How to Apply for MSCSA Endorsement:

MSCSA is now accepting applications for students to be officially endorsed candidates to the MnSCU Board of Trustees. The Minnesota State College Student Association (MSCSA) can officially endorse 2-4 trustee candidates per vacancy.

Interested applicants should submit the Secretary of State's one-page application (attached) along with a letter of intent, resume, and two letters of recommendation to Jessica Medearis, or by mail to:

MSCSA
Attn: Jessica Medearis
505 Como Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55103.

Applications are due by Wednesday, February 15, 2012 by 5:00 p.m. Final candidates for each position will be interviewed by an appointed ad-hoc committee by phone in late February. The ad hoc committee will provide recommendations for endorsed candidates to the Governing Council for ratification at the March Governing Council meeting.

Background:

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system is governed by a Board of Trustees. The Board is comprised of 15 members – 3 members at-large, a labor representative, 8 members from Congressional districts, and three students.  The students represent community colleges, technical colleges, and state universities. Non-student trustees serve six-year terms, and student trustees serve two-year terms. This shorter term of service for students helps to ensure that student trustees will either be enrolled in classes or new graduates, and can effectively articulate current student concerns.

As of June 30, 2012, the Board of Trustees will have two vacancies for student trustees- one for a community college student and one for a technical college student. Appointments begin on July 1, 2012.

Student trustee candidates follow a process distinct from that of other candidates. Students must fill out the attached application.  Additionally, students can apply to MSCSA to be officially endorsed by the student association to the Governor's office. The governor makes the final appointment decision on student trustees, and can choose from outside MSCSA's endorsements.

While there is no definite deadline for the applications, MSCSA has a deadline for students that wish to be officially-endorsed. The following is a tentative timeline of the student trustee appointment process:

• January 2012- applications are sought and reviewed
• February 2012- MSCSA ad hoc committee meets to screen applicants
• March 2012- Governing Council ratifies endorsements, MSCSA sends official endorsements to the Governor
• Late Spring-Early Summer 2012- Select applicants interviewed by the Governor's office
• June 2012 (or later)- appointments announced