Possibilities of Power: Examining the Role of Student Trustees as Change Agents in Postsecondary Governance

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: College Students as Organizational Actors

Abstract

While little is known about governance in higher education, even less is known about student participation in postsecondary decision making. The authors use conceptions of governing board activism informed by Astin’s Theory of Development to explore potential ways to focus the efforts of student board members towards positive institutional change. Findings have implications for how boards conduct trustee orientations and best practices for how high-level leaders can engage students. The authors recommend board orientations embrace the possibility of some form of activism given student trustees’ different perspective relative to their board peers as this could yield positive outcomes on vital issues facing students today and provide a novel way for boards to channel the efforts of board members more broadly.

Authors

• Raquel M. Rall, University of California - Riverside

• Jon Lozano, Indiana University - Bloomington