UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Undergraduate, graduate and professional students at any Penn State campus with an interest in being a member of the University's Board of Trustees are being asked to submit an application for the post by Feb. 27. In addition, students who would like to be part of the process to interview candidates have an opportunity to submit an application, by Feb.15, for consideration to become an at-large member of the selection group.
Both applications can be found via links from the home pages of the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA), the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA), and the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments (CCSG).
For the past four decades, Penn State students have been represented on the University's Board of Trustees by a student chosen from an identified pool of interested and eligible candidates. In the past, while not formally codified, one of the gubernatorial appointments would be designated for a Penn state student. This process, while longstanding, was a historical tradition at the discretion of the Governor.
Among the important changes to the composition of the Board of Trustees adopted in November 2014 was the addition of a voting trustee seat for a student, enhancing the commitment of the Board to become even more representative of the many parts of the Penn State community.
"The passing of a codified student trustee position was an important moment for all current and future Penn State Students," said Danielle Rhubart, president of the Graduate and Professional Students Association.
The new process allows for a more direct flow of considerations that will result in the election of a student trustee by the Board in May 2015, after nomination by the Student Trustee Selection Group.
"Solidifying this position has been a priority for the UPUA over the past three years, and we are thrilled that students will be able to actively contribute to the selection process to bring a student perspective to the Board," said UPUA President Anand Ganjam and Vice President Emily McDonald, in a joint statement.