Two women at a wooden table in a room with wooden panel walls. One woman with long black hair, glasses, and a red sweater holding a microphone, speaking. The other woman, with dark skin, long black hair, and earrings, looking down at her bag.

● Forum

About

Forum sessions are where all USG members—staff, committees, student representatives, stakeholders, and more—come together to discuss, vote, and pass legislation concerning students. It is also where internal elections are held, staff & campus updates are announced, guest speakers present, and more. Forum is held every other Tuesday, from 4:30-6:30 PM at HSEC 3-150. Forum is open to all UMN students to attend.

What roles does Forum Board consist of?

The Speaker of Forum is the chair of the USG legislative body and is in charge of planning and leading each USG Forum session. This includes drafting and presenting Forum agendas, making sure that all voting members have the necessary information provided for voting, and they also supervise the communication between Forum Board members.
The Ranking At-Large Representative oversees 20 At-Large Representatives (ALRs), who are elected to represent the undergraduate study body at UMN) by onboarding them, providing them with any information they need, and representing them to USG's executive board.
The Director of Student Group Representatives (SGRs) serves a liaison between the USG Executive Board, Forum Board, and the voting member body for Student Group Representatives (SGRs). They also work to recruit, organize, and represent the voices of SGRs by engaging with them and the rest of the student body.
The Representative to the Student Senate Consultative Committee (SSCC) acts as a liaison for USG to the SSCC and oversees the UMN Twin Cities undergraduate senators to support their engagement. They attend Student and University Senate meetings and report to USG and ensure appropriate student representation on Senate Committees and Subcommittees, both serving themselves and reaching out to senators to apply as necessary.
The Parliamentarian is well versed in Forum procedure and its Bylaws and helps Forum adhere to such rules. They also assist Forum Board discussion by providing procedural perspectives and help members with any Forum or Bylaws inquiries. This role is currently open. Contact woolf034@umn.edu for more information.

Side view of three women with different ethnicities sitting in a classroom or lecture hall, focusing on a lecture or presentation.

Voting Members

Voting Members are elected representatives that make up USG’S legislative voting body and work for Committees and Forum to serve student advocacy. They all serve on Forum and Committees as a member with voting rights and are an active member in legislation creation.

Voting Members are comprised of At-Large Representatives (ALRs), Student Group Representatives (SGRs), and Student Senators. Holding one of these three positions is a great opportunity to amplify student voices and to be introduced to student government work.

Student Group Representatives (SGRs)

Student Group Representatives (SGRs) represent students of their respective student organization when collaborating with USG. SGRs are generally elected through their respective organization’s board elections and collaborate with USG members for advocacy, events, and more. SGRs serve on Forum and Committees while amplifying the voices of members from their organizations.

At-Large Representatives (ALRs)

At-Large Representatives represent all students campus-wide. Anyone can run to become an ALR. This is a great opportunity for students new to student government to get involved. ALRs serve on Committees and Forum by collaborating & consulting with University members, as well as collecting data to create resolutions with their respective team.

Student Senators

The Senate is one of the few governing bodies that represent all 5 university systems aside from the Board of Regents, meaning that Senators are responsible for representing students from beyond just the UMN-Twin Cities campus. Anyone can run to be a Senator. Senator elections are hosted in the Spring every year and students may run for a seat for their respective college. Senators hold the same responsibility as ALRs by serving on Forum and Committee while also serving on the Student Senate.

USG does not manage Student Senate appointments or vacancies. Students interested in serving as a University Senate student representative should visit the University Senate's Get Involved page to learn more about available opportunities and the appointment process.

Can I become a voting member?

If you are interested in joining Forum as a voting member, please contact Forum Board at usgforum@umn.edu to learn more about open ALR seats.

Any registered student group can designate a Student Group Representative (SGR) to serve as a voting member of the USG Forum and help ensure their organization's voice is represented in student government. Student groups interested in registering an SGR should complete the SGR Interest Form and email Rayaan Rana once the form has been submitted.