Student Association Applications

Thank you for considering a role in the Student Association. Stepping into leadership is one of the most impactful ways to serve your peers and ensure that Southern remains a place where students thrive spiritually and socially. This application is more than just filling a position; it’s about answering a call to serve God by serving others and using your unique gifts to build up our campus community.

I know that putting yourself out there can feel daunting, I remember the feeling. But remember that God does not call the equipped; He equips the called. If you feel a calling heart to run, don’t let fear hold you back. Pray for guidance, trust in His plan for your life, and take this step of faith. We are cheering you on and are here to support you every step of the way, don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything!

John Hargy
Student Association President
Email: johnhargy@southern.edu

• Call and chair meetings of the SASAU General Assembly
• Coordinate the activities of the appointed SASAU officers
• Make Executive Appointments
• Sit as an ex-officio member of any committee or subcommittee of the SASAU 
• Serve as the SASAU Chief Executive Officer and the SASAU cabinet chairperson
• Set-up and chair regular SASAU working relationship with the University administration and the local community
• Serve as a member of the SASAU Media Board
• Sit on Board of Trustees meetings, University Senate (voting member), Strategic Planning Committee (voting member)

• Call and chair meetings of the SASAU Senate
• Set the agenda for SASAU Senate Meetings
• Chair the SASAU Cabinet meetings if the SASAU President is absent
• Coordinate the SASAU Senate Elections and Chair the SASAU General Elections
• Serve as a member of the SASAU Media Board
• Facilitate the logistics and necessities of the SASAU Senate
• In the event that the SASAU Presidency is vacated, shall assume the office, and serve for the remainder of the given term

• Plan and coordinate all SASAU social activities
• Maintain proper University standards at all SASAU social activities
• Chair the SASAU Social Activities Task Force, promoting creativity and diverse ideas
• Coordinate with the SASAU Public Relations Director in the promotion of all SASAU social events and other SASAU social functions to the SASAU General Assembly
• Work with the Director of Student Life and Activities in support of other social activities

• Have a cumulative GPA of 2.25 and maintain a minimum of a 2.50 GPA during each semester in office.
• Have attended Southern Adventist University as a full-time student for a full academic semester and be currently enrolled.
• Abide with Southern's Community values, Code of Conduct and Student Handbook Policies. 
• Reside within a 30-mile radius while holding office
• Committed to being on campus by 12pm on Tuesday, August 11, 2026

• Campaign Conduct: SASAU candidates shall conduct their campaigns in the spirit of good Christian sportsmanship, and should encourage their supporters to conduct themselves similarly. Campaign misconduct may subject SASAU candidates to disqualification.
• Running Unopposed: Any SASAU candidate slated to run unopposed must receive a "yes" vote of more than 50% to hold the SASAU office. Otherwise, the SASAU Elections Management Task Force will organize a special election.
• Posters: No posters may be attached to wood, glass, or dry-wall. Only removable tape may be used. The SASAU Elections Management Task Force shall yearly designate specific areas for campaign posters and release it to all SASAU candidates before campaigning begins. All posters not meeting these standards are discarded. All posters must be removed within twenty-four (24) hours of the end of the SASAU elections. The use of paint, ink, or chalk shall be limited to the SASAU candidates' posters.
• Voting: Voting will be done online

• Assist the SA President in creating and maintaining schedules
• Take minutes of all SA proceedings including SA Senate, post in select locations, distribute to SA Executive Officers
• Prepare an agenda for meetings where the SA President chairs (SA Cabinet / SA Presidents Council)
• Purchase office supplies as needed
• Arrange for equipment repair if necessary
• Write inner-office memos, business letters, develop contact directories and schedules, file as necessary
• Coordinate the weekly production and distribution of the Campus Chatter and other potential publications as needed

• Prepare a budget for presentation to the SA Senate, both in the spring and the fall
• Deposit all SA funds into a commercial financial institution, pay bills, approve
  expenditures, issue check requests (upon approval of a check request form), and setup and maintain records of payroll with the university accounting office
• Maintain open communication between publication editors and advertising
  managers
• Prepare for distribution of financial statements approximately every month
  regardless of financial activity
• Set up an audit and prepare the financial statements necessary for an annual audit
• Updating asset inventory as needed
• Participate in and support SA functions

Payroll Manager 

• Assist the SA Financial Vice President in duties
• Participate in and support SA functions

Marketing Director (PR Director):

• Design artwork
• Has full control over all of SA’s social media accounts
• Promote the SA as a whole as well as specific events
• Submit budget to the SA Financial Vice President
• Coordinate public displays announcing any SA events
• Serve as the liaison officer between the SA Executive Branch and the University Officer of Public Relations in matters of mutual concern
• Maintain the SA Webpage keeping it current and informative
• Maintain the SA social media pages, including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
• Coordinate and oversee the public relation activities of the SA
• Participate in and support SA functions

Communication Director:

