Student Government Association

The SGA Executive Board consists of five elected officers:

• President
• Vice President
• Student Trustee
• Secretary
• Treasurer

The Student Trustee is elected in April serving a one-year term while the other officers are elected in September, serving the nine-month academic year.

The SGA holds general elections for officer positions using an online application and online voting processes.

 

How to apply for candidacy

Are you interested in running for an officer position? Please complete a candidate application and submit a video of yourself answering the questions outlined on the application.

Interested candidates must:

• Be enrolled in at least six Sandburg credit classes for the current academic year.
• Have a GPA of at least 2.0.
• Be in good academic and disciplinary standing with Sandburg.

Candidate videos should:

• Include your name, year in school, degree and your involvement on campus/in the community.
• Answer the questions outlined on the application to the best of your ability.
• Be professional.
• Be less than three minutes.
• Be appropriate for online posting for students to view.

Contact the SGA Advisor for application and video due dates.

SGA officer candidate information (Please read!)

SGA officer candidacy application

 

Elections

Candidate videos and online voting will be open for campus viewing and voting. Visit the SGA Elections tab to view all candidate profiles and locate the voting link.

Candidates are welcome to share the election and their candidacy on personal social media but are not permitted to post on any official Sandburg social media pages. Any and all campaigning should be appropriate and professional; any negative or slandering of other candidates will not be tolerated. Inappropriate campaigning will result in the forfeiture of the candidate from the election.

 

Past Officers

2019-2020
Robert Wolford, President
Lindsey Nelson, Vice President
Olivia Bishop, Student Trustee
Lexi Murphy, Secretary
Mary Howard, Treasurer

2018-2019
Zana Danner, President
Violet Fields, Vice President (FA18)
Charles Austin, Vice President (SP19)
Robert Wolford, Student Trustee
Lexi Murphy, Secretary
Tucker Palmgren, Treasurer

2017-2018
June Detrick, President
Violet Fields, Vice President
Donyae Payton, Student Trustee
Krista Rose, Secretary
Robert Wolford, Treasurer

2016-2017
Melissa Paris, President
Braden Myler, Vice President
Skye Swearingen, Student Trustee
Ryan Rutledge, Secretary/Treasurer

2015-2016
Ryan Rutledge, President
Skye Swearingen, Vice President
Student Trustee, Mia Ismal
Amber Connour, Secretary
Ryshika Parker, Treasurer

2014-2015
Emily Schoonover, President
Rylie Yoho, Vice President
Blas Nache, Student Trustee
Ashley Schmidt, Secretary
Kassidy St. Clair, Treasurer

2013-2014
Hayley Mills, President
Alexandra Strom, Vice President
Tanner Nygard, Student Trustee
Shakisha Grays, Secretary
Jessica Riden, Treasurer

2012-2013
Joel Kouakou, President
Lisa Zucco, Vice President
Rachel Grzela, Student Trustee
Heather Nagle, Secretary
Mike Nache, Treasurer

The position

By law, colleges are required to have student representation on the Board of Trustees governing the institution. This student trustee position is not only important to administration but also to the students.

The student trustee requires a strong commitment of time and energy on the part of the student. It is the most unique experience a student can have at the community college and could possibly be the most rewarding.

 

Term of office

The Board of Trustees is comprised of seven trustees elected at large from Community College District 518. An eighth trustee is the student trustee elected by the student body, who has an advisory vote. Trustees serve six-year terms on a rotating basis. Student trustees are elected annually and seated in April.

The student trustee will serve a term of office of one year beginning in April. The student must be able to fulfill the year-long term.

 

Responsibilities

• Attend the Board of Trustee meetings held once a month, in addition to two to three possible other meetings, which could be scheduled within one month.
• Develop a student trustee report to present at Board of Trustee meetings to share information on behalf of the student body. This report will keep the Board apprised of issues and events occurring within the student community.
• Reading many college documents, discussing recommendations on the operation of the college.
• Serving on student government and attending weekly meetings to report on issues relating to the student population from the Board of Trustees.
• Meeting regularly with the coordinator of student life and others upon request.
• Attending regional, state and national meetings as the student representative for Sandburg with the Illinois Community College Board Student Advisory Committee (ICCB-SAC).
• Working with student government to keep students in the communication loop about things happening at Sandburg.
• Working with student government to promote the role of student trustee and seek interested replacements for the position before the term ends.
• Participating in the Spring commencement ceremony (held in May) as part of the stage party.

