A legally incorporated Board of Regents governs UW Oshkosh, along with the other institutions in the University of Wisconsin System, which is responsible for all functions of the UW System. Since the UW System is supported primarily through public funds appropriated by the legislature of the State of Wisconsin, Regents are appointed by the Governor and are responsible for representing the interests of the tax paying citizens of the state. Responsibility for the on-going policies and operations of the University is delegated by the Regents to the Chancellor of the University. The Chancellor, in turn, delegates responsibility to various administrative officers in the University organizational structure. Student, administrative, and faculty committees have been established by the Chancellor to make recommendations in terms of policy and practices in various academic and nonacademic areas.

The opinions and beliefs of students are considered to be important and are sought by the Chancellor and his administrative staff. For this reason a student government organization has been established, providing students with a united voice to be heard by University faculty, staff, administration and the Chancellor. This allows students to  take on major responsibility for decision making in certain areas of their activities, within the limitations of budget and policy established by the Chancellor and administrative officers in the University. In addition, it is believed that student government contributes to the overall intellectual and social development of the entire student body by promoting student interest in the governance of the University as well as supplementing their academic experience.

Student participation in governance at UW Oshkosh is based upon Chapter 36.09(5) of the Wisconsin State Statutes:

The students of each institution or campus subject to the responsibilities and powers of the Board of Regents, the President of the UW System, the Chancellor and the faculty, shall be active participants in the immediate governance of and policy development for such institutions. As such, students shall have primary responsibility for the formulation and review of policies concerning student life, services and interests. Students in consultation with the Chancellor and subject to the final confirmation of the board shall have the responsibility for the disposition of those student fees, which constitute substantial support for campus student activities. The students of each institution or campus shall have the right to organize themselves in a manner they determine and to select their representatives to participate in institutional governance.

The following student organizations are directly involved in the governance process of the University, representing the manner in which students have chosen to organize themselves: Oshkosh Student Association, Reeve Union Board and United Students in Residence Halls.