Campus Life Westmont Student Association: Common Application Information

Westmont College Student Association

The Westmont College Student Association serves as the “voice” of the student body. This council of elected officers represents the student population to the College administration. WCSA also oversees clubs and helps to fund student-initiated projects and programs around campus. WCSA is committed to connecting and unifying all the constituencies that make up the Westmont community.

WCSA Website

The President (12-20 hours/week)

The President represents the student body to the faculty, staff, administration, and the Santa Barbara community. This representation will be fulfilled by the President’s presence on college committees and in presentations to various administrators, faculty, alumni, and/or parent groups. The President will oversee WCSA by leading weekly Assembly meetings and evaluating all major decisions made by the organization.

The duties of the President include, but are not limited to, the following

Attend all meetings of the Assembly.
Serve as the official representative of the students to the faculty, staff, administration, and the Santa Barbara community.
Preside over and set the agenda for WCSA Assembly meetings.
Cast a vote on every Assembly decision that comes to a tie vote.
Meet weekly with the Vice President and Dean of Student Engagement to discuss issues related to the Assembly.
As necessary, create committees
Appoint WCSA members, and other students, if necessary, to college committees.
In the case of a vacant seat in the Assembly, the President shall appoint someone to fill the vacant seat with ⅔ majority approval from the Assembly. The President should seek counsel from the Executives of the Assembly, the Assembly as a whole, and the constituents who will be represented by the position.
Veto any vote of the Assembly within 7 days of the initial vote. This veto can be overturned by a ¾ vote from the Assembly.
Meet with the College President monthly to inform him of student needs and to receive updates about any relevant decisions made by the administration.
Schedule individual meetings with other Executives of the Assembly as needed.
Maintain a minimum of two posted office hours per week.
Complete personal end-of-year report as a succession letter

The Vice President (12-20 hours/week)

The Vice President presides over the Senate. The Vice President will sit on college committees and represent the student body in meetings with faculty, administrators, alumni, and/or parent groups.

The duties of the Vice President include, but are not limited to, the following:

Attend all meetings of the Assembly.
Cast a vote on every Assembly decision that comes to a vote.
Function as the WCSA President in the event that the President is unable to perform their aforementioned duties. When acting as President, the Vice President is not able to vote on Assembly decisions.
Be responsible for monitoring the implementation of legislation from the Assembly.
Sit on committees as appointed by the WCSA President.
Lend advice to the President in the process of recommending appointments to the Assembly to fill a vacant, dismissed, or recalled position.
Work closely with the Westmont Activities Council Club’s Coordinator and the WCSA Business Manager to manage Student Government’s (WCSA) official relationship with clubs and to support club thriving.
Meet with the College VP for Student Life monthly to inform her/him of student needs and to receive updates about any relevant decisions made by the administration.
Schedule individual meetings with Senators as needed.
Maintain a minimum of two posted office hours per week.
Carry out directives of both the Assembly and the WCSA President.
Meet weekly with the President and Dean of Student Life to discuss issues relevant to the Assembly.
Unless otherwise delegated, in the absence of the Communications Manager attend and take complete and accurate minutes of all Assembly meetings and distribute minutes, decisions, and action items to all Council members within 48 hours of the WCSA meetings.
Complete personal end-of-year report as a succession letter

Business Manager (8-12 hours/week)

The Business Manager oversees the financial outlays and revenues of WCSA; this involves proposing a semester budget, controlling funds, disbursing funds, and offering advice on the appropriation of finances with regard to proposals and daily activities of WCSA.

The duties of the Business Manager include, but are not limited to the following:

Attend all meetings of the Assembly.
Cast a vote on every Assembly decision that comes to a vote.
Provide the Assembly with an annual budget. This budget will be discussed, amended, as necessary, and approved by a majority vote at the start of the school year.
Oversee the revenues, expenditures, and debts of all WCSA monies, and to periodically report the financial condition of all student organizations to the Assembly and the Financial Committee.
Support and guide business managers from other affiliated student organizations funded by student fees. The Business Manager will plan and facilitate a meeting between all of the student organizations’ business managers each semester to discuss student fees and fund distribution.
Collaborate with WAC Clubs Coordinator on twice annual club funding decisions.
Function as the WCSA President in the event that neither the President nor the Vice President is able to perform their aforementioned duties. When acting as President, the Business Manager is not able to vote on Assembly decisions.
Function as WCSA Communications Manager when CM is absent
Meet with the College VP for Finance monthly to inform him/her of student needs and to receive updates about any relevant decisions made by the administration.
Sit on committees as appointed by the WCSA President.
Lend advice to the President in the process of recommending appointments (which would be subject to an Assembly confirmation vote) to the Assembly to fill a vacant, dismissed, or recalled position.
Maintain a minimum of two posted office hours per week.
Complete personal end-of-year report as a succession letter

Communications Manager (8-12 hours/week)

The Communications Manager ensures seamless communications between the Executive Council and Senate and communicates the plans and purposes of the WCSA to the student body.

