The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs is accepting applications for the 2019-2020 alternate student trustee representative for the Kean University Board of Trustees student election through 2 p.m. Friday, March 1. 

The online student trustee election will take place Tuesday, April 2 at 9 a.m. until Thursday, April 4 at 6 p.m. All currently registered students are eligible to vote. 

The alternate student trustee representative will be elected for a two-year term, holding the position as an alternate member during the first term and a voting member during their second term. 

As per application, there are requirements that should be considered before one embarks on the journey to become student trustee.

The requirements are as follows:

• Must be a full-time matriculated student in good standing with no history of student misconduct
• Must be 18 years of age or older and a citizen of the United States
• Undergraduate students should maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and have completed at least 30 degree credits with a minimum of 15 credits completed at Kean
• Graduate students must be full-time, have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and have completed at least 12 credits at Kean 

Once the criteria is met, the elected student trustee will begin their first term July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. As a member of the Board of Trustees, Student and University Affairs Committee and the Kean University Student Leadership Council, trustees are expected to engage in deliberations of the board while attending public meetings.

Additionally, the Student and University Affairs Committee seeks to benefit the Kean community by advocating for policies and decisions for the students. They also meet to discuss various student affairs, athletics and enrollment programs and issues.

Alongside attending public meetings, trustees are required to meet with the Vice President for Student Affairs Janice Murray-Laury, Student Organization, and the Graduate and Part-Time Student Council (GPSC).

For those interested in applying for the 2019-2020 year, Voting Representative Kristen Failla spoke of her experience in the position.

"One thing I took away from this experience that I truly hope the next person will get is the friendships and connections I have made on campus with students, particularly those from Wenzhou-Kean," said Failla. "I met students from Wenzhou-Kean who came to Kean USA to study the same major as me, and engaged in meaningful conversations with them about how Kean was going to help us become psychologists. I learned that listening to others is an important part of being a student trustee and any leader on campus. [It is also essential to] hear their stories and ideas and project those thoughts by utilizing your professional platform."

Failla notes that this position allowed her to sit down and collaborate with other students who had unique and individual experiences that played into her decisions as trustee.

"A piece of advice I would give to someone interested in the position of student trustee is to use your voice and meet new people," said Failla. "This position provides you with opportunities to attend university events and meetings where you are surrounded by all different kinds of faculty members and students, including our students from Wenzhou-Kean."

Moreover, Failla encourages individuals who want to be challenged to take this position, as it enhances skills like public speaking, which will be important in many careers.

"The responsibilities I've had as student trustee have become life lessons that can be applied to any area of study and any career path I choose," Failla said. "I've had the privilege of learning how ideas are introduced and articulated in meetings filled with faculty who are in positions to facilitate change. I learned how to carry myself in a professional setting and network with people, which is something that can open doors to even more opportunities to grow and establish a career."

Furthermore, an application form can be found on the Kean website under Division of Student Affairs, where forms and policies can also be accessed.

"If you are interested in taking on a leadership role on campus that allows you to become even more connected on campus, then this is the perfect position for you," Failla said.

If students have any questions about this position, please contact the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, (908) 737-7080 or stop by Kean Hall, Room 124.