The Student Body President at the University of Kansas plays many roles throughout his or her term which can be distilled down into three main levels—Student Senate, University Community and External. All three roles are crucial to help students maintain a say in decisions which affect their years at the University of Kansas.

Within Student Senate, the Student Body President has a limited but important role. Largely, the President’s formal power within the Senate is that of the veto. In addition, he or she makes a large amount of board and committee appointments. The Student Body President also frequently brings ideas, proposals and recommendations before the Student Senate for consideration.

At the University level, the Student Body President is responsible for communicating with various administrators and representatives within University Governance to voice student concerns on various issues. Many decisions are made at this level which affect students’ day-to-day lives but receive very little publicity until they are implemented, making student input during the process crucial. Some of the administrators the president works with include the Chancellor, Provost, Vice Provosts, Deans and elected representatives serving on various other University Governance bodies.

Additionally, the Student Body President, along with the Student Legislative Awareness Board, represents students to the Board of Regents, the Lawrence City Commission, the Kansas Legislature and other pertinent elected boards and officials.

In short, the Student Body President must communicate the needs of the student body to all that make policies that affect students – while also pursuing his or her own ideas and initiatives.

Student Senators can are welcome to stop by the President’s office to say hi or set up a meeting to discuss their own concerns regarding policies that affect students.

Student Body President
Libby Johnson
sbp@ku.edu