Student involvement and leadership development have long been traditions at Texas A&M University.
However, there is limited documentation of the history of Student Government. Through observations of
annual yearbooks and student rulebooks the following timeline was created:
1876
Leadership of the Corps of Cadets represented student interests.
Class officers were elected and took a more active role as the College grew in size
1910
A more formal "Student Council" was formed that consisted of the four-class president and one
additional representative from each class. This council was formed to enforce the honor system and
supervise individual conduct outside of the Corps structure.
1916
A constitution was created for the "Students' Association of the Agricultural and Mechanical
College of Texas" with the purpose of eliminating all forms of cheating on examinations and quizzes
and all forms of stealing in the College; promoting the interest of the student body by publishing a
weekly paper and a College annual; and encouraging the support of athletics.
The leadership of the organization consisted of the general officers (President, Vice President,
Secretary-Treasurer, and Yell Leader) and the Student Council.
Every member of the Corps of Cadets was considered a member of the Association, and a majority
of cadets constituted a quorum.
During times of World War, student representation was inactive
1945
A new "Student Council" was created that allowed for non-Corps (civilian) student population.
The Council advised the Dean of Men, student activities, and student life.
1948
A "Constitution of the Student Body" was approved, transforming the Student Council into the
Student Senate and designating this group to be the governing body of all student activities
The change in structure also brought about a change in constitutional officers. The Student
Senate was led by a President, Secretary, and Parliamentarian.
1949
The administration of the College created another unit of Student Government by granting a
constitution to the Student Life Committee, which was created to govern all matters pertaining to
student life. This committee reviewed and made recommendations on all Student Senate Business that
required the action of higher authorities. The committee was composed of nine faculty and staff
members elected by the Student Senate, three student members elected by the civilian students, the
presidents of the senior and junior classes, the Corps Colonel, and the co-editors of the student
newspaper, The Battalion.
The president of the College created the Memorial Student Center Council, which joined the
Student Senate, the Student Life Committee and the Athletic Council as the college-wide agencies
that represented the student body.
1950
An article in The Battalion boasted a headline: "A&M has Bicameral Student Government." The
article cited the Student Life Committee as the "upper house" and the Student Senate as the "lower
house."
Student Senate was recognized as the highest all-student unit in the A&M Student Government
structure.
1952
Officers of the Student Senate included a Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary,
Treasurer, and Chairman of the Standing Committees; Executive Committee, Welcoming Committee, the
Exchange Store Committee, Hospital Committee, Mess Committee, Publicity Committee, the Social
Committee, and the Texas Inter-Collegiate Student Association Committee.
1957
The "Civilian Student Council" was created for the purpose of promoting unity of the civilian
students, encouraging greater participation by civilian and military council."
The student body elected the President of the Student Senate, which now consisted of Issues,
Student Life, Student Welfare, and Public Relations.
An activity point system was put in place to provide leadership opportunities for as many
deserving student as possible. No student was allowed to amass more than ten (10) activity points
at a given time. This rule as put in place to prevent the overloading of a deserving student to
the extend that his education duties suffered. For example, the President of the Student Senate
received 10 points, Senior Yell Leaders received 6 points, Student Senators received 4 points, and
presidents of other student organizations received 2 points. Therefore, the President of the
Student Senate could not take on any other leadership responsibilities because he met the limit
of 10 points, while a Student Senator could serve in other areas of campus.
1965
The student body elected the President of the Student Senate at-large from classified junior,
senior, and graduate students.
The activities point system further restricted student involvement by requiring students to
maintain a 1.0 grade point ratio (on a 3.0 scale) to hold office in any student organization or
to run for any elected office. The maximum number of allowed points was changed to reflect
academic standing, allowing a junior or senior with above a 2.0 to amass 16 points.
1969
Student Senate was referred to as the representative body of Student Government, and the
Constitution for the Student Body refers to the President of the Student Senate as the President
of the Student Body. (Office holders were referred to with both titles.) The other officers
included a Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Parliamentarian, and Treasurer who were elected
at large by the student body; all other officers deemed necessary by the Student Senate were
elected by that body.
1972
A new constitution (similar to the U.S. Constitution) was ratified by the student body,
creating three branches of government; Student Body President (executive), Student Senate,
(legislative), and Judicial Board (judicial). The Student Body President was given the power to
veto legislation and the ability to create and appoint executive offices and committees with
approval of two-thirds of the Senate.
The Speaker of the Senate presided over the Student Senate.
1973
The Civilian Student Council was changed to become the Residence Hall Association and
followed the change of representing the interests of students living in on-campus housing.
1975
Student Government became a part of the newly formed Department of Student Activities.
The Director of Student Activities served as the advisor for Student Government.
1978
Vice-Presidents of the Student Body were elected at-large by the students and served as
officers (and committee chairs) in the Student Senate.
The Student Senate committees included the Academic Affairs, External Affairs, Finance,
Rules and Regulations, and the Student Services committees.
There were 83 senators in the Student Senate.
1992
The Student Government Association moved into a suited of offices in the new Student
Services Building, providing space for officers and each individual committee.
The Student Senate began meeting in the new Governance Room.
1998
Student Leaders requested a more active role for the advisor. Given the demands on the
Director of Student Activities, the role of advisor was passed to other advising staff within
the Department.
1999
The Department of Student Activities hired the first full-time advisor for Student Government.
This position was placed at a coordinator's level answering directly to the Director of the
Department.
In August a graduate assistant position was also added to the staff to assist the new advisor.
At present, Student Government offices occupy Suite 127 in the John J. Koldus Building. This suite is
housed within the Central Office suite. With 1,916 sq. ft. of space the suite includes:
An office for the Student Body President
A reception area which houses the Administrative Assistant's desk and a reception desk staffed
by freshman students who are members of Fish Aides, a recognized student organization.
Two large rooms that house the cubicles for the committees and programs office
A computer lab with five computers available for student use
