University of Wisconsin KnowledgeBase : Student Council assembles for first meeting of fall semester

Student Council assembles for first meeting of fall semester

MADISON, WI — Student Council met for the first time this semester last Wednesday night at the Student Activity Center to discuss a graduate and professional student focused committee, additional funding for event grants and more.

The Graduate and Professional Students-Focused Committee, which was created in the spring of 2025, aims to be a group where issues related to the graduate and professional student experience can be discussed and brought to university administration.

“We have a lot of shared needs, but we also have some different needs,” said Representative Anderson. “Many of us are older. We might live with our significant others and our children, we’re more likely to do that than the average undergraduate student. We [also] tend to live farther from campus.”

The proposal, which required approval from the 32nd Session Student Council, passed unanimously. The committee is open to anyone that wishes to join.

Student Council members also discussed the reallocation of funds in the ASM internal budget following a change in location for the Association of Big Ten Students Fall Conference.

During the 31st Session, the Student Services Finance Committee and Student Council budgeted $7,580 to assist in hosting the Association of Big Ten Students Fall Conference in Madison, Wisconsin. However, the University of Michigan’s Central Student Government is instead hosting the conference. A proposal was then made to move the funding to Event Grants, increasing the amount available to $207,508.

“Our grants are our most student facing initiative of ASM,” said Chair Varughese. “If we have a chance to strengthen the amount of money that we have to provide for students, I think we should take it.”

The proposal was approved by a placard vote. Chair Varughese temporarily gave the role of Chair to Secretary McDuffie in order to present on the proposal.

In addition to these actions, Student Council approved appointments for the Student Services Finance Committee and various Shared Governance committees. The meeting concluded with reports from directors and committee chairs. Meeting materials can be viewed here. 

Furthermore, Student Council met over the summer to provide updates on appointments, committees and more. Those meeting materials can be found here. 

The next Student Council meeting will be held on Oct. 8 at 6 p.m with Chancellor Mnookin.