The Executive Branch consists of the President, the Student Trustee, and their appointed Cabinet.
Every spring, students vote for the President and the Student Trustee. After elections, the President and Student Trustee must appoint undergraduate students to Cabinet positions. Both the President and Student Trustee meet weekly with Vice Chancellor Jean Kim. Both also provide direction to the Cabinet.
The President
The President is an undergraduate student who meets regularly with administrators and student groups to formulate and implement policy initiatives on campus.
Yevin Roh, the current President, has provided student input on the tobacco-free policy, the University Health Services changes, and the developing student health insurance plan changes. He called upon administrators to involve students when the elimination of the Peer Mentor and Apartment Living Assistant positions were announced. He regularly meets with multicultural RSOs, CMASS, Everywoman’s Center, CEPA, and other campus resources and groups to seek their input.
The Student Trustee
Each UMass campus elects one Student Trustee to represent their campus to the rest of the UMass system. The Student Trustees and the Board of Trustees meet regularly to discuss changes that will impact students.
Tina Kennedy, the current Student Trustee, drives to Boston, Lowell, and Worcester to advocate for students. In all proposed campus changes, she works to see that student fees do not increase. She also works to bring more student jobs and scholarships to campus. Tina played a large role in helping to organize last year’s Lobby Day, which brought students to the State House in the hopes that state funding to higher education would not be cut. Tina has also been a major organizer for Metawampe Stompe Rail Jam in 2010 and 2011, an event that fundraises for breast cancer charity Ellen’s Heart and Soul.
The Cabinet
The Cabinet positions are created by the Senate, and they attend to specific aspects of the SGA and student life. Some of the positions have existed for a long time, such as the Secretary of Finance, Secretary of the Registry, and the Attorney General.
Other positions are relatively very new, such as the Secretary of Sustainability and Secretary of Web Management. The Secretary of Veteran Affairs is a completely brand new position.