USF SG leaders encourage students to apply for 2026 general elections

USF Student Government applications for the 2026 general elections opened on Jan. 20 and are available until Feb. 6. ORACLE PHOTO/AUDREY KOCZANSKI

Ethan Walsh, USF Tampa’s lieutenant governor, said his favorite parts of being in Student Government are the people he has met and the leadership skills he has gained. 

Applications for SG’s 2026 general elections are open until Feb. 6 — and Walsh said students who have a “passion” for USF and ideas for improvement should apply.

“You have the ability to set your own path in Student Government, deliver on initiatives and see the direct impact your work has on students,” he said. 

Madisyn Mcreynolds, SG’s supervisor of elections, said students interested in joining SG must complete a mandatory Canvas course — which provides more information for positions and requirements.

Students can then apply for their intended positions via BullsConnect.

Some SG members said students should apply because their roles can be rewarding and useful for real-world applications in their future careers. 

Related: USF SG sees fewer voters but zero grievances after ending online voting 

Open positions for the election include student body president, vice president, governors and lieutenant governors, as well as senators and campus council representatives. 

The student body president and vice president serve all three USF campuses, while governors and lieutenant governors are campus-specific. Each position serves a one-year term, according to SG.

Senators or campus council representatives serve for one-semester terms, according to SG.

Campaigning begins Feb. 16, followed by voting from March 2 to 5, Mcreynolds said. 

Each campus will have designated polling stations but will not have QR codes or hyperlinks for students to use to vote, she said. 

SG eliminated online voting last fall to reduce voter intimidation from campaign tickets. 

Walsh is also the vice chair of the Campus Allocation and Funding Committee, which distributes activity and service fees across USF departments and clubs.

A&S fees are collected via flat fees and credit hour charges as part of tuition, and are used to fund more than 250 student organizations and 12 student success departments at USF. 

Jennifer Bielen, SG’s associate director, said that because SG leaders decide how A&S fees are allocated, it is important for students to vote for representatives who align with their needs.

A depletion in CAFC funds caused a multi-million dollar A&S fee deficit for the 2025-26 academic year — resulting in significant budget reductions for student organizations and success departments. 

Related: USF SG shares tips for submitting A&S budget requests as deadline nears 

Walsh said applicants should research the positions they will be applying for to better understand how the roles work and operate on a day-to-day basis.

He added that personal interviews with sitting SG leaders, including himself, can help applicants familiarize themselves with the process and responsibilities of the role.

“It can be daunting if you have not been a part of SG before, but many current leaders are happy to give any information or advice,” Walsh said.

Walsh said becoming more involved in student life can help applicants understand the needs and wants of the student body — and therefore better cater to students.

Students can get more involved on campus by talking to classmates, joining organizations and attending events, he said.

“Build your campaign not just around what you think should be improved, but also around what students tell you they need,” Walsh said. “Student Government exists to serve all USF students, and the more involved you are on campus, the stronger your campaign and leadership will be.”

Related: USF SG sees fewer voters but zero grievances after ending online voting 

Mcreynolds said she enjoys listening, understanding and advocating for students and their needs on campus. 

“I feel like being in such an active role, having to debate with other people and understand their side, really helped me evolve my mindset and understand what my true values are,” Mcreynolds said. 

But outside of being an advocate and a leader, Mcreynolds said being in SG requires a strong set of ethics and judgment.

“Sometimes the decisions that I make might differentiate from my own personal opinion, just because it’s for the greater good,” Mcreynolds said. “I never want to make a decision out of personal gain or liking.”

Mcreynolds said being part of SG has taught her to be more “personable” with others and has pushed her to embrace leadership.

“I really pride myself on being a kind person, and I think interacting with so many different types of people, you really learn how to cater your kindness and not let your personal life kind of interfere with how you interact with other people,” Mcreynolds said.

She said applicants and leaders should allow mistakes to guide them rather than knock them down.

“If you know that your fight, your foundation is within good standing, and you know that it’s in good faith, don’t let the outside noise deter you from that,” Mcreynolds said. 

Bielen said students should run for SG positions so they can transform the ideas, wants and needs of their peers into fruition.

“Long-lasting impact for the students, by the students, is a means of public service that fosters and builds SG leaders’ growth significantly,” Bielen said.

Additional reporting by Annabel Upton.