Since 2015, The Cooper Union Board of Trustees has included two Student Trustee positions. Each year, the Board selects one student from a slate of candidates who are interested in non-profit governance to serve as a Trustee for a two-year term.   

Why consider becoming a Student Trustee?    

This is an exciting and critical time for The Cooper Union as we shape its next chapter while advancing the institutional goals and strategic priorities that guide our path for the next several years. A high-performing Board benefits from deep expertise and a diversity of perspectives. Student Trustees provide their unique perspective to Board conversations and play a pivotal role in advancing the institution. Serving on a governing board at this stage in your life and career is an incredible learning experience and growth opportunity, particularly if you are interested in learning how organizations operate and the various governance functions of a Board, from financial oversight to strategic decisions about the future of the institution.  

What does a Student Trustee do? What does a Student Trustee not do?  

Cooper Union’s Board of Trustees is a governing Board, meaning they are charged with oversight and strategic direction, rather than management and action. As with all Trustees, Student Trustees prepare for and attend all regular meetings (at least four annually), including executive sessions, unless their attendance would present an actual or potential conflict of interest (i.e., sessions that relate to academic governance matters or employment and personnel matters). Of the four quarterly meetings, two are held virtually, and two are held in-person at The Cooper Union. All Committee meetings are held virtually.  

During meetings and through regular communication, the Board works as a collective body to provide oversight for the overall management of The Cooper Union. While day-to-day management duties are delegated to officers and employees charged with operating the organization, the Board is responsible for evaluating the effectiveness of these actions.  

Student Trustees are full members of the Board of Trustees with voting privileges equal to all other Trustees and are held to the same fiduciary standards as all Trustees.  

Like all other Trustees, Student Trustees are also expected to sit on at least two Committees; Committees meet twice to four times a year. The Committees of the Board include Academic and Student Affairs, Alumni Affairs and Development, Audit, Finance and Business Affairs, Free Education, Governance, and Investment. Student Trustees typically choose to serve on the Academic and Student Affairs Committee as they can provide valuable expertise to the business of this Committee. Additionally, a Student Trustee always sits on the Governance Committee to ensure compliance with the Bylaws and Board policies and to participate in the Trustee recruitment process, which allows them to have a lasting impact on the future of the Board.  

The Student Trustees are not expected to, nor should they attempt to, serve as representatives for the student body. Their contributions to the Board reflect their knowledge and experience as Cooper Union students, as well as the other expertise and background they can bring to this governing body as Trustees. All Trustees bring their knowledge and expertise to inform the decisions that Trustees make collectively about the long-term interests of Cooper Union and its constituents as a whole, rather than representing one individual group.  

Am I eligible to be a Student Trustee?    

Student Trustees serve two-year terms on the Board. The terms are staggered to allow for continuity of service and ensure both Trustees do not end their terms at the same time. Additionally, in order to maximize perspectives from the different schools, an open seat may only be filled by a student from a different school than the other sitting Student Trustee. One new Student Trustee is seated every June for a two-year term.  

For the June 2023 Student Trustee seat, you must be at least 18 years old and a current 1st or 2nd year Art or Engineering full-time matriculated undergraduate student who can serve for the next four semesters. The student selected as the next Student Trustee will serve until June 2025.   

What is the process for becoming a Student Trustee?  

We require all interested students to attend an information session to learn more about the position. The session will be led by the President and the Secretary to the Board along with the Chair of the Board and the Chair of the Governance Committee. If you have a significant conflict and cannot attend the interest session but still wish to possibly run for the position, please email Chris Chamberlin, Dean of Students, at christopher.chamberlin@cooper.edu.   

Students who are interested and have questions, can connect directly with the current Student Trustees, Shirley Yan, Engineering (shirley.yan@cooper.edu) and Elias Dills, Architecture  (elias.dills@cooper.edu), or Charlotte Wessell, Secretary to the Board (charlotte.wessell@cooper.edu).   

Student Trustee Interest Session (VIRTUAL):   

Tuesday, April 4 at 12:30PM (NYC local time) – Register Here (You MUST register in advance)  

All candidates running for this position will need to submit a current photo and a statement of interest to be presented to the student body. Cooper Union’s student newspaper, The Pioneer, may host a forum for candidates to speak directly to the student body and present their vision for how they would engage as a Student Trustee. Should this forum occur, The Pioneer will partner with the student councils to schedule the event.  

Beginning Friday, April 21, the student body will vote for the next Student Trustee. Voting will take place through Friday, April 28.     

After the election, the Governance Committee of the Board of Trustees will interview the top three finalists and select the next Student Trustee. The interview will take place on Tuesday, May 23 between 2PM and 5PM via Zoom. If you have any potential conflicts with this time, please let Dean Chamberlin know (christopher.chamberlin@cooper.edu).  

The Student Trustee selected by the Governance Committee will be proposed for election by the full Board of Trustees at the Friday, June 2 meeting at The Cooper Union. The Student Trustee will be expected to attend this meeting from 9AM – 1PM and will be invited to the full-day Board retreat the previous day, Thursday, June 1. A series of orientation meetings will also be scheduled for the new Student Trustee to help prepare them for the role.   

This is an amazing leadership experience and opportunity for growth - we hope you will consider becoming a candidate for the next Student Trustee!