E-Board Elections

There are four E-Board positions that are elected on in the Spring Semester for the following year. The four positions:

• President

• Executive Vice President

• Vice President of Business & Finance

• Vice President of Marketing & Public Relations

Senate Elections

There are twenty Senators elected to the Senate of the Undergraduate Student Association. Fifteen are elected in the Spring Semester for the following year, the five Freshmen are elected in the Fall.

To be a Senator for your class you must:

• be a full-time student

• be free at 7 PM on Tuesday evenings

The following documents should all be downloaded. The USA Election Packet has all the information and rule surrounding the election, the Letter of Intent must be signed and turned into EVP Rosenecker prior to gathering signatures and campaigning, and the Finance & Campaign Agreement also needs to be signed and submitted to EVP.

Scroll to view the Timeline for Elections.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the time commitment for a position in USA?

Senators are required to attend the weekly Senate meetings (Tuesdays at 7 pm), as well as be a member of two committees or Finance Board, which meet weekly or bi-weekly. Senators are also required to complete a minimum of two office hours weekly. Executive Board positions have a larger time commitment. In addition to the weekly Senate meetings, E-Board members have a separate weekly meeting, and various other meetings for certain positions, such as the President sits on the College Board of Trustees, and the VP of Business & Finance is the chair of the Finance Board.

How many signatures must I collect?

All Executive Board candidates must acquire at least 250 signatures. Senators are required to obtain at least 50 signatures.

If I am not elected to an E-Board position, can I still run for Senate?

Yes! You will, however, still be required to obtain new signatures and follow the rest of the timeline for Senator elections.

Can I be a member of another E-Board if I am a part of USA?

If you are the President, Executive Vice President, or VP of Business & Finance, you are not eligible to hold an executive board position on another club or organization. All other positions in USA are permitted to be on E-Boards of other Canisius clubs and organizations.

Are there other ways to be involved with USA besides being on E-Board or a Senator?

Yes. Other positions include Speaker, Vice Speaker, and Chair or Associate Chair of one of our five committees/boards (Diversity Board, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. Committee, Public Health Committee, Student Interests Committee, and Sustainability Committee). These positions are not elected, but appointed, by the new senate that is elected through the two election processes. All undergraduate students are welcome to join as many of our committees & boards as they would like! Contact the EVP or current chair of the board or committee for more information.

If I am running for an E-Board position, what is expected of me at the debate?

All candidates running for an Executive Board position are required to give a 2-minute speech introducing themselves and explaining why they feel they are qualified for the position. Candidates seeking the position of President will also participate in a Q&A session where they must answer prepared and submitted questions asked by the moderators to the best of their ability.

When and how can I begin campaigning?

Candidates MUST submit their Letter of Intent BEFORE they begin campaigning. Signatures are due before the voting period and the Finance & Campaign Agreement is due at the conclusion of the voting period. Campaigning can be done via social media posts, as well as on-campus (abiding by the guidelines and expectations). Additionally, candidates are allowed to email those who signed their petition during the voting period, encouraging them to vote. Emailing individuals who did not sign the petition will result in a vote deduction penalty.

What must be included on my advertisements while campaigning?

All advertisements must include your name, the position you’re seeking, your email address, the dates that voting will take place, and the location of voting (CanisiusLife).

When is the first meeting of the 2022-2023 Undergraduate Student Association?

The new Senate will hold its first meeting on Tuesday, April TBA at 7 PM.