Lawmaker seeks seat for student curator

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A state lawmaker wants to reserve one seat for a student on the University of Missouri Board of Curators, a move that would bump a non-student from the nine-member panel.

"I believe that the students are investors in the institution and that they deserve the right to vote on matters that affect them," Rep. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, said Thursday.

Students currently have one non-voting representative on the board. Graham has filed a bill that would designate one seat for a full-time student from one of the university system's four campuses.

Since the state constitution requires nine curators, adding a student to the group would force another member off. Under the bill, the student curator would serve a two-year term, compared to six-year terms for other members. The change would go into effect Aug. 28.

The Missouri Constitution gives the curators authority to set fees, determine admissions requirements, grant degrees, enter into contracts, approve property transactions, issue bonds and hire the president of the university.

Kristin Gardner, a lobbyist for the Associated Students of the University of Missouri, said students deserve a vote on the system's governing board.

"We are directly impacted by the decisions of the Board of Curators and we should have a true voice in making those decisions, especially when it involves the increasing cost of higher education," she said.

The bill, which has not been assigned to a committee for discussion, was filed one day before the Board of Curators was to meet to discuss tuition, among other topics.

Graham said he had not discussed the bill with curators, although support has come from Hugh Stephenson, a former president of the Board of Curators.

"My experiences with the student representative have always been superb," Stephenson said. "They always look at the issues as they will affect the broad campuses, not just the students."

Members of the Board of Curators are nominated by the governor and are subject to approval by the state Senate.

In 1998, legislation passed by lawmakers allowed the student representative to attend closed meetings of the Board of Curators.