Tempe Senate Passed Bill for Online Student Access
The student government recently authorized virtual meeting attendance for non-resident students to boost engagement.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Distance Learning
Live Poll
Should student governments provide online students with the same representation as in-person students?
On September 8, 2026, the Undergraduate Student Government Tempe senate approved bill SB39, allowing online non-resident students to attend senate meetings via Zoom without penalty. The measure seeks to address concerns regarding the representation of online learners in campus government affairs.
Why it matters
Online students have long reported feeling disconnected from campus opportunities and broader university life. This legislative change aims to ensure that students enrolled in remote courses have a direct voice in the senate, despite their lack of physical presence in Tempe.
The senate introduced four total bills to improve online representation, including the approved SB39. This follows the removal of a dedicated online engagement senate position two years ago due to low participation metrics.
The players
Todd Thomas
He is a senator who introduced four bills to improve representation for students enrolled in online courses at Arizona State University.
Undergraduate Student Government Tempe
This is the governing body for students at the university responsible for setting policy and advocating for student interests in Tempe.
The details
Following discussions on the necessity of better online representation, senators shifted their support to pass SB39 after hearing from the bill's sponsor. The student government constitution mandates that any student enrolled in at least one credit hour holds the right to representation.
Timeline
September 8, 2026: Senator Todd Thomas introduced four bills regarding online student representation.
September 22, 2026: The senate tabled three of the introduced bills during a meeting.
Next two weeks: Senator Thomas plans to draft new legislation encompassing ideas from the original proposals.
Culture Shift
The legislative move reflects a broader pivot toward integrating remote participants into established campus structures. This follows the Undergraduate Student Government Tempe constitution mandate that requires representation for all students, including those in fully online programs.
Online students can now participate in senate meetings via Zoom without incurring penalties, providing a new channel to influence student government policy. This change directly removes a logistical barrier for those unable to commute to the Tempe campus for government proceedings.
The takeaway
The move to allow virtual attendance signals an attempt to reconcile the disconnect between remote students and traditional campus governance structures. Students should monitor upcoming senate sessions to see how these new virtual rights translate into broader advocacy efforts.
What happens next
Senator Todd Thomas is expected to introduce new legislative drafts within the next two weeks to address the three bills previously tabled by the senate.
Further reading
Learn more about the ongoing efforts to support virtual education environments in our Distance Learning section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Statepress.
Live Poll
Should student governments provide online students with the same representation as in-person students?
