How to Apply

Read more about the selection process, qualifications, and responsibilities of the role on this page. Applications are now closed for the Student Trustee-Elect position.

Job Description

The 2024-2025 Student Trustee-Elect will attend meetings of the Board of Trustees of American University in person as an observer and will prepare to serve as Student Trustee during the 2025-2026 academic year.

During the second year, the Student Trustee-Elect becomes the Student Trustee (subject to a vote of the Board of Trustees) and serves as a regular in-person member of the Board of Trustees for meetings, committee participation, and other general obligations of trusteeship, except for the power to vote. Board of Trustees meetings are held four times a year: September, November, February and May.

Consequently, candidates must be eligible to make a two-year commitment. Please see eligibility criteria below.

Selection Process

Once applications are received, a four-person student leadership team − the incoming Student Trustee and the presidents of AU Student Government, Graduate Leadership Council, and the Student Bar Association − will select semi-finalist candidates for personal interviews. These are anticipated to take place between July 22-26.

Interviews will be conducted remotely, but you must be available during this time to be considered. 

Student leaders will then submit the name(s) of finalists for consideration to the Interim VP of Student Affairs and the Board of Trustees. Finalists will interview (remotely) with trustees between August 7-9.

Before applying, please be aware that you must be available during both these interview times: the July 22-26 semi-finalist window and the August 7-9 finalist interview.

The Trusteeship Committee will nominate one candidate to the Board for election as Student Trustee-Elect, which must be approved by a vote of the Board of Trustees. 

The Student Trustee-Elect’s term begins in late September 2024 and concludes at the end of the May 2025 Board meeting. Upon successful completion of the term, the Student Trustee-Elect will be nominated by the Trusteeship Committee to be elected as Student Trustee, subject to a vote of the Board of Trustees and pursuant to the approval of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the Methodist Church, serving a term beginning after the May 2025 Board meeting and concluding at the end of the May 2026 Board meeting.

Eligibility and Qualifications

Candidates for Student Trustee-Elect must be full-time undergraduates, graduate students or law students who will be enrolled as full-time students continuously until May 2026.

Candidates are expected to present evidence of exemplary academic achievement and involvement in the American University community.

The successful candidate must be conversant with issues important to most students at American University, regardless of their programs of study, and will demonstrate a general understanding of how university policies and operations affect student life.

Candidates should be able to accept the responsibilities associated with Board service without negative consequences for their academic achievement.

Graduate and law students who also earned their undergraduate degrees at American University are especially encouraged to apply.

Online degree candidates are not eligible.

Students applying for consideration to be Student Trustee-Elect must be eligible to serve both the first and second year-long terms. 

Please note: Students who are spending a semester abroad, taking a break between semesters during the academic year, or not a full-time student during any portion of these two terms are not eligible. 

Responsibilities of the Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees exercises its powers of responsibility for the University in the following matters:

1. elects the President of the University, appoints the Secretary, and approves the appointments of the Provost, Vice Presidents, and deans;
2. establishes University policies, to be executed by the President;
3. assists, guides, and evaluates the progress of the University and receives reports from the President in this regard;
4. elects Board members and officers;
5. approves full-time and tenured faculty appointments recommended by the President;
6. confers degrees;
7. appoints committees it deems necessary;
8. assists in raising funds to support the University; and
9. preserves and protects University operations and properties.

- American University Bylaws, Article III, Section 10

The election of any person to the Board [including the Student Trustee-Elect] requires the approval of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church.
- American University Bylaws, Article III, Section 3

Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Board of Trustees Bylaws online at https://www.american.edu/trustees/bylaws.cfm

Thank you for your interest in applying for the position of Student Trustee-Elect

Questions may be directed to:
Student Affairs
studentaffairs@american.edu