Board Policies and Procedures

Procedure for Election of Student Regents

1. Purpose

This procedure establishes a method for conducting annual election for the student member of the Board of Regents as authorized by KRS 164.321(8)(b) and the Bylaws of the Board of Regents.

2. Scope

This procedure applies to all KCTCS students eligible to serve on the KCTCS Board of Regents.

3. Procedure

3.1 Eligible Students

To be eligible for election to the Board, students must be full-time members of the student body at one of the 16 KCTCS Colleges and be nominated for consideration by their College President to the KCTCS President. Each College President shall nominate one (1) full-time student for participation in the election process. No specific qualification or experience shall be necessary to hold the position, but leadership qualities, academic performance, extracurricular activities and service, and willingness to commit to the duties should be considered.
 

3.2 Terms

1. In accordance with KRS 164.321(8)(b), student Regents shall serve one (1) year terms beginning on July 1 after being elected and sworn in as a student Regent of the Board and ending on the following June 30.
2. In the event a student Regent does not maintain enrollment as a full-time student, a special election shall be held in the same manner as the regular election to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the expired term.

3.3 Election

The KCTCS President shall set a date to hold an annual meeting to elect a Student Regent. This meeting will generally take place in the middle of the spring semester, but before the quarterly June Board of Regents meeting. This meeting may be held either virtually through video teleconference or in person. Meeting participants must be visible on camera and audible at all times that business is being discussed. Students may not stand for election in absentia.

3.4 Declaring Intent to Run for Election

Students nominated by a College President will be contacted by System Office staff to be made aware of the election process upon nomination by their College President. Those eligible students must declare their candidacy and interest by submitting a completed Candidate Position Form to the System Office in advance of the election date. Nominated students are not required to stand for election.

3.5 Candidate Information

System Office staff will distribute copies of the Candidate Position Form to the participating students prior to the meeting date.

3.6 Conduct of the Meeting

The Board Liaison will call the meeting to order and conduct a roll call to establish attendance. The Board Liaison will declare the nominations closed and present the slate of candidates from those who submitted Candidate Position Forms.

3.7 Floor Speeches

After closing nominations, the Board Liaison shall call for nominees to speak about any matter relevant to their experience or qualifications to serve as the Student Regent on the KCTCS Board of Regents. Nominees shall have no longer than five minutes to speak and may do so in the form of a speech or a mixture of speech and request for questions. Students shall not be refused the ability or right to ask questions of the nominees or to discuss the nominees through civil, relevant, and appropriate debate. Without extenuating circumstances to justify the presentation of materials, nominees shall not be entitled to present documents or other materials and shall be limited to a floor speech and/or questions.

3.8 Voting

1. Nominees shall be voted for in alphabetical order.
2. The KCTCS Parliamentarian or designee shall conduct voting through roll call vote. Students attending through video conference shall be visible and audible during their vote. Every student will vote for one candidate. 
3.  The votes shall be tallied and recorded. The student receiving the most votes will serve as the Student Regent. The winning candidate shall be announced by the Parliamentarian or designee.
4. In the event of a tie, the tied candidates shall be considered for a new vote unless one concedes. The Parliamentarian or designee will ask the students to vote again by roll call vote.
5. The students who received the second and third highest number of votes will be named a first and second alternates and should the elected Student Regent be unable to serve their term, an alternate will assume the vacated seat for the remainder of the term.
6. In the event that the first or second alternate is not available to fulfill a vacated seat, a new election shall be conducted from the existing pool of nominated students who have maintained eligibility.

3.9 Challenges

Any challenges to a nominee should be made and considered prior to the vote for the position and shall be considered waived if not raised at that time. Any challenges to the manner and tally of the vote taken for a position shall be made prior to the declaration of the successful candidate or shall be considered waived.

3.10 Review of Procedures

The Board shall review these procedures and ratify their continuation every three years. Should the need arise for revision prior to review, the Board may entertain a motion to revise.