Associated Students of Madison discussed joining the University Affairs Committee and the Shared Governance Committee to become one governing body Wednesday.

Combining University Affairs and Shared Governance would strengthen communication and connections between UW student organizations and administration, University Affairs Chair Sarah Rohrer said.

Shared Governance Chair Jessica Franco-Morales and Rohrer introduced the legislation that would allow the two committees to combine. This is something that has been in the works for a few years, Rohrer said.

“Jessica and I think that combining these two committees together can really create an efficient body to create change at the university level,” Rohrer said.

Franco-Morales said the power students have on campus is because of Shared Governance, but the committee could benefit from more grassroots-oriented campaigns.

It makes sense that people working on specific campaigns are connected with students who have leverage and power to spread them across campus, Franco-Morales said.

“Essentially this is just doing away with the [University Affairs] Committee, and creating a hybrid Shared Governance/grassroots committee,” Franco-Morales said.

The committee would have a Shared Governance chair and a campaign director who would work with grassroots, Rohrer said.

ASM plans to discuss the legislation more at its next meeting after spring break.

ASM also approved the Student Activity Center and transportation budgets. The SAC’s budget was approved with an 18-0 vote with one abstention. The transportation budget was approved of with a 19-0 vote with one abstention.

The transportation budget briefly mentioned plans to switch from using bus passes to Wiscards in the coming year. The switch would allow students to just use their Wiscards to get on buses so they would not have to pick up bus passes.

The recommendation for the budgets will be sent to the chancellor, who will make a final decision in April, ASM Chair Madison Laning said.