How does Lehigh Student Senate work?
The Student Senate is a body of undergraduates who act as representatives and voice students' concerns at Lehigh University. We are composed of 36 members across four constituencies based on grade: First-Year, Sophomore, Junior, and Seniors all have designated seats within the Senate. All of our Senators attend weekly Full Senate meetings. At these meetings, we discuss key issues on campus and vote on bills to support students across Lehigh. All of our meetings are open to the public.
In addition to attending weekly Full Senate meetings, each Senator is a member of one of six committees. Each committee focuses on a unique goal, and we split the committees into two groups: foundational committees and advocacy committees.
Our foundational committees manage the enumerated powers given to Student Senate. They are Allocations & Audits, which monitors and funds clubs, Club Affairs, which reviews and approves new clubs, and Student Outreach, which hosts events and is the Senate’s publicity arm.
Our advocacy committees work with the Administration to address any concerns a student may have on campus. They are Academic Affairs, which addresses any academic concerns, Student Rights, which covers any personal freedoms or DEI policies, and Facilities & Services, which works to improve our campus and services (including Housing, Transportation, and Dining).
Our Executive Board is responsible for managing and directing all of these groups and the Lehigh Student Senate as a whole. The Executive Board consists of the President, Vice President, Parliamentarian, Secretary, and Treasurer. Each Spring, elections are also held for the upcoming year to designate five Senators to the Executive Board.
With six committees and thirty-six dedicated Senators, we work everyday to make Lehigh University a better place for all undergraduates.