FAQs

A Student Governance Organization (SGO) is a student-led organization  funded by the Student Services Budget, which includes UT Student  Government, Senate of College Councils and Graduate Student Assembly. Although each organization has a specialized mission and purpose, they all serve as voices for students on campus. 

The UT Austin Student Government represents the entire student body and has a broader scope, focusing on issues that affect students across all colleges and schools at UT Austin, with an emphasis on student life and experience. It is made up of an Executive Branch, a Legislative Branch (the Assembly), and a Judicial Branch (the Supreme Court).

The Senate of College Councils is an organization made up of representatives from each of the University's colleges and schools. It focuses on issues specific to each college and school, such as curriculum changes or academic policies. The Senate of College Councils is the coordinating body that brings together the 22 College Councils to represent UT Austin students in academic affairs and provide student opinion on academic issues to the University's administration.

The UT Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) is a representative body for graduate and professional students at the University of Texas at Austin. It is composed of representatives from each graduate program, who are elected by their peers, and executive officers who are elected by the Assembly. GSA's mission is to advocate for and address the needs and concerns of graduate students on campus and work towards improving their academic and non-academic experiences. The Assembly works closely with the University administration, including the Graduate School, to promote and implement policies and programs that benefit graduate students. 

Student Government’s effectiveness at UT Austin is shaped not just by its formal powers, but by the strength of its relationships, strategy and internal culture. SG’s power is constrained by institutional boundaries, reliance on University support and a limited one-year term that forces leaders to prioritize carefully. Despite these limits, SG can secure tangible wins—from digital IDs to safety initiatives to student resources—that directly shape the campus experience.

The three branches of Student Government differ in their core functions and responsibilities: the Executive Branch leads the organization, represents students to University leadership and oversees the implementation of initiatives and day-to-day operations; the Legislative Branch (the Assembly) creates official SG policy, passes legislation and represents student constituencies across campus; and the Judicial Branch (the Supreme Court) interprets SG’s governing documents, resolves internal disputes and ensures constitutional compliance. These branches operate separately to maintain balance, but together form the full structure of Student Government. 
 

You can get involved in Student Government in several ways.

• Run for office: Students can run in the spring Campus-wide Election for positions and in the annual fall First-year Election, which provides two elected seats specifically for incoming students.  
• Work on an initiative: Beyond elected roles, any student may share their ideas with an elected representative, request to join SG committees as an ex-officio member, or give feedback on current legislation through the Initiative Tracker.
• Apply for an appointed position: SG appoints students to the Executive Staff of the Executive Alliance which is your opportunity to work under a niche director's role. These applications are published immediately after the Executive Alliance is elected and sworn in during March or April. 
• External University committees: SG appoints students to external University committees, creating more avenues to contribute to campus decision-making. These applications are published every fall and promoted through various comms channels. Connect with us!