Law Student, Staff Member to Serve as Representatives to the Board of Trustees

Syracuse University’s Board of Trustees today announced that two new positions for representatives to the Board from the University community were approved at the Board’s May 22 meeting. The new law student representative and staff representative will join the existing dean, faculty, and graduate and undergraduate student representatives in sharing their insights and perspectives with the Board of Trustees.

“I am gratified by the trustees’ vote to add these two positions,” says Kathleen Walters, chair of Syracuse University Board of Trustees. “This action will allow us to better understand the needs and opportunities that exist for law students and staff at Syracuse University, who previously did not have a representative to the Board. Receiving input from broad representation will help us make the best choices for the entire community and the long-term future of the University.”

The addition of these new representatives follows separate proposals from the graduate student representative to the Board of Trustees advocating for a law student representative, and the University Senate advocating for staff representation.

Approval for these roles follows careful consideration from the Board Organization and Nominating Committee and a vote by the full Board of Trustees to grant a change in the University bylaws needed to create these new roles.

Walters says these additional roles will strengthen the University’s connections to the Board of Trustees and amplify the voices of University students, faculty and staff.

The law student representative will report to the board at Executive Committee and full board meetings on behalf of the students enrolled in the College of Law for a one-year term. The dean of the College of Law will select a rising third-year law student to serve as the law student representative from among applicants recommended by the director of student affairs at the conclusion of a school-wide application process.

The staff representative will report to the board at Executive Committee and full board meetings on behalf of University staff for a non-renewable two-year term. The Chancellor will select the staff representative from among applicants recommended by the senior vice president and chief human resources officer at the conclusion of a Universitywide application process.

It is anticipated that all new representatives to the Board will be in place by Sept. 1 to participate in Board orientation in early September with Trustees who serve in Board leadership roles.

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private research university that advances knowledge across disciplines to drive breakthrough discoveries and breakout leadership. Our collection of 13 schools and colleges with over 200 customizable majors close the gap between education and action, so students can take on the world. In and beyond the classroom, we connect people, perspectives and practices to solve interconnected challenges with interdisciplinary approaches. Together, we’re a powerful community that moves ideas, individuals and impact beyond what’s possible.