 

Qualifications

The student must:

• Have earned nine college credit hours at Sandburg and must be enrolled for six or more hours each semester of their term.
• Have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
• Be in good standing as defined by the current Student Code of Conduct.
• Cannot have any Student Code of Conduct violations.

 

Selection process for student trustee

• Students interested in this position can be nominated by a Sandburg staff or faculty member or apply directly for the position.
• The interested student will submit A Declaration of Candidacy Packet, which includes an application, a short essay, a letter of recommendation from current staff or faculty member and a resumé.
• All students who have successfully submitted their Declaration of Candidacy Packet by the posted deadline will be officially listed on the ballot for the election.
• The election will run for a duration of one week in early April. A public forum will be held before the election begins for candidates to announce their intent to run and share with the student community why they wish to serve as student trustee.
• Candidates will be given an election petition on the first day of the election with which they must collect at least 50 unique signatures of currently enrolled Sandburg students. All election petitions are due back to the Office of Student Life by 4 p.m. on the final day of the election.
• Candidates may campaign through the end of the election. Candidates may use personal social media sites for promotion. Candidates may not post or comment on their candidacy on the official Carl Sandburg College social media sites or website. Candidates may create flyers or promotional materials to post on campus, but must get them approved through Marketing before posting. Campaigning must remain clean, fair and not used as a means to attack another opponent. Slander, defamation of character or any other kind of bad-mouthing of another candidate will not be tolerated, and will be grounds for forfeiture of candidacy and removal from the election.
• Selection of the student trustee will occur after the petitions have been tabulated and it has been determined one candidate has collected the most unique signatures from the student community.

 

Timeline

March 1: Declaration of Candidacy Packets open/available

March 30: Declaration of Candidacy Packets due

March 31: Mandatory Student Trustee candidate meeting

April 3 or 4: Public forum of Student Trustee candidates

April 5-12: Student Trustee election

April 15: Student Trustee term begins

*Dates subject to change depending on the academic calendar.

 

Current student trustee

Emma Smith 

Past student trustees

2022-2023 — Jasmin McDaniel

2021-2022— Brittany Wilborn

2020-2021 — Makayla Crain

2019-2020 — Olivia Bishop

2018-2019 — Robert Wolford

2017-2018 — Donyae Payton

2016-2017 — Skye Swearingen

2015-2016 — Mia Ismal

2014-2015 — Blas Nache

2013-2014 — Tanner Nygard

2012-2013 — Rachel Grzela

2011-2012 — Pam Eaves

2010-2011 — Joe Gembala

2009-2010 — Cristina Campos

2008-2009 — Brittany Manser

2007-2008 — Shalane Worden

2006-2007 — Paige Rohweder

2005-2006 — Paige Rohweder

2004-2005 — Meghan Kennedy

2003-2004 — Melissa Brown

2002-2003 — Tim Berry

2001-2002 — Jed Strom

2000-2001 — John Roberson

1999-2000 — Josh Gibb

 

For more information, contact:

Office of Student Life
B 56, Student Center
gstevens@sandburg.edu | 309.341.5332

 

Join as a student senator!

You may join SGA as a student senator, if you don't wish to run for office and still want to be involved. A student senator serves as a voting member of SGA and as a voice for the Sandburg student community. Up to 15 students may serve as senators.

If you're interested, complete the student senator application, and email it to the SGA Advisor. SGA Executive Board will review the applications and select students to serve in SGA.

The SGA meeting dates and times are determined at the beginning of each semester. All students are encouraged to attend to discuss current campus issues, upcoming student events and student leadership opportunities. Guest speakers, including faculty/staff, are welcome to attend upon request or invitation by an SGA member.

Can't make a meeting but would like to talk with an SGA member about your idea or issue? Email us your information.

General assembly meetings

First Monday of the month | 12:15 p.m. | E 200