The ASUO Student Senate has a hand in controlling more than $10 million in student incidental fees, or approximately $184 per term per student, collected each year.
The Senate, one of three branches of student government, is composed of 18 elected students, many of whom also sit on other committees, such as the Programs Finance Committee, EMU Board of Directors and Athletic Department Finance Committee.

The Senate “is responsible for allocating incidental fees and representing the collective interest of students in all matters considered and acted up by the University Senate and University Assembly,” according to the Green Tape Notebook, the book that governs much of the structure and operation of the ASUO.
One of the most important functions of the Senate is setting budgets for the finance committees, such as the PFC, who gives money to ASUO programs, the EMU Board, who controls funding and policy for the EMU, and the ADFC, who bargains with the athletics department to buy athletic tickets for students. It also hears special requests from student groups and releases student money out of surplus funds. The Senate started this year with about $52,000 in surplus funds and next year will control an additional $38,000 in funds refunded to student government by the Lane Transit District after a labor strike shut down bus service in the county for one week.

The Senate also represents students in matters concerning student personnel services, University housing, campus design and University budgeting. This year the Senate addressed the issue of providing funds to keep the Knight Library open 24/7.

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