One of the oldest institutions of student leadership, and predating even the Senate itself, the Student Body President (SBP) sits at the head of the Student Body, and acts as the primary spokesperson for student interests to the Administration, state and local government, alumni, and other parties.
The Student Body President has the exclusive right to sit and vote on any committee or body of the Administration, and actively does so. Currently, the Student Body President is a member of several institutions, including the UNH Alumni Association, the Space Allocation, Adaption and Renewal Committee (SAARC), and the 2017 University Presidential Search Committee.
The Student Body President is also the head of the Cabinet, the members of which serve as the primary means of implementing the SBP's policy mandate.
The Student Body President is amongst the only three positions to be elected by the entire Student Body, alongside the Student Body Vice President and the University Student Board Representative.
The Student Body President... shall be the legitimate representative voices of the undergraduate Student Body.
Student senate constitution
The Student Body Vice President (SBVP) is, alongside the Student Body President, at the forefront of student life at UNH. The SBVP acts as the primary assistant to the SBP, filling in for them in their absence and acting as their representative to meetings they are unable to attend. The SBVP is also a member of the Cabinet.
In the event of a vacancy in the office of Student Body President, the Student Body Vice President becomes the Student Body President.
The Student Body Vice President is amongst the only three positions to be elected by the entire Student Body, alongside the Student Body President and the University Student Board Representative.
The Student Body Vice President shall... be a spokesperson for the Student Body in conjunction with the Student Body President.
Student senate Bylaws
Elected by the entire First-Year population every fall, the First Year Representative represents all students whose first year it is at the University of New Hampshire, which includes freshmen, transfer students, and first semester non-traditional students.
The First Year Representative investigates and recommends policies and initiatives to the Student Body President and the Student Senate in relation to First Year life. A recent example of this is the First Year Guide compiled by the First Year Representative and published by the Student Senate.
The First Year Representative is also the Chairperson of the First Year Life Committee, which is composed of first year Student Senators, and is tasked with helping to inform first year students of Student Senate initiatives.
The First Year Representative shall... Be a spokesperson for all First Year students
Student senate Bylaws
Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Liaison
The Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Liaison serves as the official representative of the Student Senate to the greek community, namely, the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council. The Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Liaison also represents students are members of Greek life on the Student Senate, and works in conjunction with these Councils to represent fraternities and sororities as a whole to the Administration.
The Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Liaison also chairs the Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Committee, composed of all members of Student Senate who are also members of Greek life.
The Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Liaison also works to formulate policies and initiatives aimed at tackling issues under their jurisdiction; examples of resolutions introduced by the Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Liaison include R.39.13 - Regarding the Take Back the Night Incident and R.38.17 - Urging the Inclusion of IFC and the Panhellenic Council in Changes to the GPEP Program
The Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Liaison is responsible for liaising with:
The Academic Affairs Council oversees issues relating to academic programs and accountability, as well as courses, the Discovery Program, faculty, and the academic calendar. The Council also reviews and recommends changes to the academic sections of the Student Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities (SRRR) to the Student Senate. The Academic Affairs Council formulates policies and initiatives aimed at tackling academic issues; recent resolutions put forth by the Council include Resolution 37.43 - On Summer Tuition and Internship Course Credit, and Resolution 38.01 - On Creating Standard Academic Grading Scales.
The Academic Affairs Council Chairperson also sits as the student representative on the Faculty Senate.
The Academic Affairs Council is responsible for liaising with:
The Campus Structure Council oversees a broad range of issues, including campus sustainability, construction, building renovations, parking issues, and the Wildcat Transit system. The Council works with the Department of Transportation to monitor and respond to student input regarding on-campus transportation. The Campus Structure Council formulates policies and initiatives aimed at tackling issues in these areas; a recent resolution put forth by the Council includes Resolution 37.07 - On Removing the Need for Keys by Adding Combination Locks in Residence Halls
The Campus Structure Council Chairperson also sits as the student representative on the Transportation Policy Committee, and either appoints a student as a representative to, or attends meetings themselves, of the Space Allocation, Adaptation and Renewal Committee (SAARC)
The Campus Structure Council is responsible for liaising with:
The Community Development Council serves and formulates policies aimed at underrepresented student groups, such as the Diversity Support Coalition, Non-Traditional students, commuters, and athletes. The Community Development Council oversees a wide range of issues, including equity, inclusion, safety, and the general well-being of the UNH Community. Recent resolutions put forth by the Council include R.38.19 - Concerning Combating Bias Incidents On Campus, and R.39.16 - Reducing Gender Barriers in the Housing and Residential Life.
The Community Development Council also either appoints another student as a representative to, or attends meetings themselves, of Commissions of the University President, which include the Commissions on the Statuses of: People of Color, LGBTQ+ People, People with Disabilities, and Women at UNH.
The Community Development Council is responsible for liaising with:
The External Affairs Council works to address issues with entities outside the scope of the University Administration, including the Town of Durham, the State of New Hampshire, and the UNH Foundation. The Council also oversees relations between the student body and alumni. The External Affairs Council formulates policies and initiatives aimed at tackling issues in these areas; a recent resolution put forth by the Council includes R.37.22.A - On Student Involvement in Durham Town Government.
The External Affairs Council Chairperson also sits as the official representative of the student body to the Durham Town Council.
The External Affairs Council is responsible for liaising with:
The Health and Wellness Council is charged with with overseeing issues pertaining to the health and well-being of the undergraduate student body. The Council also works to improve student nutrition, access to recreational facilities, and medical services. The Health and Wellness Council formulates policies and initiatives aimed at tackling issues in these areas; recent resolutions put forth by the Council include R.37.34 - On Improving Smoking Policy Enforcement, and R.37.37.A - Making UNH the Healthiest College Campus in the US.
The Health and Wellness Council Chairperson is unique amongst other Cabinet members in that they also chair a committee of both students and administrators, the Dining Committee, which advises the Department of Dining on improving dining halls and food options.
The Health and Wellness Council Chairperson also sits as a member of the Student Health Benefit Plan Committee.
The Health and Wellness Council is responsible for liaising with:
The Judicial Affairs Council oversees issues relating to campus safety, law enforcement, and the student conduct system. The Judicial Affairs Council is charged with overseeing Student Senate’s oversight of the Student Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities (SRRR), and investigates proposed changes from Administrators that require Student Senate’s approval. The Judicial Affairs Council formulates policies and initiatives aimed at tackling issues under its jurisdiction; a recent resolution put forth by the Council includes R.37.36 - Regarding Improving Community Standards.
The Council is also responsible for Student Legal Services, the free legal education program of the Student Senate that periodically provides sessions with real attorneys throughout the school year free-of-charge for students.
The Judicial Affairs Council is responsible for liaising with:
The Student Body President and their Cabinet, as well as the Councils and Committees that report to them, are the primary means by which the Student Senate formulates and initiates policies, interacts with the Administration on a policy level, and addresses campus-wide concerns of the Student Body. The Student Body President and Vice President are elected by the entire Student Body every spring semester, and the First Year Representative is elected by First Year students during the fall. The other members of the Cabinet are appointed by the Student Body President with the advice and consent of the Student Senate.
