Senate

The Senate, chaired by the President, is the legislative body of the Vassar Student Association. The nine Executive Board officers, six Committee Chairs, and sixteen Class Senators work to advocate on behalf of the student community through the Senate resolutions and casework processes and their service on college committees.

What We Do

Elected to represent the student community, the members of the Senate work to legislate and advocate on behalf of the student community and serve on the joint committees of the College.

Your four elected Class Senators are your connection to the Senate and VSA! It is their responsibility to communicate regularly with you and bring forth and advocate for your legislative initiatives and issues in their committees and the Senate. They are also your peer advocates through our casework system, holding the authority to support you through a variety of issues with faculty, administrators, and offices.

Who We Are

Executive Board

Office Hours: TR 3-4:30pm

Office Hours: T 3-4:15pm,
W 2:15-3:30pm, R 6-7:15pm

Committee Chairs

Senators

Committees

Operations Committee

Chaired by the Vice President, the Operations Committee is the administrative committee of the Senate, responsible for the maintenance and enforcement of our Governing Documents and any additional Senate rules and policies.

Equity and Inclusion Committee

Chaired by the Chair of Equity & Inclusion, the Equity and Inclusion Committee oversees initiatives regarding the physical, emotional, and mental safety and empowerment of students with marginalized identities and initiatives to improve and consider issues of campus climate as it relates to identity, equity, and inclusion. The Equity and Inclusion Committee also provides funding through the Social Consciousness Fund (SCF) to support affinity programming.

Academics Committee

Chaired by the Chair of Academics, the Academics Committee oversees initiatives and issues regarding academics and the academic life of students.

Dining Committee

Chaired by the Chair of Residential Life, the Dining Committee oversees initiatives and issues regarding the dining services provided by the College to students.

Organizations Committee

Chaired by the Chair of Organizations, the Organizations Committee oversees all student organizations, recommending the recognition, sponsorship, and certification of preliminary and certified student organizations. The Organizations Committee is also responsible for auditing student organizations. Each committee member serves as a liaison for student organizations and provides support and guidance on Organization Committee policies to them.

Finance Committee

Co-chaired by the Chair and Vice Chair of Finance, the Finance Committee oversees the funds of the Association, recommending the disbursal of funds to student organizations to the Senate and ensuring our bylaws and policies are adhered to when funds are spent by student organizations.

Health and Wellness Committee

Chaired by the Chair of Health & Wellness, the Health and Wellness Committee oversees initiatives and issues regarding the mental, physical, and emotional health and wellbeing of students.

Programming and Traditions Committee

Chaired by the Chair of Programming & Traditions, the Programming and Traditions Committee cooridnates all-campus programming, including Tasty Tuesday and the Saturday and NYC Shuttle programs, and traditions, including Serenading, Halloweekend, and Founder’s Day.

First-Year Program Committee

Chaired by the Chair of First-Year Programs, the First-Year Programs Committee oversees initiatives and issues regarding the success and wellbeing of the first-year class.

Environmental Action Committee

Chaired by the Chair of Environmental Action, the Environmental Action Committee oversees initiatives and issues regarding the environmental impact of the VSA.

Communications Committee

Chaired by the Chair of Communications, the Communications Committee oversees initiatives and issues regarding the communication and general outreach by the VSA to students.

Athletics Committee

Co-chaired by the Chair of Athletics and Student Athlete Advisory Committee’s Student Government Liaison, the Athletics Committee oversees initiatives to foster communication between athletes and non-athletes.

Student Labor Committee

Chaired by the Chair of Student Labor, the Student Labor Committee oversees initiatives and issues regarding the employment conditions of students.

Community Affairs Committee

Chaired by the Chair of Community Affairs, the Community Affairs Committee oversees initiatives to foster greater exchange between Vassar students and the greater Poughkeepsie community.