Sit on committees as appointed by the WCSA President.
Ensure that meeting minutes, agendas, bills and other relevant documents are posted to the WCSA site in a timely fashion.
Periodically review and update WCSA documents in shared Google drive.
Receive and distribute all official communications on behalf of the student government.
Unless otherwise delegated, maintain a record of all bills passed by the Assembly.
Promote an understanding of the work of WCSA by working closely with campus publication groups and writing monthly newsletter
Provide posters, graphics, and design material as needed
Meet with the College VP of Enrollment, Marketing, and Communications monthly to inform him/her of student needs and to receive updates about any relevant decisions made by the administration.
Work with Santa Barbara Community members on local projects such as Montecito Beautification Day and other important events.
Unless otherwise delegated, attend and take complete and accurate minutes of all Assembly meetings and distribute minutes, decisions, and action items to all Council members within 48 hours of the WCSA meetings.
Maintain a minimum of two posted office hours per week. Support the WCSA President and Vice President through administrative record-keeping and follow through.
Make room preparations and reservations for all Assembly meetings.
Notify WCSA members of the time and place of all meetings.
Be responsible for monitoring the implementation of legislation from the Assembly.
Maintain a record of all bills passed by the Assembly.
Maintain a minimum of two posted office hours per week.
Complete personal end-of-year report as a succession letter

Academic Liaison (8-10 hours/week)

The duties of the Academic Liaison include, but are not limited to, the following:

Serve on the Academic Senate committee.
Sit on committees as appointed by the WCSA President.
Attend and participate in weekly Assembly meetings.
Represent the needs of transfer and first-gen students (partner with Sonya Welch and Center for Student Success)
Cast a vote on every Assembly decision that comes to a vote.
Meet once a month with the College Provost or Associate Provost to discuss academic issues as they relate to student experiences and interests.
Meet with at least three professors per semester to keep a pulse of faculty and student ongoings.
Maintain a minimum of two posted office hours per week.
Complete personal end-of-year report as a succession letter

Equity and Diversity Manager (8-10 hours/wk)

The Equity and Diversity Manager is an elected member of the Westmont College Student Association Senate and represents underrepresented students (i.e. students of color, LGBTQ+, missionary, third culture, and international students, etc.). The Diversity Senator will strive to ensure that the needs, ideas, suggestions, and concerns of underrepresented students are communicated to Westmont College Student Association as well as staff, faculty, administration, and various college committees.

The duties of the Senator shall include, but are not limited to the following:

To maintain the focus and attention of the Westmont Learning Standard for Diversity by representing the underrepresented student population.
Attend all weekly meetings of the Assembly.
Cast a vote on every Assembly decision that comes to a vote.
To sit as a student representative on the Faculty Diversity Committee and other committees as suggested by ICP Director or Dean of Students
Meet monthly with VP of Student Life (or other E-Team member?)
Chair WCSA Equity and Diversity Committee
Chair the Student Appeals Initiative
To give a weekly report at all Assembly meetings.
To submit an end of the semester summary to the Vice-President and Senate.
To work in coordination with ICP by supporting their activities and to represent the different organizations to the administration, staff, and faculty.
To meet on a monthly basis (in various capacities) with members of all ethnic, intercultural or cross-cultural clubs, groups, or organizations.
To meet with leaders of Nexus on a regular basis.
Work to distribute Student Fee dollars in the best interest of all students, with specific attention to the interests of underrepresented students on campus.
Draft and present bills to the WCSA Assembly that represent changes or improvements that will benefit the College and the student body.
Attend and participate in weekly Assembly meetings.
Attend and participate in weekly ICP staff meetings.
Meet with Westmont’s Director of Intercultural Programs to coordinate on issues and ideas on a regular basis.
Meet with the Dean of Student Engagement on a regular basis.
To support and attend the Intercultural Program’s Connect Retreat, the Next Step workshop.
Complete personal end-of-year report as a succession letter

Hall Senators (8-10 hours/week)

Hall Senators represent the seven residence hall populations on camp (Page; Clark; Emerson; Armington; VK; GLC; Ocean View/Off Campus). One Senator will be elected per hall. The primary responsibility of the Senators is to consult and work closely with residence hall students to get input and ideas on ways to improve the student experience.

Represent students from their residence hall or constituency to WCSA and campus administration.
Communicate with students and administration on campus issues.
Work to distribute Student Fee dollars in the best interests of the College and the students, particularly hall-specific funds in the best interests of hall residents.
Draft and present bills to the WCSA Assembly that represent changes or improvements that will benefit the College and the student body.
Advocate for the needs of their specific halls.
Cast a vote on every Assembly decision that comes to a vote.
Attend and participate in weekly Assembly meetings.
Convene and meet every other week with a hall council and/or do at least 2 hours of canvassing (direct, on the ground contact with) your constituency each week.
Participate in monthly meetings with various residence hall staff—specifically the Resident Director, Community Life Council, and janitorial staff—to coordinate on hall issues and ideas.
Meet as needed with the Director of Residence Life and respective Residence Hall Director.
Complete personal end-of-year report as a succession letter