SBA Council

2024-2025 SBA Council Positions & Descriptions

Standing Faculty Committees with Student Representatives

Academic Standards Committee Representative: The Committee on Academic Standards reviews and develops policies relating to academic quality, e.g. grading standards, and considers questions of fairness and propriety in the evaluation of student performance and implementation of academic procedures.  The Committee also reviews and makes decisions on questions of academic qualification/disqualification of students and makes decisions on petitions for exceptions to established general academic policies.  Decisions on matters of general policy shall be in the form of recommendations to the Faculty. 

Admissions Committee Representative: The Admissions Committee works in consultation with the Dean to administer the School of Law admissions program and makes admissions decisions.  The Director of Admissions, under supervision of the Assistant Dean for Academic Services, does the administrative work of the Committee with the aid of an Associate Director and several clerical assistants. 

Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee: The purposes of the Committee are: (1) to promote dialogue, education, and improvement concerning issues of anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion within the law school administration, the tenured and non-tenured faculty, the staff, students and alumni (the “USF School of Law community”); and, (2) to help gather information about issues related to anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion at the School of Law, with a particular focus on the experiences of students of traditionally marginalized- and under-represented identities in the context of the legacies and contemporary manifestations of white supremacy, patriarchy and heteronormativity that infuse all contexts in the United States, following University protocols regarding reporting and confidentiality in human resources and student conduct matters; and, (3) to provide advice, recommendations, proposals and perspectives to the USF School of Law Community on these issues, including developing, in collaboration with the dean and the director of human resources, and implementing, diverse hiring policies, procedures and practices for staff and faculty; and, (4) to promote collaboration and equity among the USF School of Law community with regard to these issues.

Educational Programs Committee Representative: In consultation with the Dean or Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Educational Programs Committee establishes the curriculum for the following year and for any summer programs to be offered.  The Committee also ensures all necessary information is made available to students to enable them to intelligently plan their own elective choices.  In consultation with the Dean or Association Dean for Academic Affairs, the Committee approves any changes in curriculum that will be implemented during the present year or during the following year.  Major changes in curriculum (such as changes in the required courses, major shifts in emphasis, new clinical programs, etc.) shall be submitted to the Faculty for decision by the Faculty as a whole.  The Committee also counsels with and supports the Director of the Law Library in the development of the law library facilities and programs, and evaluates the operation of all existing clinics, extern, intern, and clerkship programs, to develop institutional goals relating to clinical education and to consider proposals for new programs relating to clinical education.  

Faculty Appointments Committee Representative: The Faculty Appointments Committee, in consultation with the Dean, and, when appropriate, the chairpersons of the Educational Programs Committee, projects and formulates the need for additional teaching personnel, seeks applicants for projected positions, and reviews and screens all applications for teaching positions that are made to the School of Law, to bring the most promising applicants to the School of Law for interviews with other members of the faculty and students, and to make recommendations of the Faculty with respect to initial appointments to the full-time Faculty, including recommendations to offer a probationary appointment to a faculty member who has had a term or visiting appointment, and to make recommendations to the Dean with respect to visiting faculty positions. The Faculty Appointments Committee Representatives will work closely with the Faculty Engagement Chair and assist the Chair as needed. 

International Programs Committee Representative: The International Programs Committee works to achieve a coherent group of international programs that enhance the educational resources available to the students and their sensitivity to the cultural diversity of the global legal environment. The Committee also develops, reviews, oversees, and improves the international programs, evaluates proposals for new international programs, develops and adjusts general policies concerning international programs, both to ensure their success as academic and cultural resources for students and also to ensure full compliance with all accreditation regulations. 

Social Justice/Public Interest/LRAP Committee Representative: The Social Justice/Public Interest/Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) Committee develops policies for providing loan repayment assistance to law graduates in public interest careers, reviews applications for loan repayment assistance, and helps to organize a yearly social justice conference (in collaboration with other law schools). The Committee also works closely with the Assistant Deans for Academic Services and Student Affairs and may make curricula suggestions to the Educational Programs Committee or the Faculty. 

Student Bar Association Committees

Budget Committee:  The Budget Committee manages the funds made available to the SBA via the Student Activity Fee paid each semester by the student body.  The Budget Committee is comprised of the SBA President, the SBA Treasurer, an appointed Chair, and two appointed members-one appointed by the SBA Council and one by the Student Senate.  This application period will only cover the Chair and SBA Council appointed member positions.  The Chair and appointed members are responsible for evaluating student group funding requests each week and allocating funding for student group events and programs that comport with the requirements of the Funding Policies and Guidelines (FPGs).  The Budget Committee is also responsible for suggesting changes to the FPG, or evaluating, approving or denying changes made by the President or Treasurer. 

Career and Professional Development Committee:  The Career and Professional Development Committee (CPDC) works with the Office of Career Planning (OCP) to plan and promote events and initiatives that increase opportunities for students to practice and enhance their professional skills, find employment during and after law school, and network with alumni and practitioners.  The chair of the CPDC will meet regularly with the Office of Development and Alumni Relations and the OCP to ensure that the SBA and the general student body are well informed of the opportunities made available by either of those offices and propose new opportunity ideas or programs as reflected through student or SBA feedback.  The goal of this Committee is to create various opportunities for students to make meaningful connections with practicing attorneys and working professionals, as well as providing the tools and practical training necessary to succeed in the working world. 

Diversity Committee: The Diversity Committee is responsible for planning and supporting programming that celebrates the rich diversity that exists at the law school.  Scheduled programming for 2020-2021 includes the annual Diversity Reception and Diversity Week.  The Diversity Committee will work closely with the Student Resources Committee, as well as the SBA Executive Board in identifying opportunities to promote diversity in student organizations or SBA programming.  

