Association of Michigan Universities

The Association of Michigan Universities (AMU) was founded in November 2000 and dissolved in November 2006. It was composed of student governance bodies from each of Michigan's fifteen public universities. Its goal was to speak and act on behalf of all Michigan students on local, state, and federal political issues.

History

State-level student governance in the State of Michigan has been an on-going project of the Michigan fifteen. Prior attempts at collaboration include general bodies such as the Michigan Collegiate Coalition, and specific-task bodies such as the Student Regent Task Force and the Coalition for Student Representation.

The Association of Michigan Universities was founded in November 2000, with their Constitution adopted in 2001. Representatives from five schools were selected to serve on the Ad Hoc Constitutional Committee. Due to the differences in funding levels at the public universities, and regulations governing student government bodies the Association placed a permanent ban on dues and membership fees in their Constitution.

Membership was open, however not compulsory, to the student governing bodies of Michigan's fifteen public universities. [Each 'major' campus of the University of Michigan was deemed to hold separate membership in the Association; these are the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), University of Michigan-Dearborn, and University of Michigan-Flint]

AMU dissolved in November 2006 over irreconcilable differences among member schools. The most basic disagreement among the member schools was the role of unanimous consent. That issue was the final resolution debated in the AMU General Assembly, held at Grand Valley State University. On a final vote of 8 in favor of changing unanimity and 4 opposing change, the resolution failed. Many schools walked out at that point to demonstrate the need to start a new organization and dissolve the current organization.

Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Association

Hosts of the General Assemblies

The General Assembly was held each February, May, September and November. Each GA was hosted by a member campus of the Association, and rotates among the fifteen current members.

Structure

The Association of Michigan Universities consisted of a Deliberative body, entitled the General Assembly, four standing commissions and an executive committee. The General Assembly was composed of the general officers of the Association, and two delegates from each Association member campus.

Leadership

General Officers

Aside from the Chair and Vice Chair of the Association, there were four officer posts. These include the Clerk of the Association, the Director of Public Relations, the Treasurer and the Webmaster. The Chair, Vice Chair, Clerk and Treasurer were precluded from serving as delegates from their respective member campuses.

Auxiliary Officers - Commissioners

The four standing commissions were each headed by a commissioner. These commissions were: Academic Affairs Commission; Legislative Affairs Commission; Intercultural Affairs Commission; and, Shared Governance Commission. There was ongoing discussion if the commissioners should retain their ability to serve concurrently as delegates.

Rule of Unanimous Consent

To ensure that the voice of each member campus was heard, the Association's General Assembly operated under a rule of unanimous consent, whereas all votes must be unanimous, and any one member school may defeat a measure. As to unimpede the functions of the body, many member campuses had elected to abstain their vote; however, this practice was in question.

This issue led to the dissolution of AMU in November 2006.

Association Members

• Central Michigan University Student Government Association
• Eastern Michigan University Student Government
• Ferris State University Student Government
• Grand Valley State University Student Senate
• Lake Superior State University Student Government
• Associated Students of Michigan State University (ASMSU)
• Michigan Technological University Undergraduate Student Government
• Associated Students of Northern Michigan University
• Oakland University Student Congress
• Saginaw Valley State University Student Association
• University of Michigan, Michigan Student Assembly
• University of Michigan-Dearborn Student Government
• University of Michigan-Flint Student Government Council
• Wayne State University Student Council
• Western Michigan University, Western Student Association