The student government is looking for the next student regent, to serve on the NMSU Board of Regents beginning in January. The person selected will be the fifth student Regent at NMSU, the most recent being Antonia Roybal whose two-year term is up this year. Chris Ray, advisor for ASNMSU, says two of the seven colleges that submit names of students for the regent position had already done so by Friday. The process of appointing the student regent involves interviewing the applicants from the seven main campus colleges. A screening committee is formed, consisting of seven members from the colleges, and a chairman, ASNMSU President Jake Hill. "Student regent is probably the most powerful student position that exists," Ray said. "It's not common. (Other) schools have called and asked us how it happened (here at NMSU)." The student regent position was implemented in New Mexico after a constitutional amendment was passed in 1994. The regent has full voting privileges on the board, and can be elected to any office of the board, including president. The student regent is a volunteer position, but travel expenses are covered for meetings. After the screening committee makes its recommendations to Hill this year, the most qualified applicants will be interviewed by the committee and president. The names will be given to NMSU President Jay Gogue. He will then submit his list of finalists to Gov. Gary Johnson, who makes the ultimate decision. The NMSU Board of Regents is the governing body for all of NMSU, including its various satellite schools. Ray isn't sure, however, if students from the satellite schools can apply to be regent. "We've never delved into that," Ray said. "We don't disseminate information to the satellite schools regarding the position." Ray said branch students cannot be regent because the Doña Ana Branch Community College opted out of being a part of ASNMSU. He said he feels this may have been because administration wanted to raise fees elsewhere, rather than charging the ASNMSU fee that is paid by main campus students. "In reality, the whole thing is very political. Our process isn't, but once this moves to Santa Fe it's all politics," Ray said. Applications are due Sept. 30 and can be picked up at the ASNMSU offices in Corbett Center or deans' offices.
NMSU seeks new student regent
Published: Monday, September 16, 2002
Updated: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 10:08
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