Timeline of USG
Discussion and creation of the IUPUI Student Association
1972-1973After months of discussions and efforts to create one unified student government, Chancellor Maynard K. Hine approved the concept and allowed the process of writing a constitution to begin. Don Curtis and Frank Radakar were elected as the first president and vice president, respectively. The Senate was made up of equal seats for schools and at-large representation.
Name change to IUPUI Student Assembly
1978-1979In the summer of 1978, the first major revision of the constitution also changed the name of the student government to the IUPUI Student Assembly.
IUPUI Student Assembly oversees distribution of student activity fees
1980-1981In 1980, the campus began collecting the Student Activity Fee again and the Student Assembly was asked to name a "commission" to oversee the distribution of the money.
Deterioration of the IUPUI Student Assembly
1982-1983The constitution was changed to remove the quorum requirement, which weakened the representative credibility of the organization. Fewer students were interested in running for office and participating in student government. In a campuswide review of student services, the student commission on activity fee distribution was dissolved.
Rise of student councils and influx of graduate students in government
1985-1986Student activity fees were largely distributed to student councils, now active in each school. Graduate students held most of the seats in student government and while little was accomplished, the year was a smooth operation, marked by quick meetings and on-time reports. There was then another push to revise the constitution to become a representative body again.
Name change to IUPUI Student Government
1987-1988The organization had adopted the name of IUPUI Student Government. At-large Senate seats were reduced, strengthening the representation of schools. While loopholes remained, the constitution had major improvements made to it.
Gridlock in government and a rebuilding of the organization
1989-1990The Senate was obstructed by a coalition of disruptive members, the election was declared null and void by the Court, and a "caretaker" government was put in place to maintain the peace. Chancellor Gerald L. Bepko stated that the IUPUI Student Government should reorganize as an undergraduate body with graduate students having a separate organization. A new undergraduate student government constitution was largely written by three women and was passed by Senate, approved by the Chancellor, and ratified by student councils.
Name change to Undergraduate Student Assembly and major structural changes
1991-1992The House of Organizations was created to represent student organizations and a "floating membership clause" was established to make achieving quorum easier. All offices now were filled by election, rather than appointment, and the responsibility of distributing activity fee funds returned to the student government. The Senate, which operated independently of the House, still represented schools and student councils.
Creation of the Graduate Student Organization
1992-1993Due to the reorganization of the student government into an undergraduate body, the Graduate Student Organization was created to represent graduate students. After its formation, the Graduate Student Organization was given the responsibility to distribute graduate student activity fee funds.
Name change to Undergraduate Student Government and the separation of the House of Organizations
2003-2004The name was changed to the Undergraduate Student Government. The House of Organizations was reorganized into a non-legislative body and was granted four votes in the Senate. It was also renamed the Council of Organizations, which had its own governing document with inconsistencies with the USG Constitution.
Dissolution of the Council of Organizations and major structural changes
2007-2008The Council of Organizations was dissolved due to a decline in attendance and participation. The Senate then allotted two seats for each student council and one seat for each student organization.