What Associated Students of Madison does

Associated Students of Madison (ASM) is the official student governance body of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, operating under the statutory authority of Wisconsin State Statute 36.09(5), which since 1974 has granted UW System students the right to allocate segregated fees and participate in shared governance alongside administrators, faculty, and staff. ASM represents over 50,000 UW-Madison students and is structured around three pillars: direct action (grassroots campaigns and open committees), governance (statutory bodies including Student Council, Student Judiciary, and the Student Services Finance Committee), and service (the Student Activity Center, The Open Seat food pantry, the bus pass program, and the Student Renter Packet via a partnership with the Tenant Resource Center).

The organization is composed of roughly 50 elected or appointed students, 8 professional staff members, and 200 student appointees serving on university committees with legal rights to recommend policies, budgets, and employment candidates. Its technology footprint is modest: a WordPress/UW Theme website, an Instagram presence, a SoundCloud-hosted podcast (1050 Bascom), and an internal Grant Application and Management System (apps.asm.wisc.edu/grants) accessible only to UW-Madison NetID holders for Registered Student Organization funding workflows. Grant products include Event Grants, Travel Grants, Operations Grants, Open Fund Grants, and the General Student Services Fund (GSSF) providing long-term programming support above $20,000 per year.

ASM does not generate traditional revenue; it allocates approximately $75 million in mandatory segregated university fees annually through the Student Services Finance Committee (SSFC), which is composed of 15 students. These funds flow to Registered Student Organizations, student services (bus passes, recreational facilities, health services), and ASM's own operations. The organization is governed by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System as part of the Universities of Wisconsin, with all grant and budget decisions required to be viewpoint-neutral under United States Supreme Court precedent. ASM is currently in its 33rd Session (April 24, 2026 – April 23, 2027).

Name

Associated Students of Madison

Legal name

Associated Students of Madison

Website

https://asm.wisc.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Associated Students of Madison (ASM) is the official student governance body of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, representing over 50,000 students under Wisconsin State Statute 36.09(5). It allocates approximately $75 million in segregated fees annually through elected councils, committees, and direct service programs including grants, bus passes, and a food pantry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Student Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Organizations & Club Administration (EDALAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

University/Campus Public Bus Operators (THAIAEAG)

Keywords

• Student governance
• University representation
• Student funding
• Campus services
• Student advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Segregated University Fees: ASM receives funding through mandatory segregated university fees paid by UW-Madison students. ASM allocates approximately $75 million annually in segregated fees, with the Student Services Finance Committee (SSFC) overseeing distribution. Funding supports student organizations, services (bus passes, unions, recreational facilities, health services), and ASM's own operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Associated Students of Madison (ASM) is the official student governance body of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, representing over 50,000 students under Wisconsin State Statute 36.09(5). ASM allocates approximately $75 million annually in segregated university fees, manages the Student Activity Center, distributes student bus passes, operates The Open Seat food pantry, funds Registered Student Organizations through the Grant Allocation Committee (GAC) and Student Services Finance Committee (SSFC), and appoints approximately 200 students to shared governance committees with legal rights to recommend university policies, budgets, and employment candidates.

