Student Trustees

The Board of Trustees

The Western Washington University Board of Trustees is the University's governing body, whose broad responsibilities are to supervise, coordinate, manage, and regulate Western Washington University as provided by the state statute (RCW 28B.35.100). The board sets the strategic direction and guidance for the university which the administration carries out in the day-to-day management of the institution. Providing policy direction and guidance, the trustees of Western Washington University represent the constituents' interests in the institution.

The Board meets every other month, with occasional special meetings arranged with advanced notice. Trustees primarily meet on campus in Old Main 340, with some meetings in other selected locations. 

Responsibilities of the Student Trustee

The Student Trustee fulfills the same function as all other Trustees, considering the needs of students, staff, faculty, and community members alike. However, the Student Trustee brings to the position their individual perspective navigating the university as a student. The Student Trustee does not conduct business on behalf of the Associated Students or its governing bodies, nor does the Student Trustee represent the interest of the entire student body.

The Student Trustee is a fully vested member of the board with rights, responsibilities and privileges accorded to all trustees. Trustee duties are explained in RCW 28B.35.120. The Student Trustee participates in at least six board meetings a year. The only differences between the Student Trustee and the other members of the Board is that they serve for one year and are not able to vote on personnel matters. Students must be willing to work in a collaborative environment where attendance and preparation are key for full participation. The first Student Trustee was appointed in 1998. 

Term of Position

Full year (12 months), serving by gubernatorial appointment from July to June.

Time Commitment

Estimated time commitment is 10-15 hours per month. While there are six meetings over the course of a year, it is essential to come prepared for every meeting. Every meeting includes packets of meeting materials to read thoroughly and review in advance of the Board discussion. These materials usually consist of proposed budgets, policy, and divisional reports. It is essential that the Student Trustee is able to review these materials in advance of the scheduled board meeting, comprehend the key points, and formulate appropriate questions. There may be events for which the Student Trustee's presence is requested or special session board meetings may be called. The Student Trustee also has the opportunity to find additional engagement, professional development, leadership, and networking experiences as part of this position. Student Trustees also have the opportunity to participate in all commencement ceremonies during their tenure.

Terms of Eligibility

All Western Washington University students on all campuses, whether they are undergraduates or graduate students, are eligible to apply for appointment to the board, provided they will maintain full-time status during their year-long tenure.

Required Qualifications:

1. Must maintain a per quarter minimum of six (6) credits for undergraduate or two to four (2-4) credits as a graduate student. (Full time is (2) credits after student completes plan of study.)
2. Must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average and be in good standing.
3. Must be enrolled at Western Washington University for three quarters prior to start of term in July.

Recommended Qualifications

1. An understanding of the WWU Board of Trustees as it relates to university governance.
2. Knowledge of state, regional, and local political systems as they relate to higher education.
3. Ability to engage across a variety of student issues.
4. Strong verbal and written communication skills.
5. Engagement in a broad spectrum of activities on campus and/or the community.
6. A high level of organization.
7. Knowledge of the WWU Mission Statement and Strategic Plan.

Orientation and Scholarship

Once the Student Trustee is selected, there is an onboarding process to better understand the role. The student trustee will be awarded a scholarship of up to $6000.00 per academic year.

Application Process and Timeline

Student Trustee Application Process & Timeline

Application CLOSED for 2024-2025. Thank you for applying!	CLOSED - Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 7th and must be submitted via the online WWU AS Student Trustee Application Form.
April 15-25, 2024	Committee meets to review candidate applications. Interviews are conducted and concluded. (Only if necessary)
May 3rd, 2024	Applications will be reviewed by a student committee that will recommend 3-5 candidates to the Governor for final appointment.

