Salt Lake Community College’s student body hierarchy is not the traditional student body hierarchy displayed at other colleges. The reason for this is that traditional community colleges and even four-year colleges have only one campus. At SLCC, the student body is spread out over several campus locations or regions. In fact, in addition to the three main campuses: Taylorsville, South City and Jordan, there are at least four additional campuses; Miller, Highland Center, Meadowbrook, Rose Park, Airport and Library Square.
Director of Student Activities Peggy Hoffman explains that with the additional campuses, the hierarchy of the student body government at SLCC works well incorporating the students represented at all campuses, especially those who attend multiple ones. “Logistically it would be a nightmare,” said Hoffman when asked about holding separate elections for the each campus. “You have students who attend class at more than one campus and their student number is tied in to all campuses.” Hoffman explains that it would be difficult to establish which campus each student was attending the majority of their classes at and at which campus they believe their vote will count.
Hoffman also explains that about six years ago there weren’t as many people wanting to campaign as they would have liked. Students who had formed parties were having a hard time getting individuals who would like to fill their party dockets. Each year since they’ve made changes to try to increase the interest in running for open positions at all facilities, but there seems to be no change in participation.
Hoffman said that in 2008 the Student Constitution was changed by the Student Body officers to appointed rather than elected positions. “The goal was to ensure that there was a student in each position,” she said. She also said that the 2008 Student Body insisted that the top two executive positions, the President and Vice President, were to remain elected positions where students could vote for who they thought was best.
Current Student Body President Liu Vakapuna explained that both elected and appointed positions do receive training the summer before office. Even though a student may have been appointed to a position, “you still have to represent students who have voted or not have voted for your position, and address the issues of all students,” he said.
Vakapuna also said that any student who wishes could apply for an appointed position.
Hoffman said that although the appointed positions are filled by appointed students, those students still need to meet the same criteria as any elected student. They will have to maintain a GPA of at least 2.9 prior to, and during their office tenure, and have attended at least 9 credit hours of college prior to. All appointed or non-appointed positions go through a selection process that consists of answering qualification questions, submitting a resume or statement as to how they can best serve the school. They also interview with various Committees.
Hoffman said that the current Student Body decided to make only one change this year to the Student Constitution; the current appointed position of Public Relations Vice President will change to Publicity and Advertising Vice President. This is more in step with what the actual duties of the position include. For more information about SLCC’s student government, go to slcc.edu/sll.