UT System Student Regent Selection Process

Background

In 2005, the 79th Texas Legislature authorized the Governor to appoint a nonvoting student regent for each university or university system. Section 51.355 of the Texas Education Code provides for the annual appointment of one student regent to a university system board of regents. 

To aid the Governor in his selections, the chancellor of each university system must recommend students based on applications submitted by each president on behalf of the institution’s student government organization.  The student regent serves a one-year term, from June 1 through May 31 of the following year.  The UT System Student Regent has the same rights as regularly appointed board members, except the right to vote or be counted towards a quorum for official board business.  The position serves without compensation, but the student will be reimbursed for expenses incurred during official Board business.

Students interested in applying to represent the UT System as the Student Regent should contact the student government organization on campus to find out about the campus-level application process and important deadlines.

 

Minimum Time Commitments for a UT System Student Regent
  • Meeting Attendance. The Board has regularly scheduled meetings four-six times per year. These meetings involve two full days of meetings, social events, and travel. Also, special called Board meetings occur throughout the year as external circumstances warrant and do not follow a regular schedule. A special called meeting is often conducted via teleconference, but could require a full day of meetings and travel.
  • Meeting Preparation. Required reading for a regularly scheduled meeting generally involves 300 plus pages of material that may require anywhere from six to ten hours to review. The volume of material to read in preparation of a special called Board meeting will vary based on the number of topics placed on the meeting's agenda. Required reading materials are generally sent to the Regents ten days prior to the scheduled meeting.
  • Regent Orientation. One full day is scheduled as an opportunity for the offices of System Administration to brief new Regents on the responsibilities and value added by those offices to the UT System.
  • Training. Four hours is estimated for obtaining training or reading on subjects such as conflict of interest issues, ethics, open meetings, and open records requirements.
  • Review of Regents' Rules. The Regents' Rules and Regulations are the policies established by the Board of Regents. Eight hours is estimated for a new Regent to become familiar with the content of those Rules.

 

Application

UT System Student Regent application packet. (Note: This packet includes two separate documents; nominees must submit both for an application to be considered complete).

UT System Student Regent Application   Office of the Governor Appointment Application

 

Note: Depending on which browser you use, you may need to download this application in order to fill it out and submit.

 

Deadlines & Timeline

November 1

No later than November 1st of each year, student government bodies at UT academic and health institutions solicit applicants for the Student Regent position. The Student Regent will serve a regular term from June 1 through May 31. Applicants chosen by the institution's student government must be sent to the president for consideration.

A Call for Nominations is issued Systemwide in September of each year to all UT academic and health institutions to initiate student government associations' solicitation of applications. 

December 6

The president of each institution submits no more than five applicants for each position to Weston Rose, Program Manager in the Office of Academic Affairs at UT System. All other applications must be retained in the president's office until the Governor names the appointments. 

February 1

No later than February 1st, applicants are forwarded to the Governor for consideration.

June 1

Around June 1st, the Governor appoints the UT System Student Regent.

 

 

Eligibility/Applicant Requirements
  • Must remain enrolled at the institution throughout the person's term as student regent.
  • Must be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student.
  • Must be “in good standing,” as certified by the registrar’s office.
  • Commit to fulfill all minimum time commitments for a UT System Student Regent during the term of service.
  • Maintain a state-wide perspective on higher education (as opposed to representing any single college or university).
  • A 2.5 grade point average or higher on a 4.0 scale must be maintained to continue eligibility.
  • An institution may not have a student regent for two consecutive years in a row.

 

Selection Process
  • UT academic and health institutions submit applicants' nominations in December.
  • Applicants are forwarded to the Governor's Office by February 1.
  • Finalists for the UT System Student Regent position are contacted by the Governor's Office for an interview between February - May.
  • The Governor's Office will appoint the UT System Student Regent on or around June 1.

 

Current Student Regent
Anthony Dragun

      Anthony John Dragun

 

 

Former Student Regents

Please see a list of former Student Regents here.

 

Resource:

To assist students applying to the UT System Student Regent and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Student Representative positions, UT System has developed the following slide deck.