Before You Apply

In preparation for the application process, we recommend that you consider doing some or all of the following:

• Attend a WWU Board of Trustees Meeting: All students interested in university governance are welcome to attend Board of Trustees meetings, and anyone interested in applying for the Student Trustee position is urged to do so. Please visit the Board of Trustees Meeting Calendar for upcoming dates and locations. Complete meeting schedules and agendas are posted on the Board of Trustees home page about one week prior to the upcoming session. Past meetings are also available via WWU's video archives to watch any time at Board of Trustees Video Archive.
• Meet with the current Student Trustee: It is highly recommended that you meet with the current Student Trustee before you turn in your application. They can give you more information about the position, answer questions about the application process and their current duties. 
• Review the Board of Trustees Rules of Operation.
• Review the WWU Mission Statement and Strategic Plan.

Required Application Materials

• Cover Letter: Please include your current and alternate/permanent address and phone numbers.
• Resume
• Two (2) Letters of Reference: One (1) from a current faculty member and one (1) from your community involvement, extracurricular work, or civic engagement. If a reference letter is emailed, it must be sent by the person writing the letter.
• PDF of your completed online Washington State Government Application for a Board or Commission form. 

Application Instructions

1. Please complete the online Washington State Government Application for a Board or Commission form and print/scan or PDF the filled out form just before you click on "submit." You will need a PDF/scan of this completed form to submit with your Student Trustee application. (See below)
2. Please submit the WWU Student Trustee Application by Sunday, April 7th, 2024. You will need to upload a PDF of your Washington State Government Application (#1 above), the cover letter, resume, and two letters of reference as outlined above, and answer the short essay questions.

 WWU is an equal opportunity institution. We encourage applications from all genders, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences that are interested in this opportunity.

 

Here's what previous Student Trustees said about their experience:

Former Student Trustee Citlaly Ramirez 2018-2019: As a Student Trustee, my voice, opinion and ideas were always valued. This is how the Board of Trustees, President Sabah and the university leadership team made me feel. Thank you to the Associated Students and Governor Jay Inslee for allowing me to better understand how our university governance functions. I enjoyed every meeting, event and dinner I was invited to. Getting to personally know Sabah, first lady Uzma, my Board of Trustees colleagues, and our university leadership was delightful. I have learned so much from their wisdom, successes, and humble work. Highlights of my experience include traveling to Olympia, meeting Governor Inslee and several state legislators, giving a speech at an Alumni event at the Governor’s Mansion, and from connecting with all these amazing individuals, earning a summer internship with the Governor’s Leadership Academy. Being part of a Board is a miraculous thing, and should never be taken for granted. The knowledge I gained is so critical for faculty, staff and students to know. I am grateful to have been part of this Board and alongside amazing individuals, to learn how to challenge systems and help others.

Former Student Trustee Trista Truemper 2017-2018: My experience as the Student Trustee has been nothing short of amazing and I’m incredibly grateful to the Associated Students and Governor Inslee for granting me this once in a life-time opportunity. I applied for the Student Trustee position because I wanted to learn more about Western as an institution but what I’ve received in return for my service has been more than I could have imagined. In addition to learning from our remarkable Trustees, I’ve had the privilege of meeting and receiving mentorship from Western’s 14th President as well as the university’s leadership team, and I’ve received unwavering support and friendship from Western’s Board of Trustees professionals. For me, every board meeting and university event is a thrill; however some highlights include: my participation at Trustee Lobby Day in Olympia; meeting the Governor and several of our state legislators; giving the Trustee Greeting at the fall commencement ceremony; having the honor of shaking the hands of our newly minted graduates and getting to know our commencement student-speakers; and finally, being asked to serve as the emcee for an Alumni event at the Governor’s Mansion.

Former Student Trustee Abigail Ramos 2016-2017: As a student trustee I was privileged enough to hold an insider position within Western that I know many students would appreciate being in. Being on the Board of Trustees, I was able to see all the mechanics that go into running the university. This knowledge is extremely beneficial for students, faculty, and staff to know and understand. I was previously a member of the Associated Students Board of Directors, this experience helped bring essential background information in many of our Trustee conversations. However, my experience on the BOT was drastically different from my time with the AS. Being able to meet all the people who play important roles in not only the overall function of Western, but the daily functions added perspective to my own role on the board. Aside from all the insight I received, being able to personally know Sabah, the VPs, my fellow board members, was delightful. Additionally, being able to participate in multiple Western events was always enjoyable!