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Higher-ed board seeks student reps

Students looking to contribute to higher education have the opportunity to add their voices to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The board is seeking six student representatives from Texas universities to provide insight on matters such as education, financial aid and the admissions process.

"Being able to hear the students’ perspective on a variety of issues such as financial aid, admissions and undergraduate and graduate education is very important in making decisions on higher-education policy issues that affect students," said Mark Zafereo, assistant director for Corporate, Institutional and Federal Relations for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Created by the Texas Legislature in 1965, the Coordinating Board is an agency that strives to improve higher education in Texas.

Under Senate Bill 1007 of the 80th Texas Legislature, Gov. Rick Perry can appoint one non-voting student representative to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and five non-voting student representatives to advisory committees for Apply Texas, distance education, financial aid, undergraduate education and graduate education.

"These positions were created to give students the opportunity to provide input on the Coordinating Board and the Coordinating Board’s advisory committees and to deliberate, propose and develop higher-education policies that have a direct impact on students," Zafereo said.

Position terms will last from June 1, 2009 to May 31, 2010.

For consideration for appointment by Perry to the Coordinating Board, student nominees must be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student in an institution of higher education, be in good academic standing as determined by the institution and commit to board-related responsibilities during their term of service.

"The students must have a strong drive and self-motivation to contribute to the progress of higher education in Texas," Zafereo said.

Student representatives must strive to uphold a statewide perspective regarding higher education and not exhibit leanings toward a single college or university.

Coordinating Board responsibilities include attendance at no less than three of the board’s four quarterly meetings, whereas duties for Coordinating Board committees require attendance to all advisory committee meetings.

Once appointed, student representatives are required to remain enrolled at their institution of higher education and maintain a minimum grade-point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

To serve on the Coordinating Board’s Graduate Education Advisory Committee, student representatives must be of graduate standing. Students who wish to serve on the Apply Texas Advisory Committee, the Financial Aid Advisory Committee or the Undergraduate Education Advisory Committee must be of freshman, sophomore or junior level standing.

The deadline for applications for a student position on board or any related committees is Nov. 14. For more information, or to access an application, visit http://www.uh.edu/dsa.

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