By Miguel Barragan
Applications are available to East Los Angeles College students interested in being a student trustee for the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees.
The role of student trustee requires participating in all open board meetings. The general responsibilities are the same as publicly elected trustees.
The responsibilities are to study the issues and ask questions in preparation of meetings, be a team member of the board and thoughtfully participate in discussions in order to properly influence decisions.
According to ccleague.org, the Community College League of California’s website, other responsibilities could include attending conferences to enhance personal knowledge in order to make educated contributions to the board, and help represent the college at community events and at the state and national legislatures.
The Education Code states that the requirement for being a student trustee is being enrolled in a college of the district for at least five semester units.
A student trustee has the following rights: to attend every meeting of the governing board except for closed sessions, to be seated with the board and participate in discussions, to receive the same materials as others in the board and to receive the same mileage disbursement under the same policies as others in the board.
The document “On Being a Student Trustee” on ccleague.org says student trustees have the privilege of making and seconding motions, receiving compensations for board meetings and of using the advisory vote, which doesn’t count in deciding if an item passes but is logged in the official minutes.
Student trustees must know and learn the needs and interests of their community, college district, district’s students and the board’s responsibilities.
An election will be held to determine who will be the student trustee of the district.
“I believe last year ELAC only had, maybe, four students apply and one officially run,” said Anthony Dominguez, ASU V.P. of Advocacy, who helps with the student trustee election.
Michelle Segura Padilla, Student Activities assistant, said students should consider applying for the role, “Mainly because they have the opportunity to represent not only their campus but the entire district. There are a lot of decisions made that will impact many, many students.”
“This past January, the student trustee, along with three other candidates from the district went to Sacramento to lobby on regulations and laws,” Dominguez said.
The board normally meets on Wednesday twice a month with the public session commencing at 2 p.m. followed by closed session.
Applications are available at the main campus in F5-212 Mon.-Thurs. from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. and on Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and at the South Gate campus at the front desk Mon.-Thurs. from 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. and on Friday from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Applications should be submitted to Student Activities, F5-212, at the main campus by 4:30 p.m. on March 15.