Product overview

Associated Students of Madison (ASM) is the official student governance body of UW-Madison, representing over 50,000 students. ASM is not a single product but a portfolio of governance, funding, and direct-service offerings organized into three roles: direct action (grassroots campaigns and open committees), governance (statutory bodies under Wisconsin law), and service (student support programs). The core governance infrastructure consists of Student Council (33 elected representatives), Student Judiciary (election oversight and dispute resolution), and the Student Services Finance Committee (SSFC, allocating ~$75M in segregated fees). Financial products include the Grant Application and Management System (app.asm.wisc.edu) and the Grant Allocation Committee (GAC) with multiple grant types (Event, Travel, Operations, Open Fund, GSSF). Direct services include the Student Activity Center (SAC) facility, The Open Seat food pantry, the ASM Bus Pass program, and the Student Renter Packet via the Tenant Resource Center. Participation programs include an Internship Program, five open committees (Sustainability, Justice/Equity/Belonging, Student Advocacy, Shared Governance, and others), and the Shared Governance appointments (~200 student committee seats).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grant Application and Management System Web-based portal enabling Registered Student Organizations at UW-Madison to apply for grants (event, travel, operations, open fund), track application status, and for ASM reviewers to manage submissions via reviewer dashboards. Requires UW-Madison NetID authentication.
• Student Activity Center (SAC) The only student-run space on campus, located on the third and fourth floors of University Square (333 East Campus Mall). Offers RSO offices (50–750 sq ft), conference rooms, rooftop deck, study areas, multipurpose room, prayer/reflection space, and gallery hallway.
• The Open Seat Food Pantry A student-run, student-serving food pantry housed in the Student Activity Center (Room 3136, 333 East Campus Mall) and at Eagle Heights Community Center. Provides fresh produce, eggs, milk, shelf-stable foods, and hygiene products to UW-Madison students at no cost.
• ASM Bus Pass Program ASM funds and administers the distribution of bus passes to all UW-Madison students, providing access to public transit across Madison.
• Grant Allocation Committee (GAC) Grants Awarded by 9 UW-Madison student committee members to Registered Student Organizations, including Event Grants (educational on-campus events), Travel Grants (conference attendance), Operations Grants (routine operational and recruitment expenses), and Open Fund Grants ($200 fixed award for printing and office supplies).
• General Student Services Fund (GSSF) Long-term programming support (supplies and salary funds) exceeding $20,000 per year to student organizations, managed through the SSFC. Funding allocations start July 1 of the fiscal year.
• Student Renter Packet ASM contracts with the Tenant Resource Center to provide student tenant support and resources at UW-Madison. The renter information packet is accessible to all UW-Madison students.
• ASM Internship Program Leadership development program for freshmen and sophomores (10–12 students per semester) involving weekly committee meetings, a Friday intern class (2:30–3:45 PM), 3 hours/week office work, and 3–6 hours/week on advocacy projects. Interns may earn 1 academic credit through Educational Policy Studies.
• Shared Governance Program Under Wisconsin Statute 36.09(5), ASM appoints approximately 200 students annually to campus-wide committees with legal rights to recommend university policies, budgets, and candidates for UW employment. Applications open annually for the upcoming academic year.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern WisconsincoreOthersSecond Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin is a key food source partner for The Open Seat food pantry. They provide food at discounted rates, and every dollar donated to The Open Seat is worth double in groceries through this partnership. The Open Seat purchases food from Second Harvest and receives donated items from them.
• Tenant Resource CentercoreOthersASM contracts with the Tenant Resource Center to provide student tenant support and resources at UW-Madison. The partnership provides student renter information packets and support services for student tenants.
• Office for Student Organizations, Leadership & Involvement (SOLI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOLI Organization Advising Team manages and provides RSO support and advising services in the Student Activity Center space that ASM funds and allocates.
• University of Wisconsin-MadisoncoreOthersASM is the official student governance body of UW-Madison and operates under Wisconsin State Statute 36.09(5) for shared governance. ASM works with university administration, faculty, and staff in joint university governance.
• Greater University Tutoring Services (GUTS)minorOthersGUTS is located within the Student Activity Center and offers free tutoring and mentoring to hundreds of students each semester. It receives funding through SSFC allocations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Central Student Government (University of Michigan): Central Student Government is the elected student body government at the University of Michigan, distributing student fee funding to campus organizations and advocating on policy. Directly comparable in scope and function to ASM.
• Student Government at Ohio State University: Undergraduate Student Government at Ohio State University allocates student activity fees, funds student organizations, and advocates for students at another Big Ten public research university. Strong functional and structural parallel to ASM.
• Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC): ASUC is the official student government at UC Berkeley, performing the same core function as ASM: representing students, allocating mandatory student fees, and operating shared-governance programs at a large public research university. Direct functional and structural parallel.
• Undergraduate Students Association Council (USAC): USAC is the elected student government at UCLA, allocating student fees, funding student organizations, and providing advocacy and services to ~30,000+ undergraduates. Closely mirrors ASM's fee-allocation and governance role at another major public research university.
• Student Association at Indiana University: Indiana University Student Association is the student government body allocating student fees and supporting RSOs at another Big Ten public university. Directly comparable in scope and function.
• University Student Union (CSUF): Cal State Fullerton's University Student Union operates a student activity center funded by student fees, manages facility operations, and supports student organizations. Directly comparable to ASM's Student Activity Center management and RSO funding role.
• Council of Graduate Students (Michigan State University): COGS is the graduate student government at Michigan State, allocating student fees and providing services to graduate students. Comparable structure to ASM's governance bodies and fee-allocation responsibilities.

Regional players

• Wisconsin Union: Wisconsin Union is UW-Madison's adjacent student union organization, providing facilities, programs, and services funded in part through student segregated fees. Overlaps with ASM in fee-funded campus services but has distinct governance and a broader hospitality/operations mandate.

Others

• NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education: NASPA is the national professional association for student affairs administrators in higher education. Not a direct competitor but a thematically related ecosystem organization that supports and sets standards for student services functions ASM performs.
• University of Wisconsin-Madison Office of Student Organizations, Leadership & Involvement (SOLI): SOLI is UW-Madison's central office for student organization registration and advising, co-located in ASM-funded Student Activity Center space. It is a complementary, adjacent partner rather than a peer; included as an ecosystem participant.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/asmstudentgovt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/associatedstudentsofmadison

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Associated Students of Madison