Student Government at Minnesota State University, Mankato has had several forms throughout its history. The MSU student government has held four names since 1931. They were first known as the Student Council in the 1930s, then the Student Senate in the 1950s, the Minnesota State University Student Association (MSUSA), and the Minnesota State Student Association (MSSA). It is currently known as the Minnesota State Student Association. The state-wide student goveming organization has been called the All School Social Committee (A.S.S.C.), the Minnesota State College Council, and since the 1980s, the Minnesota State University Student Association (MSUSA) http ://www.msusa.net/.

The student goveming body has had different leadership throughout the years and some early leadership includes Erwin Olson in 1931 followed by Ed Dillon in the spring of 1932. In the spring semester of 1957 President Jahnke conducted the senate meetings. He was followed by President Darryl Hill in the fall semester of 1957. President Dean Schuenke presided over the senate meetings in the spring Semester of 1960. On April 27, 1960 he handed leadership to President Dick Maas. He was then followed by David Peterson. In 1964 the student government had a major change in its history by having one of the first female presidents Kitty Hughes. In the spring of 1968 Mike Holmgren held the gavel of the student senate. The line of leadership continues through the spring semester of 1997 with President Tony Hanson leading the student senate. The 2007-2008 President was Chris Frederick. The current MSSA leadership can be found on the MSSA webstite, which has been in operation since 1996. http://www.mnsu.edu/mssa/.

"Minnesota State Student Association represents Minnesota State University, Mankato students at the Institutional, Local, State and Federal goveming levels through listening to and voicing the thoughts, ideas, and concems of all students." This is the mission statement of the current MSSA which can be found (along with a variety of information) on their website: http://www.mnsu.edu/mssa/.

The current committees include, the Academic Affairs Committee, Bookstore Advisory Committee, MSSA Budget Committee. Communications Board. Elections Committee. Ensuring Cultural Diversity. Fiscal Affairs Committee, Leadership Training Team, Legislative Affairs Committee, Newspaper Committee, Pubhc Affairs Committee, Steering Committee. Student Affairs Committee, Student Allocations Committee, Student Organization Activity Funding Committee (SOFAC), Student Union Board, and the Student Technology Roundtable (littp://www.mnsu.edu/mssa/committeesA). MSSA also participates in several campus wide committees which include, the Budget Sub Meet & Confer, Constitution Commission, Ethics & Standards, Parking Advisory, Parking Appeals Board, Status of Women and Student Services.

MSSA is organized in a hierarchical way with a president, vice president, senate speaker, senate treasurer and coordinators more information on the organization of MSSA is available on the website: http://www.mnsu.edu/mssa/docs/orgchart.html.

Presently MSSA awards several leadership scholarships, has a student attorney available for student use and has established a Student Savings Club in an attempt to help college students save money at local businesses. They continue the effort to listen to student needs and attempt to find solutions for students.