Our Board of Trustees values student participation in governance.
Since 1970, student representatives have served as non-voting participants in the meetings of the Board of Trustees and some of its committees, ensuring that student experiences, views, interests, and concerns are effectively communicated to university leadership. This longstanding tradition demonstrates our commitment to incorporating student perspectives in shaping the institution’s future.
Two undergraduate and two graduate student representatives to the Board are selected annually through a rigorous application process.
Overview
Applications are accepted each spring for the two positions for non-voting undergraduate student representatives to the Washington University Board of Trustees. The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs facilitates the annual selection process for new undergraduate student representatives to the WashU Board of Trustees. Representatives are appointed to a one-year term and actively participate in meetings and other board-related events.
Responsibilities
- Attendance and participation in the four (4) quarterly meetings of the Board, certain Board Committee meetings, and special meetings as needed each year.
- Prepare for meetings by reviewing the agenda and supporting materials.
- Meet appropriately with the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and the Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and University Governance.
- When appropriate, express to the Board your own views on issues and, if possible, an estimate of the views of other students.
- Maintain confidentiality.
- Serve as a liaison to keep channels of communication open between the Chancellor and students.
- Serve as called upon to represent student perspectives on other board or university-appointed committees
- The new term of the Undergraduate Student Representative will begin at the September Board Meeting and shall end at the next May Board Meeting.
Qualifications
To be considered for the role of undergraduate student representative to the Board of Trustees for 2026-27, the student must:
- Students must be enrolled in, regularly attending, and complete at least twelve (12) undergraduate credit hours for the semester in which they are an applicant, as well as during their one-year term as an Undergraduate Representative.
- Only students with junior or senior year status are eligible to serve as a student representative. Having had at least two full years of college experience has proven to be critical for students to be effective in this role. Current first year students are not eligible to apply.
- Students must be able to complete a full year (fall and spring semesters) as a full time enrolled student during their term.
- In person attendance at board meetings is required. Therefore, students planning to study abroad during the 2025-2026 academic year are not eligible. Note: students currently studying abroad are eligible to apply and will be interviewed virtually instead of in person.
- Applicants must be in good academic and disciplinary standing at WashU, as determined by the student’s academic unit, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, prior to and throughout the duration of their appointment as an undergraduate representative to the board of trustees.
- In general, it is important that the student representative have knowledge of the undergraduate experience at WashU, be able to present a variety of opinions, have sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and hold the respect of peers, faculty, and of others in the community. The student representative should also be willing to maintain close communication with the undergraduate community.
To be considered for the role of graduate student representative to the Board of Trustees for 2026-27, the student must:
- Be enrolled as a full-time graduate or professional student fully in residence between August 2026 and May 2027. (Students must be available to serve the entire academic year.)
- Have completed one full year of graduate study at WashU by the start of their service as a representative.
- Be able to make the necessary time commitment to be successful in the role (estimated to be 100 hours).
- Applicants must be in good academic and disciplinary standing at WashU, as determined by the student’s Program Handbook, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, and have the support of their academic advisor/PI prior to and throughout the duration of their appointment as a graduate representative to the Board of Trustees.
- Possess strong knowledge of graduate study at WashU, be able to cogently represent a wide variety of graduate student perspectives and opinions, have sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and hold the respect of peers, faculty, and others who know them.
- The graduate student representatives should be willing to maintain close communication with entities supporting the graduate and professional student population including, but not limited to, Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education, The Graduate Center, Graduate and Professional Student Council (GPSC), Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and Graduate Student Affairs Advisory Board (GSAAB).
Application Process
Applications for all four positions for the 2026-27 academic year will open on January 2, 2026. All interested, qualified students are encouraged to apply. Completed applications must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on February 5, 2026.
Application Materials:
- One to two page CV/Resume
- Three short essays (250-500 words)
- Two letters of recommendations from the WashU community (for example: faculty member/administrator from your school, academic advisor, a fellow student)
It is your responsibility to check that your application file is complete. You may contact Brita Mathre to request this information. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The selection panel will review all applications and interview the semi-finalists on a date to be determined. The selection committee is composed of members of the administration and selected students.
Finalists will be interviewed by the Chair of the Board of Trustees, the Chair of the Board’s Student Experience Committee, and Vice Chancellor Rebecca Brown. Two graduate and two undergraduate student representatives will be chosen to serve for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Applications for the 2026-27 academic year
will be accepted beginning January 2.
Faculty representatives
The Chair and the Secretary of the Faculty Senate Council serve as ex-officio, non-voting Faculty Representatives to the Board of Trustees and participate in all regular meetings of the Board. For more information on the Faculty Senate and Senate Council, visit the FSC website.