• Control Direct Messages from students
• Overview postings
• Ensure there is no double posting with other SA accounts
• Communicate between the different parts of SA and their accounts
• Come up with ideas to get students to express their ideas and concerns
• Help with productions to reach out to students
• Overview changes in the SA Website
• Work with the Marketing Director to brainstorm ways to promote SA
• Participate in and support SA functions

• Set-up/be present at each SA Senate meeting
• Uphold/enforce Robert's Rules of Order
• Record attendance, count and call votes at SA Senate meetings
• Work with SA Executive VP on organizing SA Senate
• Conduct an annual review of the SA Elections manual and the SA Constitution and Bylaws

• Oversee the weekly production, printing, and distribution of the weekly newspaper in print, on the website, and across all social media platforms
• Develop a budget, allocate resources, and manage expenses in collaboration with the SA Financial Vice President
• Hire employees and manage a staff of 20 to 30 people
• Oversee all writing and editing of the newspaper
• Maintain and follow industry best practices and standards
• Work closely with The Southern Accent advisor
• Serve as the liaison between The Accent, Student Development, and Human Resources

• Develop a theme and a style for the Southern Memories, per Article VIII, Section 5
• Propose a budget to the SA Financial Vice President
• Select a yearbook company
• Meet production deadlines
• Arrange underclassman pictures at first semester registration and arrange for senior portraits at a later date
• Appoint staff and submit a staff payroll to the SA Financial Vice President
• Distribute one Southern Memories to each student in the SA General Assembly
• Begin Southern Memories distribution at least two weeks before May Commencement
• Send Southern Memories to December graduates and others who purchase them
• Sell copies of Southern Memories to the University Office of Public Relations for distribution during the summer

• Develop a theme for the Strawberry Festival
• Submit a budget to the SA Financial Vice President
• Oversee all operations for the yearly production of the Strawberry Festival
• Organize a production crew
• Recruit technical support specialists for the production of the Strawberry Festival
• Coordinate deadline schedules

• Have been a full-time student at Southern for at least one full semester or attended SmartStart
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 per semester as well as a previous semester of a 2.50 GPA or above
• Abide by the policies stated in the Southern Handbook
• Be approved by the Student Services Committee
• Committeed to being on campus by 8am on Wednesday, August 19, 2026

• Be present at all Student Association Senate meetings and any emergency sessions called. Regular sessions will be held bi-weekly on Wednesdays at 7:30pm (subject to change)
• Conduct yourself as a professional during all meetings, refraining from disruptions and distractions. Business casual is the MANDATORY attire for SA Senate meetings
• Get to know your constituents, as it is your job to represent their best interests, not necessarily your own
• Email your constituents bi-weekly with the Senate minutes attached in a timely manner. Emails sent to constituents should be cc'd with the Executive Vice Presidents
• Engage your constituents in creative ways by reaching out to them on social media, visiting them in the residence halls or Village, and building intentional relationships with them
• Be willing to assist with SA events such as the Smile Initiative, Senate Surprise Days, and more
• Build personal relationships with your fellow senators
• Be engaged and active in the research and proposals of legislation for the improvement of Southern Adventist University
• Serve as a member of at least one (1) Senate committee and attend all meetings called by the chair of the committee
• Be a part of at least one (1) University committee

• Social Activities
  • Plan and organize Senate social events (Spirit Week, Senate Surprise Day, Smile Initiative, etc.)
  • Collaborate with the PR committee for Senate advertisements
  • Chair to meet monthly with PR chair
• Public Relations (PR)
  • Assist SA PR Director with making and distributing Senate publications
  • Promote Senate-initiated projects and events via both publications and social media (Spirit Week, Scholarship Run, etc.)
  • Correspond monthly with the Accent (newspaper) 
  • Market individual Senators to their constituents
  • Create an online version of the Senate Minute
  • Update SA website bi-weekly with a copy of the latest Senate minutes
• Projects
  • Examine and research Senate projects as brought forward by Senators
  • Approve or deny projects submitted for Senate review
  • Work to coordinate project teams and check on the progress of the ongoing projects throughout the semester
• Finance
  • Determine appropriations for student organizations each semester
  • Annually review club allocations form to maintain relevancy
  • Work with SA Finance VP to educate Senate of the SA budget as a whole
  • Keep committees informed of the state of the Senate budget
• Elections
  • Oversee SA Election procedure for the year
  • Join the Judicial Council in at least one meeting per semester to review the elections process
• Scholarship
  • Develop and incorporate methods and strategies for advancing the SA Senate Merit / Leadership scholarship fund
  • Plan for and organize the annual Scholarship Run as hosted by Senate
  • Chair to meet bi-monthly with faculty coordinator for fund updates and correspondences on scholarship strategies
  • Must bring at least one scholarship idea to Senate by end of school year

• Campus Safety Ticket Appeals
• Distance Education
• Diversity Committee
• Film Committee
• Honors (Southern Scholars)
• International Student Committee
• Public Arts Committee
• Retention Committee
• Screening Committee
• Spiritual Life Committee
• Student Activities Committee
• Writing Committee