University of Wisconsin–Madison

Senior Class Officers Roles and Responsibilities

Mission Statement:

The Senior Class Office fosters lifelong connections between the senior class, alumni, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Through school spirit, philanthropy, and the Wisconsin Idea, we create an inclusive, engaging experience that celebrates our class and strengthens our community – leaving a legacy that lasts far beyond graduation.

Roles and Responsibilities

|

  • Represent the senior class and the University of Wisconsin–Madison by fostering the Wisconsin Idea and promoting the Wisconsin Experience throughout the duration of the position.
  • Strategize and communicate a vision that champions the importance and value of an inclusive campus, school spirit, and philanthropy.
  • Attend weekly officer meetings and provide project updates. Remain available to the SCO for at minimum ten (10) hours a week.
  • Research and provide recommendations for and feedback on both spring and winter commencement speakers.
  • Collaborate with the University Bookstore to design, promote, and sell the Senior Class T-shirt.
  • Represent the senior class by attending alumni, outreach, and campus events as needed.
  • Select, support, and promote the Senior Class Gift
  • In collaboration with the Office of the Chancellor, create a process to identify interest and select by consensus commencement roles.
  • Collaborate with the Office of the Chancellor to select the May graduation gift for graduates.
  • Organize auditions and select performance groups for the May Graduation ceremony.
  • Work with Student Affairs, the Office of the Chancellor, and the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA), among other campus partners, to coordinate events and activities.
  • Train and mentor newly elected SCOs

  • Serves as the primary leader and representative of the senior class, responsible for fostering a sense of unity, school spirit, and engagement of the SCO throughout the year.
  • With the SCO Vice-President, meet with the SCO advisor once per week to determine the weekly SCO meeting agenda.
  • With the SCO Vice-President, determine the process for leading the weekly SCO meeting.
  • Create and maintain strong partnerships with administration, faculty, staff, registered student organizations, and community to help drive participation with SCO initiatives.
  • Serve as a member of the Student Affairs Cabinet of Student Leaders.
  • Act as the liaison for the Keynote Speaker during the week of Commencement.
  • Analyze current processes and develop better methods for efficiency and effectiveness.

  • Serves as the secondary leader and representative of the senior class, assumes the responsibilities of the SCO president in their temporary absence.
  • With the SCO President, meet with the SCO advisor once per week to determine the weekly SCO meeting agenda.
  • With the SCO President, determine the process for leading the weekly SCO meeting.
  • Develop strategy soliciting new SCO’s to declare their candidacy for office.
  • Promote the SCO elections and appointment applications across various established campus partnerships to encourage a diverse and competitive candidate pool.
  • Responsible for leading the execution of the election process.
  • Maintain the SCO budget. Receive proper approval for expenditures, track expenses, and submit necessary documentation. Keep accurate written financial records.

  • Assist with SCO website, email, and social media.
  • Manage and delegate correspondence and inquiries from SCO email account.
  • Send a weekly email to the Senior Class.
  • Provide UW Communications and other journalistic partners with information regarding the SCO and its work upon request.
  • Collaborate with other members of the SCO to create and execute promotional campaigns, create communications toolkits, and communications plans.
  • Ensure that all communication materials maintain a consistent visual style that reflects the Senior Class Office’s branding, mission, and vision.
  • Oversee any communication tools or platforms used by the Senior Class Office, such as email listservs, ensuring they are organized and effective.

  • Collaborate with other members of the Senior Class Office, including the President, Vice President, other committee chairs, and the advisor, to ensure events align with overall class goals and initiatives.
  • Help plan, organize, and execute events for the senior class.
  • Help coordinate logistics such as location, food, entertainment, and décor to ensure smooth event execution.
  • Work with university departments, vendors, and organizations to secure necessary resources for events.
  • Ensure events align with the values and goals of the Senior Class Office and foster inclusivity.
  • Work with the SCO Vice-President to create a budget for each event so that funds are tracked and allocated appropriately.
  • Delegate tasks to volunteers or other committee members for event setup, management, and breakdown.
  • Create and/or collaborate with the Communications Chair to implement strategies to promote events through social media, posters, email campaigns, and other platforms to maximize student engagement.
  • Collect feedback from participants to improve future events and tailor them to the senior class’s interests.
  • Review each event for success and areas of improvement.

  • In collaboration with the other members of the Senior Class Office, develop and implement a philanthropy strategy for the senior class, focusing on giving back to the university, the local community, and relevant causes that resonate with senior students.
  • Lead the selection of senior class gift in collaboration with Student Affairs development staff.
  • Work closely with Student Affairs development specialist and Wisconsin Alumni Association to organize and oversee fundraising campaigns and initiatives.
  • Identify and collaborate with key stakeholders, including campus departments, local businesses, and alumni, to support and amplify philanthropic efforts.
  • Track and report the progress and outcomes of philanthropic campaigns and volunteer efforts, ensuring that seniors can see the tangible impact of their contributions.

  • Must be a winter graduate, representing the Winter Graduating Class.
  • Develop strategy and fundraising initiatives for continuing senior campaign events and class gift through Winter Commencement.
  • Oversee all aspects concerning winter graduate and Winter Commencement including serving on the winter student speaker selection committee.
  • Foster a sense of community among Winter Graduates and provide opportunities for them to connect with one another.
  • In collaboration with the Communications Chair, keep Winter Graduates informed about important milestones, deadlines, and event details through emails, social media, and other communication channels.