Senate enacts Sen. Tipping bill to allow student representation on the UMS Board of Trustees

AUGUSTA — On Tuesday, a bill sponsored by Sen. Mike Tipping, D-Orono, was enacted by the Maine Senate. LD 1656, “An Act to Allow Student Representation within the Governance of the University of Maine System,” would allow students to elect members to the University of Maine System Board of Trustees.

“I am pleased that students in the University of Maine System will finally get the representation they deserve on the Board of Trustees,” said Sen. Tipping. “Students now pay the majority of our university system, and they deserve a say in how it is run. I am thankful for all my colleagues for seeing the importance of this bill.”

LD 1656 would replace the current student member of the University of Maine System Board of Trustees, who is appointed by the Governor, with two students from two different schools within the University of Maine System, elected by their student bodies that are in good academic standing. These students would represent all of the different campuses in the University of Maine System, and would serve with full voting members, with the same rights as appointed members but with a two-year term. One student will be a graduate student, and the other will be an undergraduate student.

LD 1656 will now go to the desk of Gov. Janet Mills, who has 10 days to sign the bill into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without her signature.