BecomE a Senator
Hello! Thank you so much for your interest in becoming an SGA Senator! Applications are currently open until September 30th!
In order to be a senator you must represent either an academic college or club on campus and get 30 signatures from your constituents. Applications and signatures can be gathered either electronically or on paper. Please follow one of the application processes below. For more information, see the FAQ section at the bottom of the page
If you have any questions or concerns, please email the Speaker of the Senate at sgaSenateSpeaker@northeastern.edu.
We look forward to meeting you!
Apply Online
You can apply to be a Senator digitally by filling out the application form linked below. Then, in order to collect signatures, send the nomination form to your constituents. Stay updated with how many signatures you need by viewing the application tracker linked below.
IMPORTANT: No current member of leadership or senator for the previous term may sign a nomination form!
Apply ON PAPER
You can also apply to be a Senator by filling out a paper nomination form. First, you must decide whether you would like to run as an academic senator or a special interest senator. For more information on the difference, see the senate page here. After you’ve selected, print out the respective nomination form from the link below. Alternatively, you can grab a copy from outside the SGA Office at 332 Curry. Fill out the form and collect signatures all on your paper form and then turn it in to the SGA Office at 332 Curry.
IMPORTANT: No current member of leadership or senator for the previous term may sign a nomination form!
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:
The academic colleges (CAMD, Khoury, COE, etc)
Specialized entry programs (NUin, Global Scholars, etc)
Special programs on campus (Honors program, Explore program, etc)
Students in specialized entrance programs can only apply to become a senator representing a specialized entrance program as a constituency while actively enrolled in the program. For example, students can only apply to be NUin senators as first-semester students.
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.
What is the difference between the paper and online application?
Two applications are available because some students prefer to collect signatures online while others prefer paper. The content of the forms is identical, except that special interest senators applying from a student organization with less than 30 members must submit a paper nomination.
Can I use collect signatures on paper and digitally?
It is necessary to fully complete your application either online or on paper to become a senator. Any partly completed applications will not be processed. A fully completed application includes the required signatures.
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 resubmit the form; only the most recent response will be kept. If you made a typo on your name in the application, please 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 with a paper application, start a new nomination form. For an electronic application, resubmit the senator application and 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.