Last modified: Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Indiana University seeking applicants for student trustee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 3, 2012
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- A unique leadership opportunity will open to all full-time IU students on Monday, Oct. 8, when applications for the student position on the Board of Trustees become available.
The term for IU's current student trustee, Cora J. Griffin, will expire June 30, 2013.
Applications will be available on the Board of Trustees website.
IU has had a student trustee for three decades. The first student trustee, Leslie C. Shively, was sworn in on Jan. 1, 1976. The current office holder, Cora J. Griffin, is the 19th student to hold the position. She is pursuing a J.D. at the Robert H. McKinney School of Law and a master's degree in nonprofit management through the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IUPUI.
"Serving as an IU trustee has given me the opportunity to learn about Indiana University, meet incredible students and IU supporters, and gain management perspectives that will be used in my career," said Griffin, whose term expires June 30, 2013. The student position on the IU Board of Trustees is an opportunity to serve your peers and Indiana University to ensure IU excellence today and in the future; I urge students to think about applying for this opportunity."
William R. Cast, chair of the board, also urged students to apply, saying the position provides students with an opportunity to have a voice in shaping IU's future.
"The board relies on the student trustee for balanced opinion and reporting of important trends," Cast said. "The student trustee who can bring a broad knowledge of student life and its associated problems, as well as a background of participation on his or her campus, can play an important role on the board."
Griffin added: "Regardless of the issue under discussion, my first question is always, how will any issue affect the 100,000 students enrolled in Indiana University today?"
The student trustee is a fully vested member of the board with all rights, responsibilities and privileges accorded to all trustees. He or she is expected to participate in at least six board meetings a year, serve on board committees, take part in various university functions and ceremonies, and complete any assigned projects.
The only difference between the student trustee and all other trustees is the length of term: Student trustees serve two years, while all others serve three.
Any IU student enrolled at any of IU's eight campuses may apply. The student trustee must be a full-time student for the duration of the appointment. He or she may be an undergraduate or graduate student.
The term of office begins July 1, 2013. Applications for the student position will be reviewed by the 2013 IU Student Trustee Search and Screen Committee, which is appointed by the president of the university, and is composed of students from IU's campuses and a representative of the governor.
The committee will interview selected finalists April 5 and 6 in Indianapolis. All finalists must participate in the interviews on one of those dates. According to state law, the committee must forward 10 names to the governor, who usually makes the final selection by June 30.
The Board of Trustees is Indiana University's governing board, its legal owner and final authority. The board holds the university's financial, physical and human assets and operations in trust for future generations. The board was created in 1820. Today it has nine members, six appointed by the governor and three elected by alumni.
