Applications for student trustee post due Jan. 26

By Robin Roy Gress

Hertzler

Applications for the student position on the Indiana University Board of Trustees are now available, and the deadline for applying is 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26.

Applications are available at chancellors’ offices on all campuses, the IUPUI Office of Student Life and Diversity (University College 002) and the IUPUI Graduate School (Union Building 518).

IU has had a student trustee since the Indiana General Assembly increased the board from eight to nine members 25 years ago and provided that the governor appoint a full-time student.

The position has grown in scope since the first student trustee, Leslie Shively, was sworn in on Jan. 1, 1976, according to John Walda, now president of the Board of Trustees. Walda, who received his undergraduate and law degrees from IU, was a student government office-holder and campaigned on behalf of the enabling legislation when he was a student.

“When I was in student government,” Walda said, “one of our issues was getting a student representative on the Board of Trustees to ensure that student concerns could be brought directly to trustees. In my mind, the position has grown to be much more than that. Today, the student trustee is equal with all board members. True, the position represents the student voice, but casts an equally weighted vote on all issues affecting Indiana University.”

“It has been a tremendous learning experience,” said student trustee Dean Hertzler, whose term expires June 30. “I’ve been able to learn the inner workings of the university, make real contributions to the board and have influence on decisions that are made. I would encourage students to apply; it has taken an extraordinary amount of time, but it’s been worth every minute of it.”

IU President Myles Brand also encouraged students to apply, saying the position provides an opportunity to have a voice in shaping IU’s future while mastering skills that will translate far beyond academia. “The leadership lessons that you will learn and practice—how to listen to others’ views, how to analyze data and how to make the tough decisions that every leader must make—these are lessons that will serve in good stead forever,” he said.

The term of office, which begins July 1, is two years. Any full-time IU student enrolled at seven of IU’s campuses may apply. Students attending IPFW are counted as Purdue students and are not eligible. Candidates must be full-time students for the duration of the appointment at undergraduate or graduate status. Applications will be reviewed by the IU Student Trustee Search and Screen Committee, which is composed of student representatives from IU’s campuses. The committee will interview selected finalists March 30-31.

According to state law, the committee must forward 10 names to Gov. Frank O’Bannon who will make the final selection by June 30. For more information, contact the Board of Trustees office, M005, Indiana Memorial Union, IUB; telephone 812-855-3762.

http://www.indiana.edu/~trustees

‘It has been a tremendous learning experience. I’ve been able to learn the inner workings of the university, make real contributions to the board and have influence on decisions that are made.’

Dean Hertzler, student trustee