Faculty Engagement Committee (One Chair, 3L/4L): The Faculty Engagement Committee (FEC) acts as a liaison between the faculty and students at the law school and plans programs to provide greater interaction between students, faculty, and staff.  A primary responsibility of the FEC will be the organization of the Jeffrey S. Brand Faculty Lecture Series, as well as developing new opportunities to interact with and learn from faculty.  The FEC chair will work closely with the Faculty Appointments Committee Representatives to focus on incorporating student feedback into administrative appointment goals. 

Financial Assistance and Planning Committee:  The Financial Assistance and Planning Committee (FAPC) Chair works closely with the student representatives from the Social Justice/Public Interest/LRAP Faculty Committee, as well as the Financial Aid Office for the School of Law to develop support and educational programs for students regarding financial aid, tuition repayment, and other finance related initiatives. 

Graduation Committee (Three Co-Chairs, 3L/4Ls): The Graduation Committee plans all activities associated with graduation for May and December graduates, including the Class Gift Campaign, Graduation Party, and Alumni Dinner. The Graduate Committee is comprised of the SBA President, the SBA Vice-President and three appointed Co-Chairs. One member is assigned to each the Class Gift Committee, the Graduation Party Committee, and the Alumni Dinner Committee. 

Social Activities and Media Content Committee: The Social Activities Chair sits on the Student Resources Committee and is responsible for organizing the social events of the law school community. Specifically, the Social Activities Chair works closely with the SBA Vice-Presidents to plan and execute the Fall Party, Barristers Ball, and the Fall and Spring BBQ, in addition to any new social events planned for the year. The Social Activities Chair works closely with the Graduation Committee to plan and execute activities associated with graduation. The Social Activities Chair is also responsible for organizing wellness and/or athletic events between and among USF Law students, USF Law faculty or staff and organizes USF Law participation in various athletic events within the law school community and in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Social Activities and Media Content Committee is also responsible for chronicling the work of the SBA and other student organizations throughout the year as a photographer/videographer, maintaining the SBA website, social media accounts, and will work closely with the SBA Secretary to ensure all relevant communication and information remains up-to-date on the website. The Chair will dictate tasks to the two members as necessary, but generally one member will be in charge of chronicling and maintaining social media accounts while the other will primarily help the Chair with planning events. 

Law School and Grad Community Outreach Committee: The Law and Grad Community Outreach Committee (LGCO) Committee Chairs will seek to foster communication and co-opted programming with other law schools in our regional or national community as well as actively seek to improve our regional and national reputation as a law school. The chairs will lead the American Bar Association Representative, the Graduate Student Senate Representative and JD/MBA Representative in building the relationships between the grad programs and our law school student body and create programming to foster those relationships and capitalize on the shared resources. 

Graduate Student Senate Representative: The Graduate Student Senate Representative sits on the LGCO Committee and represents the interests of the law school on the USF Graduate Student Senate and serves as a liaison between USF Graduate Students, the SBA, and the law school.

JD/MBA Program Liaison: The JD/MBA Liaison sits on the LGCO Committee and represents the interests of the JD/MBA program to the law school SBA Council and Student Senate and serves as a liaison between JD/MBA students and the law school. 

SBA Mentor/Mentee Program And New Student Development Committee: The SBA Mentor/Mentee Program Committee will oversee and implement the Mentor/Mentee Program for incoming students.  The SBA Mentor/Mentee Program Committee is comprised of the chair and two members.  The process begins over the summer and will require working closely with the Admissions and Dean’s offices, as well as other SBA Council members to pair incoming students with experienced 2Ls, 3Ls, and 4Ls to promote a smoother transition into the law school experience through direct mentorship. This task should be completed by the second week of classes. The committee will then represent the interests of SBA and the student body in organizing and implementing programming designed to ease new student transition into the law school environment and promote student life at USF Law to incoming and prospective students.  The Mentor/Mentee Program Committee will assist the Admissions Faculty Committee representatives.  The Committee will also coordinate SBA involvement in the orientation program, will liaise with the Law Plus program, will promote 1L participation in school activities, will oversee the 1L Student Representative and LLM elections, and work with the SBA Mentorship Program. This committee will primarily report to the SBA Secretary. 

Student Services & Wellness Coordinator: The Student Services and Wellness Coordinator sits on the Student Resources Committee and is responsible for addressing the practical day-to-day needs of students to ensure that the law school continues to provide the best learning environment possible. The Student Services and Wellness Coordinator will work to educate students about and offer resources regarding substance abuse and mental health and will endeavor to ensure a healthy and supportive atmosphere. The Coordinator will also work to bring the needs of disabled students to the administration’s attention and host programming that promotes awareness of disabilities and disability rights issues. 

Community Service Coordinator: The Community Service Coordinator sits on the Student Resources Committee and is responsible for working with students, faculty, and staff to ensure active participation in community service events organized and planned by the SBA, student groups, or the administration.  In 2020-2021, the Community Service Committee will work to find Pro Bono volunteer legal opportunities in both the private and public sector and work to cultivate a relationship between the USF Law community and a local group in an attempt to begin an annual relationship. 

Representative Positions 

ABA Primary Representative: The ABA Primary Representative assists the members of the Student Bar Association as needed, attends all meetings of the SBA Council, acts as a liaison between the ABA and the law school, assists the SBA and other student organizations in securing speakers as needed, and promotes ABA events, programs and incentives to the student body.  The ABA Primary Representative also nominates the law school, student organizations, and individuals for recognition by the ABA as appropriate.