Student governors make a crucial contribution to education governance. They -
- bring their contemporary experience of study to Board scrutiny.
- have an active stake in the success of the institution and bring insights and perspective which can enrich and compliment Board discussions.
Other considerations specifically for student governors:
+ Balancing different hats
Student Governors are NOT student representatives. Whilst those who take up the role may also be a students’ union officer or a student representative, whilst they are acting as a governor and part of the Board, they are acting as a Board member. Ultimately when a governor is at the Board table they need to act in the overall interest of the organisation, and occasionally this can lead to a competing interests. This does not preclude student governors disagreeing with the eventual decision taken or having their dissent formally noted. In the majority of instances the interests of student governors do align with the decision taken by the governing body, but it’s worth being be prepared for instances when
they are not.
+ Not being pigeonholed to student experience matters
All governors have the same rights and responsibilities. Sometimes it can be easy for student governors to be shepherded toward contributing on the items which explicitly deal with the student experience. Student governors will of course typically have an important contribution on these matters, but this should not curtail contributions on other matters and areas.
Many student governors will be at a big advantage compared to other governors, because they are ‘in’ the college. This will often mean that student governors will see, at first hand, how things are ‘on the ground’.
+ Your predecessors said something different…
Given the turnover of student representatives from year to year, it will sometimes be the case that student governors may take a different stance to their predecessors. Just because other members may say this, it does not mean that a student governor should feel duty bound to follow a path taken by those that have gone before them. The central consideration for all student governors, should be to take both the interests of the institution and their students into consideration when making decisions.
+ Embracing the unfamiliar
For many student governors, there will be aspects of corporate governance which will be unfamiliar. There is no expectation that student members should be experts, indeed a crucial element of good governance is that different members will bring particular strengths and expertise. Student governors bring expertise in their understanding of the student experience, which is a vital part of board scrutiny, but they can work with members of the Board and senior officers of the college to secure a deeper understanding of areas they are less familiar with.
+ Building relationships with other board members
Members of the governing body will be particularly keen to build a relationship with student members. They have an invaluable and unique insight, which they are interested to hear more about. Governors often have rich experience from their professional careers which they can bring to the Board. The best boards try to develop strong relationships between all members of the board.
+ Target for lobbying
Students, and indeed staff members on governing bodies bring a valuable insight into aspects of institutional performance. The ability for student and staff members to have direct relationships with individual departments and parts of the provider is a strength.
There are occasions when student (and staff governors) will be approached and lobbied about individual concerns. As a member of the governing body, there is a responsibility on all members to act in the corporate holistic interest of the organisation. To that end, governors will need to be mindful about ensuring that individual concerns are raised at the appropriate level within the governance structure of the institution. Staff and student governors have the right to undertake their duties free from harassment or bullying and any instances of inappropriate lobbying or approaches must be reported to the Clerk