Student Trustee Position Description
POSITION: The primary responsibility of students
who serve on the California State University Board of Trustees is
to represent the collective best interests of California State University
students and to advocate positions that benefit students before the
Board.
Student Trustees serve as the voice of approximately 450,000 students
who attend the 23 campuses that make up the CSU system. The Board
of Trustees is the highest policymaking body for the system. As such,
it establishes policies on student fees, admissions criteria, remedial
education, technology, financial aid, student housing and parking,
and numerous other areas that directly impact students. Serving as
a Student Trustee presents a unique opportunity to shape higher education
policy for one of the largest systems of higher education in the world;
it is the highest and most powerful office a student can hold within
the CSU.
The two Student Trustees sitting on the 25-member Board are each appointed
by the Governor to a two-year team. Their appointments are staggered,
and only the Student Trustee serving in his or her second year has
a vote. Otherwise, they each have the same powers and privileges as
other Trustees. They receive a modest stipend ($100 per day) for conducting
the business of the Board and attending regularly
scheduled Board meetings, which are held seven times a year. All
travel conducted by Trustees on official business is arranged and
reimbursed by the Office of the Chancellor.
In addition presenting the positions, issues and perspectives of CSU students, Student Trustees act as liaisons to the Board of Trustees and the State Legislature regarding student needs. They receive guidance and information as ex-officio members of CSSA and through campus visits.
DUTIES:- Attend regularly scheduled (7 per year) and special meetings of the Board of Trustees. Meetings are generally held at the CSU Office of the Chancellor in Long Beach, with one meeting per year being held at a campus.
- Attend any Board of Trustee subcommittee meetings upon appointment to those subcommittees.
- Assume responsibility for bringing student issues and concerns to the Board of Trustees.
- Advocate action on issues and concerns in the best interests of students.
- As ex-officio members of the Board of Directors of the California State Student Association (CSSA), attend monthly CSSA meetings and advise the CSSA Board in a timely and accurate manner on matters before the CSU Board of Trustees.
- Make campus visits in coordination with campus associated students organizations.
- Work with other student leaders in publicizing and resolving issues affecting students.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Candidates must present these minimal qualifications:
- Be at least a junior standing
- Be continuously enrolled during the academic year (except during summer session) as a student, either undergraduate or graduate, until June 30, 2009
- Be a student in good standing with a current gpa of at least 2.0
- Be able to attend Board of Trustees meetings (7 per year) and subcommittee meetings
- Be able to attend monthly CSSA meetings
- Be able to actively participate in CSSA as an ex officio member of the CSSA Board
- Be able to travel extensively throughout the State
In addition, the successful candidate will demonstrate excellence in the following areas:
- Passion for advocating on behalf of students
- Verbal and written communication
- Predisposition to continually seek student input on CSU systemwide issues
- Knowledge of the CSU system and CSU systemwide issues and initiatives
- Knowledge of current political issues
- Ability to be assertive yet diplomatic in advocating the student perspective to fellow Trustees, the Chancellor, Chancellor’s Office staff, the Legislature, campus presidents, the media