When Fernando Sepulveda Sagaseta first visited the University of Miami, he was struck by how welcome he felt on campus.
He was the only prospective student on his tour that day, and the conversation he had with an upperclassman, who later became a close friend, helped Sepulveda Sagaseta envision himself as part of the University community.
Now, as Student Government president, Sepulveda Sagaseta wants more students to feel that same sense of belonging and to experience the community that drew him to Coral Gables all the way from Los Altos, California, four years ago. Alongside vice president Aaron Gonzales and treasurer Dylan Hall, Sepulveda Sagaseta is focused on helping students get involved, strengthening campus connections and turning student feedback into tangible improvements.
“If there’s one thing that is very important to me, it’s that everybody feels a part of the community, that everybody gets out, that everybody—as much as possible—is either involved on campus, finds their friends or finds their people,” he said.
Toward that goal, the trio spent last spring’s campaign listening to more than 100 student organizations about their priorities for the University. Those conversations now serve as the springboard for their top initiatives this year, from improving everyday campus services to making Student Government more accessible and transparent.
“We can play a role in what the experience will be like for future Canes that aren’t even on this campus yet, so Student Government is incredible in that sense, and I feel really fortunate to be in this position as president,” said Sepulveda Sagaseta, now a senior studying business analytics.
While Student Government’s top leaders serve as its spokespeople, the 300‑member organization, which includes campus favorites like Category 5, ECO Agency, and a strong legislative body, pursues many projects through two councils. The Campus Liaison Council (CLC) works directly with University operational areas, such as residential life, parking and facilities, and the Academic Liaison Council (ALC) partners with deans and academic units. Together, they collaborate with University administrators almost daily to advance student priorities on campus.
Gonzales got his start in the CLC and enjoyed his experience so much that he became its director last year.
“We meet with University administrators every few weeks, so if you have something you are passionate about, you can see your work come to fruition on campus,” said Gonzales, a senior majoring in legal studies.
While some initiatives take several years to accomplish, Student Government has recently been able to shepherd forward a few improvements to the Cane experience while there are many others they are currently working on.
Past accomplishments
One example came this fall, when first-year students living on campus received their own umbrellas, an initiative CLC’s housing liaisons worked on last year. Gonzales said the project was especially meaningful to him because, as a new student, he was often caught in the frequent August showers without one.
In addition, Gonzales worked closely this summer with the University’s Office of Parking and Transportation on its live parking app, which allows students to see in real time which parking lots have the most open spaces on campus.
They were also able to work with University administrators to extend the Otto G. Richter Library’s hours this year, a longtime goal of previous Student Government leaders, and eliminate temporary Cane Card fees for residential students. There should also be food trucks and temporary restrooms at fraternity tailgates this fall, Sepulveda Sagaseta added.
Future goals
Meanwhile, Student Government is working on many other projects this year, including:
- Allowing virtual Cane Cards to be stored in Apple Wallets, so students would not need a physical card to enter campus buildings.
- Adding a variety of food options on campus, including bringing major chains that are favored by students.
- Working with the Office of the Provost to develop a clear, consistent policy for the use of artificial intelligence in coursework, outlining what is allowed, what is not, and why, which would offer greater transparency for students and faculty.
- Adding a supplemental essay and additional application requirements to the Foote Fellows Honors Program to increase the rigor and selectivity of the admissions process and ensure the program identifies students who are prepared for and committed to an honors experience.
- Making the Student Government budget more transparent, so students can see where funding is going, as well as encouraging student organizations to sponsor events together to maximize their funding.
- Developing a more structured curriculum for prerequisite courses that currently rely on department-administered exams, giving students clearer expectations and preparation pathways before taking those exams.
None of the three key leaders take their job lightly. They spend a lot of their time in the Donna E. Shalala Student Center suite, training the next generation of student leaders while also advocating for current students to help improve the overall campus experience.
“Our goals are to touch every part of campus and student life,” said Hall, a senior studying finance, business technology and sustainable business. “We want to make UM a better place and community for everyone and being transparent and inclusive helps us to do so.”
