UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Student government leaders will have a greater presence on Penn State Board of Trustees committees, starting at the next meeting in September.
The presidents and vice presidents from the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA), Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) and the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments (CCSG) will each sit on one of six committees. This is an expansion from the four committees that currently have student representation. The students will hold non-voting seats on the committees.
The change comes after a proposal by student leaders to the Government and Long-Range Planning committee in July. Trustees on the committee were enthusiastic about the proposal and recommended it be put into action.
On Aug. 9, Board of Trustees Chair Ira Lubert sent a letter to six student leaders formally inviting them to sit on the committees of their choosing. The Board of Trustees Standing Orders permits the chair of the Board to invite non-voting representatives (including students) to attend and participate in meetings of standing committees.
UPUA, GPSA and CCSG presidents currently sit on the Academic Affairs and Student Life; Finance, Business, and Capital Planning; and Outreach, Development and Community Relations committees, respectively, as non-voting members. The vice presidents of UPUA and CCSG serve on the Government and Long-Range Planning committee on a rotating basis. Starting in September, the Audit and Risk and Legal and Compliance committees will also have student representation.
Beginning in September, student representation on board committees will be:
- UPUA President Terry Ford on Finance, Business, and Capital Planning
- UPUA Vice President Katie Jordan on Governance and Long-Range Planning
- GPSA President Kevin Horne on Legal and Compliance
- GPSA Vice President Marina Cotarelo on Audit and Risk
- CCSG President Pavel Shusharin on Outreach, Development, and Community Relations
- CCSG Vice President Shawn Lichvar on Academic Affairs and Student Life