By bringing attention to under-discussed issues, student representatives provide crucial advocacy and input on any higher education governing body—so they should be able to vote.
Currently, the position of Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) student trustee is merely advisory, meaning the representative is a full board member and can present at meetings, but their votes do not count, according to the LACCD website. With the election for the 2024-25 LACCD student trustee this spring, it’s time to switch this position from advisory to voting.
No one but students can fully understand student concerns. Other trustees aren’t paying tuition or worrying about financial aid, taking classes while balancing family responsibilities or striving to prepare themselves for their intended field of work as they juggle degree requirements.
Although having an advisory student trustee is a great first step, this isn’t enough.
The LACCD Board of Trustees not allowing its student representative to vote is an anomaly in California. According to their policies, both the California State University Board of Trustees and the University of California Board of Regents have voting student members.
In addition to the CSU and UC systems, even the statewide California Community College Board of Governors has two voting student members, starting in 2021, when Assembly Bill 337 was passed.
The LACCD Board of Trustees says this position is important, so the student representative should be able to vote. Since it is currently an advisory position, there’s nothing stopping the other Board of Trustees members from listening to the student member’s input, then voting in a different way, with no student vote to counteract them.
If the state-level governing boards of the UCs, CSUs and CCCs have all done it, so can the LACCD.
It’s time for students to not just be voices, but to be voters.
