ASHMC: Associated Students of Harvey Mudd College

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ASHMC is Harvey Mudd’s student government, consisting of an executive board, senate, and honor board. Each class elects their own presidents, every dorm elects its own presidents, and the student body collectively votes for executive and honor board members.

Prior to coming to Mudd, the only understanding I had of student government came from my high school’s student council. ASHMC is so much more powerful – a registered California 501(c)4 corporation that actually interacts with and has a real impact on the student body and school.

The Boards

The executive ASHMC board, overseeing the functioning of the entire organization, consists of the president, senate chair, and treasurer. They are accompanied by Social Directors, the Committee for Activities Planning Director, Residential Affair Liaison, and Executive Assistants. Class and Dorm presidents make up the Senate, and the Honor Board works with faculty, staff, and students to ensure that the Honor Code is implemented correctly and honestly across Mudd.

Clubs, Committees, and Discussions

ASHMC oversees a number of clubs exclusive to Harvey Mudd, ranging from BBQ Club to the Society of Women Engineers. They have funds specifically designated for each of these approved clubs’ budgets. I had the opportunity to attend an ASHMC meeting once last spring and I found it entertaining and really informative about how ASHMC designates their funding. A group of students from a new club pitched a five minute budget proposal, followed by members asking questions, voicing their opinions, and finally voting on whether the club should get money. Frankly, I was surprised and impressed by how each board member was so invested in doing the right thing for the clubs.

The student government is also the supervisor for sub organizations like the Committee for Activities Planning, or as we all call it, CAP.  When students request and commit to organizing off-campus events, CAP approved events are subsidized and then advertised to the entire student body. CAP funds are allotted specifically for the purpose of getting students to leave the Mudd bubble and have fun at concerts, talks, and amusement parks (Remember, Disneyland is only 30 miles away!). There’s been rumors that CAP reimburses you $15 just for going into LA if you provide them with receipts.

Here’s an example of a CAP email sent out for a concert in LA:

CAPemail

ASHMC also facilitates important discussions among students, faculty, and staff. Most notably in the last year, conversations about work-life balance have been prevalent on campus. ASHMC created a discussion group and committee immediately, taking charge of and bringing organization to what started off as just a couple of email chains between students and alumni through the community-l email list. I think it’s remarkable that ASHMC is able to turn stimulating conversations into action, working with students when they express concern or opinions, helping the Mudd community for the better.

Frosh, look into joining ASHMC this fall! Run for class president or Honor Board class representative.

ASHMC is an institutional part of Harvey Mudd’s culture, committed to organize and help student life thrive.