Frequently Asked Questions

Are there Requirements to become a senator?

To become a senator, a student must be a Northeastern undergraduate student in good academic and judicial standing. It is also necessary to complete the senator nomination form and obtain 30 signatures before the deadline listed at the top of the page. There are no elections, and there is no cap on the number of senators!

Are senators elected?

No. Any interested student can become a senator by submitting an application and gathering 30 signatures by the noted deadline.

What is a constituency?

A constituency is a group of students who a senator represents. There are two types of senators in SGA: academic senators and special interest senators. Becoming a senator requires collecting nominations from students who belong to the same constituency.

Academic senators

Academic senators are the most common type of senator. These senators represent a college or an academic program. Example constituencies including:

1. The academic colleges (CAMD, Khoury, COE, etc)

2. Special programs on campus (Honors program, Explore program, etc)

Special Interest Senators

Special interest senators act as liaisons between SGA and a club, fraternity, or sorority. Each organization can only nominate one special interest senator. The senator must collect signatures from members of the organization and receive the approval of the president of the group.

How many signatures do I need?

To become a senator, you will need to acquire 30 signatures of students either in the same college or same undergraduate academic program (ex: Honors program) or, if you are applying to be a special interest senator, of students active in the student organization you seek to represent.

If your organization has less than 40 members, you must get three fourths of the organization’s members’ signatures.

Can I use collect signatures on paper and digitally?

It is necessary to fully complete your application online. Any partly completed applications will not be processed. A fully completed application includes the required signatures. If you have any issues with the platform, please reach out to sgaSenateSpeaker@northeastern.edu.

How do I correct a mistake on the digital application?

It is okay if you make a mistake on the electronic senator application form. Simply let us know by emailing the speaker of the senate at sgaSenateSpeaker@northeastern.edu.

Can I change my constituency?

Yes, but no signatures you have already collected will be counted. To change constituencies please let us know by emailing the speaker of the senate at sgaSenateSpeaker@northeastern.edu.

Why is my nomination awaiting processing?

Nominations must be reviewed and processed manually. Do not worry if a nomination shows up as awaiting processing; the signature has been received.