Overview

The Student Advisory Council (SAC) is an advisory committee to the Board of Higher Education (BHE) and is comprised of the student trustees and SGA Presidents from the community colleges, state universities, and the University of Massachusetts. It is the responsibility of this Council to elect Executive Board Officers, consisting of a Vice Chair, Secretary/PR Chair, and Parliamentarian/Policy Chair.

Student Board Member Positions

Student Member—One position open to a Community College student

The Student Member will serve for the 2025–2026 academic year as a full and equal voting member of the Board. This is a tremendous opportunity to weigh in on issues such as funding priorities for the public higher education system and quality of academic programs, as well as to learn about the initiatives of the colleges and universities and the Department of Higher Education to address students' college readiness, college-going and college success rates, and readiness to enter the workforce upon college completion.

The Board of Higher Education meets at least six times per year, generally virtually or on campuses within the public higher education system. Additionally, the Student Member would be assigned to one of the standing advisory councils of the Board, which generally meet virtually or in Boston the week prior to any scheduled Board meeting.

Each year, the BHE Student Member is selected, on a rotating basis, from among the three segments of the public higher education system - either the community colleges, the state universities, or UMass. For the upcoming academic year, the Student Member must be enrolled at a Community College.

Student Advisors—Two positions; one open to a State University student and one open to a UMass student.

While the voting Student Member position must be a Community College student in 2025–2026, the Student Advisory Council will also choose a UMass student and one State University student to serve as Student Advisors to the Board. The Student Advisors are permitted to be full participants in all meetings and policy discussions, with the only exception being that they are not permitted to vote on motions before the Board.

Role of the SAC Executive Board Officers is as follows:

The duties of the Vice Chairperson are as follows:

1. To perform the duties of the Chairperson in the event of their absence or illness and assist in the preparation and conduct of the general business under the direction of the Chairperson;
2. To serve as an ex officio voting member of all committees of which they are not a regular member.

The duties of the Parliamentarian/Policy Chair are as follows:

1. To serve as Chair of the Policy Committee;
2. To draft motions, resolutions and policy for the Executive Committee and SAC to review and approve;
3. To advise on areas of policy that help move the SAC goals forward.

The duties of the Secretary/PR Chair are as follows:

1. To serve as Chair of the Public Relations Committee;
2. To give written notice of all regular and special meetings of the Student Advisory Council, the committees, and to compile and distribute agendas thereof;
3. To assist the Chairperson in scheduling and preparing agendas for other events, including orientation for new members;
4. To prepare the minutes of the meetings of the Student Advisory Council and to certify official documents and proceedings;
5. To conduct correspondence on behalf of the Student Advisory Council and to certify official documents and proceedings;
6. To perform duties not inconsistent with those prescribed time to time by the Chairperson.

Application Requirements

The deadline to apply for the student board member and segmental advisor positions is September 22, 2025. Elections will take place at the September 25, 2025, SAC meeting. We will follow up with applicants directly, with the meeting time and details.

Questions?

If you have questions, please contact Nicole Johnson at nicjohnson@dhe.mass.edu.