The Wesleyan Student Assembly (WSA) is a group of students elected annually to represent Wesleyan University's undergraduate student body. Members serve as student advocates in all areas of the university, including matters related to student life, academics, campus facilities and finances. For example, the New York Times noted in 2008: "The good news for students and their parents facing high tuition bills is that the student government at Wesleyan University voted last month to establish an endowment to reduce costs at the liberal arts university in Middletown. Wesleyan’s student endowment, which will be created with surplus from the activity fees paid by all students, may be the first of its kind, according to university officials and higher-education experts."
The WSA's composition and basic operating procedures are outlined in its Constitution, while its by-laws delve into the details of its sub-committees, organization, the functioning of the Assembly as a whole, and allocation of money to student groups.
History
Wesleyan's student government originated as the College Body Senate in 1903. "The College Body of Wesleyan University" was formed in 1963 in response to a desire for better organization and was directed by the College Body Committee, composed of five elected undergraduates. In 1975, the Wesleyan Students' Union was formed to fill the need for an organization to lobby specifically on behalf of student interests. A $1 membership was required.
In 1978, 89% of the voting population approved a campus-wide referendum to form the Wesleyan Student Assembly. The Assembly was composed of seven standing committees with 45 members serving during the fall term and 38 members during the spring term.
The WSA has undergone a number of changes in composition throughout its history. In 1980, the Assembly had 37 members; in 1981 the membership shrank to 27 members. The Assembly was again altered in 1984 to 28 members and persisted in this form until 1992, when it was expanded to 40 members. In 1997, the WSA underwent another major change, reducing it to 37 members. In 2009, the Concert Committee Chair was added, expanding membership to 38 members; in 2010 the merger of the Community Outreach and Organization and External Affairs committees led to the elimination of two seats, capping the current WSA's membership at 36. Seats were later added to return to 38 members.
Over time, the distribution of representatives has been changed from the basis of geographic location on campus to the basis of class year. During the 1990s, the Assembly leadership was expanded from a coordinator position to a student-body president, vice-president format.
The WSA enjoys a storied history of successes, reforms and restructurings as well as dramatic resignations and heated debate. The Assembly has played an integral role in the University's past efforts at curricular renewal and reform of graduation requirements. Recently, the WSA has influenced the Wesleyan academic calendar, residential life procedures, long-term financial planning, and numerous other issues.
Committee structure
The WSA is run through the Leadership Board (LB, composed of the President, Vice-President, Chief of Staff, and five other committee chairs. The LB is tasked with setting the WSA's weekly agenda, identifying key student issues, and developing the best course of action for addressing them. All members of the LB serve as student representatives to Wesleyan University’s Board of Trustees.
The five standing committees of the WSA are the Academic Affairs Committee, the Community Committee, the Equity and Inclusion Committee, the Student Budget Committee, and the Student Life Committee.
The Academic Affairs Committee (AAC) is responsible for representing the academic concerns of the student body to the faculty and administration. The chair and vice-chair of the AAC serve as two of the eight voting members on the faculty Educational Policy Committee (EPC).
The Community Committee (CoCo) is responsible for recognizing new and returning student groups, Middletown relations, and issues of inclusion and diversity. It works extensively with the Student Budget Committee and Wesleyan's Student Activities and Leadership Development Office to facilitate student group activities. CoCo also serves as steward of the 190 High Street building, the only student-only space on Wesleyan's campus.
The Chief of Staff oversees the day-to-day running of the Wesleyan Student Assembly, including managing minutes, committee reports, outreach to the campus writ large, elections, appointments, and other administrative functions.