legislative – Some student governments also have a senate or parliament responsible for advocating on behalf of the student body.
- Committee – Committees typically comprise senators or council members. Each committee focuses on a different topic, such as student life, academics, athletics, finance, or security.
Leadership and Professional Skill Building
Participating in student government provides opportunities for building professional skills and leadership development.
Hands-on Governance
Student government officials gain hands-on governance experience as they contribute to decision-making, practice collaboration and conflict-resolution, and learn the importance of effective delegation.
Developing Soft Skills
Student government activities also help students establish and improve soft skills that are invaluable in academic, professional, and even personal life. Through their activities, meetings, and duties, student government officials practice public speaking, learn strong organizational skills, and become experts in time management.
Exemplary Real-World Example
Those in student government gain real-world management, government, leadership, and planning experience — as they are responsible for writing, revising, improving, and implementing campus policies along with scheduling and planning campus events.
Advocacy and Campus Impact
In addition to developing skills and gaining experience, student government participants have the opportunity to make a positive impact on campus through advocacy and implementing change.
Amplifying Student Voices to Administration on Key Issues
Student government officials and council members are elected to represent the broader student body, giving them a voice and advocating on their behalf at a higher level. Student government members bring the concerns, challenges, and desires of the student body before the university’s administration to help solve key issues, improve academics, overcome challenges, and foster a healthy, happy, and successful student body.
Success Stories
Student government organizations often advocate for real change that improves the daily lives of students. For instance, they might work to raise the minimum wage paid on campus or to expand dining hours to make it easier for all students to attend mealtimes.
Structuring Initiatives
Members of student government are responsible for managing budgets and allocating funds in a way that supports the interests and well-being of the greater student body. They leverage their positions to support successful campus programs while advocating for positive policy changes.
Building Networks and Mentorship
Those in student government organizations have the opportunity to develop an extensive network of peers, mentors, faculty, staff, and student leaders.
Collaborating With Faculty, Staff, and Student Leaders
To effectively fulfill the duties and responsibilities of their positions, student government and council members must communicate and collaborate with student leaders (like club presidents), faculty, staff, and administrators to understand the concerns and challenges of the student body while advocating to the right individuals on their behalf.
Pathways to Mentorship and Professional References
Thanks to these collaborations, student government participants may forge networking opportunities. Such connections may help students develop relationships with faculty, staff, and administrators who may later serve as mentors or professional references after graduation.
Forming Lasting Connections Across Campus
Students involved in campus government work closely with a tight-knit group of like-minded peers while collaborating with student groups across campus. In turn, they have the chance to develop an extensive group of acquaintances and form lasting friendships.
Enhancing Campus Life and Community
One of the primary functions of student government is to enhance campus life and its overarching sense of community.
Planning Events
Student council and government are responsible for planning, hosting, and funding:
- Cultural festivals
- Workshops
- Career fairs
- Involvement fairs
- Various other social events
Fostering Belonging and Enriching the Campus Environment
These student organizations strive to cultivate a campus culture and environment that fosters a sense of belonging and copious opportunities for connection among the student body.
Partnerships With Other Clubs and Organizations
Student government organizations often form partnerships and alliances with other university clubs and organizations. This is an excellent way for council members to collaborate and communicate with other campus leaders and representatives.
Boosting Your Resume and Future Opportunities
Student government presents students with opportunities that may bolster their future aspirations and opportunities.
Demonstrating Leadership
Participating in student government demonstrates leadership skills that graduate schools, and potential future employers recognize and value.
How Student Governance Stands Out on College Applications
Student governance may set a college application apart because it demonstrates a variety of skills and qualities that admissions officials value — such as leadership, collaboration, teamwork, problem-solving, conflict resolution, commitment, and dedication.
Student Government Career Trajectories
The aptitude for management and leadership skills developed and demonstrated through participating in student government provides opportunities for students to seek leadership-driven positions after graduation.
Personal Growth and Civic Engagement
Student government participation also fosters personal growth through activities that involve civic engagement.
Cultivating Responsibility, Resilience, and Ethical Leadership
As their actions and work directly influence the lives and experiences of students, student government leaders develop a strong sense of responsibility while learning to advocate with resilience and lead ethically.
Encouraging Lifelong Civic Participation and Activism
Many individuals in student government develop a lifelong passion for civic participation and activism — going on to advocate for important causes and participate in community councils, school boards, nonprofit boards, local government, and more.
The Sense of Accomplishment and Community Connection
Student government allows you the chance to make a real difference through your work and efforts that could benefit you, your peers, and the future of your university. The positive impact of your actions and hard work directly connects you to the campus community while allowing you to gain a sense of accomplishment.
Getting Involved: First Steps
If serving in a student government organization or as a student council member interests you, you may begin your journey by:
Exploring
Learn more about the student government organizations on your campus and the positions that most interest you. Attend involvement fairs, look for club listings in your student org directory, and obtain information by attending organizational events. Additionally, you may always contact the Student Affairs Office for more information about campus leadership opportunities.
Running and Applying
Once you are aware of the available organizations and committees and the positions within each, begin learning about the requirements associated with each position and the election (student government and council) or application process (committees). Take the time to introduce yourself to the current student government members. Ask for their advice about running a campaign so you may learn from their experiences.
Balancing Student Life
Participating in student government may be a considerable commitment. It requires time and effort on your part, so it is crucial to understand what the role entails. Have a plan in place to ensure you are able to balance your student government work and commitments with academics, self-care, and your personal life.
Ready, Set, Run for Student Government: Your Student Council Action Plan
Ready to pursue a position in your student government organization? Kickstart the process with this simple checklist:
Quick-Start Checklist
Start researching student government organizations early. Compile information, learn about the processes involved in joining, and make a plan. Be sure to put your name on sign-up and registration sheets and attend meetings — even if you have yet to be elected.
Goals Tracker
Keep track of your personal goals along the way. While you work on planning a campaign or improving your skills as a student government member, take action to learn more about leadership and advocacy and practice your public speaking.
Elevate Your Voice and Leadership at Post University
At Post University, both on-campus and online students have the opportunity to elevate their voices and advocate on behalf of their student peers to improve student life, academic experience, and student outcomes. Advance your leadership competencies and learn more about our student government organizations.
Thank you for reading! The purpose of this blog is to provide general information to the reader, and as such, this information may not directly relate to programs offered by Post University.
Please note jobs and/or career outcomes highlighted in this blog do not reflect jobs or career outcomes expected from enrolling in or graduating from any Post program.