Previous Accomplishments of SGA

• Built the coalition that transformed an empty space on the University Center's first floor into The Study Place.
• Transformed the student organizations area on The Commons' 2nd floor from a space used primarily for storage to a heavily used meeting/lounge space for student organizations.
• Launched and sustained the tradition of creating a Stress Free Zone with free food, games and goodies during final exam week every semester.
• Persuaded and helped the Provost's Office to preserve a "Reading Day" (a day without classes or final exams) between the end of classes and final exams each semester.
• Supported students in creating more than 80 new student organizations.
• Managed well over $2 million in Student Activity Fee funds
• Managed more than $600,000 in allocations to UMBC student organizations.
• Provided training to well over 1,000 student organization officers.
• Created numerous avenues for student involvement and community discussion relating to the 2004 national election, including the Election Night Extravaganza, an event that attracted 1,000 students to watch election returns on giant projection TVs on Main Street in The Commons.
• Created the UMBC student Academic Integrity Statement.
• Organized Around the World events showcasing the cultures represented at UMBC, and Religion and Reflection Week to showcase the diverse religious views represented here.
• Successfully advocated to Sodexho for a change in policy that allows SEB to keep the revenue generated from sales of bottled water at its events.
• Established and sustained the free entertainment DVD program in the UMBC Library.
• Created a role for students in the process of setting student fees: annual Fee Forums connecting students with campus administrators.
• Successfully advocated for a more effective campus smoking policy.
• Created the Red Card discount program, through which UMBC students can get discounts from local merchants using their student I.D. cards.
• Launched the Textbook Capitalism website for students wishing to buy and sell their textbooks.
• Represented students on numerous campus committees, contributing to academic policy, the effort to raise UMBC's retention rate, the design and implementation of Welcome Week and many other initiatives.
• Launched the OurUMBC website with a variety of resources for students.
• Created the SGA library, a searchable online resource providing information about campus services.
• Improved the annual budgeting process for student organizations by shifting it from the middle of the spring semester to the beginning of the fall semester, and by making it possible for organizations to submit their requests on line.
• Sponsored and supported annual Homecoming bonfires and talent shows.
• Hosted two large-scale events, CommuniversityFest and a Spring Cruise, in connection with UMBC's 40th anniversary celebration.
• Initiated UMBC's planning for a new Recreational Enterprises Fee to support construction of new recreational facilities on campus.
• Provided food and supplies, and worked with the Division of Student Affairs to provide other forms of support to students displaced from the Walker Avenue apartments after a burst pipe caused flooding that damaged many rooms.
• Developed a partnership with Transit Services to install a GPS tracking system that will enable students to view the exact locations of UMBC's shuttle buses at any time from any computer.
• Dramatically increased turnout in SGA elections. Average student turnout in the years 2001-2003 was 1,020 votes. Since then, the average turnout has been 1,975 votes, including the three highest turnouts in campus history (2,365 votes in 2005, 2,180 votes in 2007, and 1,863 votes in 2004).
• An SGA President (Jordan Hadfield) became the first student ever elected to chair UMBC's University Steering Committee.

For more information on the Student Government Association, please consult our list of goals, or you can contact us for more information about joining the SGA.