About SGA

The SGA first emerged in 1966 on Emory’s Atlanta campus. The organization was founded to serve as a vehicle through which students can have their concerns addressed by elected student representatives. Since its inception, the SGA has had an industrious and successful tenure. The organization has offered a legitimate voice to the University administration, championing students’ interests, and partially funding various speaking events and campus structures. For example, the SGA secured funding for lights on the lower fields, new equipment in the WoodPEC, and a new surface and drainage for McDonough field.

SGA recognizes 12 subsidiary divisions of Emory University. From each division, the SGA collects a Student Activity Fee. The Student Activity Fee is a fixed amount set by the SGA Legislature, which is collected from each student each semester. Currently, the Student Activity Fee is $86.00 per student per semester. After the fee is collected, the money is then redistributed to all twelve divisions and the SGA based on fixed percentages in the Fee Split. After each division receives its portion of the Student Activity Fee, the money is divided among the various student organizations within that division. The amount each organization receives is determined during the university-wide budgeting process, which takes place in the spring semester of each year. Each division is governed by its own student government, called divisional councils. While each divisional council (such as the College Council) maintains some fiscal autonomy, the SGA is responsible for approving all financial transactions from the Student Activity Fee. Additionally, all divisional councils must adhere to the various SGA governing documents. The graphic on the next page will help you better understand how the various divisions and divisional councils are related to the SGA: