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UH System Student Regent

In 2005, the 79th Texas Legislature authorized the Governor to appoint a nonvoting student regent to the UH System. To aid the Governor in his selection, the chancellor of each university system must recommend students based on applications submitted by each president on behalf of the institution’s student government association.

A student regent has the same powers and duties as the members of the board of regents of the system, including the right to attend and participate in meetings of the board of regents, except that the student regent: (1) may not vote on any matter before the board or make or second any motion before the board; and (2) is not counted in determining whether a quorum exists for a meeting of the board or in determining the outcome of any vote of the board.
A student regent serves without compensation but is entitled to be reimbursed for the actual expenses incurred by the student regent in attending the meetings of the board of regents, subject to the approval of the chairman of the board of regents. The Board of Regents at the University of Houston System (the “Board”) has regularly scheduled meetings once per quarter that last a full day. Throughout the student regent’s term, the student regent must maintain a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a four-point scale. Every member of the Board is required to file a Personal Financial Statement with the Texas Ethics Commission.

Monday, November 18, 2024
All completed application materials must be submitted to the student government association of your respective university for full consideration. Applicants must include a Student Regent UH System Application Form and an Office of the Governor Appointment Application.

Friday, December 6, 2024
By Friday, December 6, 2024, the student government association from each UH System institution should, from among the applications received, select up to five (5) applicants as the student government association’s recommendations for the position of student regent and submit to uhdsa@uh.edu. From applications sent from the student government association throughout the UH System, the Chancellor shall select a minimum of two (2) and no more than four (4) to send to the Governor by January 31, 2025.

Saturday, June 1, 2025
On June 1, 2025, or shortly thereafter, the governor shall appoint one of the applicants to serve as the student regent for the University of Houston System for a one-year term expiring on May 31, 2026.

First Name Last Name From To # of Years
Robert B. Johnson (UH) 02/02/06 02/01/07 1
Christopher Sharpe (UH-Downtown) 02/01/07 05/31/08 1+
Tamara Goodwin Woods (UH) 06/01/08 05/31/09 1
Kristen Lindley Sayegh (UH-Victoria) 07/01/09 05/31/10 1
Andrew Cobos (UH) 06/01/10 05/01/11 1
Tamecia Harris (UH) 06/01/11 05/31/12 1
Gage Raba (UH) 06/01/12 05/01/13 1
Benjamin P. Wells (UH) 06/01/13 05/03/14 1
Asit R. Shah (UH) 06/01/14 05/01/15 1
Garrett H. Hughey (UH) 06-01-15 05/31/16 1
Joshua A. Freed (UH) 06/01/16 05/31/17 1
Neelesh "Neel" C. Mutyala (UH) 06/01/17 05/31/18 1
Andrew Z. Teoh (UH) 06/01/18 05/31/19 1
John D. Fields (UH) 06/01/19 05/31/20 1
Alvaro De la Cruz Jr. (UH Victoria) 06/01/20 05/31/21 1
Derek M. Delgado (UH-Clear Lake) 06/01/21 05/31/22 1
Edward Carrizales-Saucedo (UH) 06/01/22 05/31/23 1
Mielad J. Ziaee (UH) 06/01/23 05/31/24 1

*Student Regents are part of a group of students appointed by the Texas Governor to serve on their respective university system governing boards.  These students have the same powers and duties as regents, but do not vote or are considered part of a quorum.  The first such appointees served from 2006-2007.  Prior to this, student regents were elected by their peers.

Hard copies of this information can be obtained from the Student Government Office located at the University of Houston (UH), University of Houston – Clear Lake (UHCL), University of Houston – Downtown (UHD) and University of Houston – Victoria (UHV). All completed application materials must be submitted to the respective student government association by Monday, November 18, 2024, for full consideration. Applicants must include a Student Regent UH System Application Form and an Office of the Governor Appointment Application.

For more information, contact your respective Student Government Association or the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at 713-743-5390.

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)

Non-Voting Student Representative

Section 61.0225 of the Texas Education Code authorizes the Governor to appoint a non-voting student representative to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) for a term not to exceed one year beginning on June 1, 2025 and ending on May 31, 2026. The student representative shall enjoy the same rights as a regularly appointed board member, except the right to vote or be counted towards a quorum for official board business. The student representative serves without compensation.

For initial consideration, nominees must meet the following minimum criteria:

  • Be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student in a public institution of higher education;
  • Be in good academic standing as determined by the institution;
  • Commit to fulfill all board-related responsibilities during their term of service, to include attendance at no less than 3 of the 4 quarterly board meetings, and 3 of the 4 board committee meetings as scheduled; and
  • Have a strong drive and self-motivation to contribute to the progress of higher education in Texas.

To aid the Governor in his selection, the President of each University will recommend students based on applications provided by the Student Government Association (SGA).

If appointed, the student representative must continue to meet the following criteria for the length of their term:

  • Maintain a GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale;
  • Maintain enrollment at a public institution of higher education for the duration of term; and
  • Maintain a state-wide perspective on higher education (as opposed to representing any single college or university).

Hard copies of this information can be obtained from the Student Government Office located at the University of Houston (UH), University of Houston – Clear Lake (UHCL), University of Houston – Downtown (UHD) and University of Houston – Victoria (UHV). All completed application materials must be submitted to the respective student government association by Monday, November 18, 2024, for full consideration. Applicants must include the THECB Application Form and an Office of the Governor Appointment Application.

For more information, contact your respective Student Government Association or the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at 713-743-5390.

The SGA at UH, UHCL, UHD, or UHV will make recommendations to the respective Vice President for Student Affairs. The Vice President for Student Affairs will make recommendations to their President, who will nominate to the Governor. The application (due Monday, November 18, 2024) must follow the Governor's Appointments Division requirements, including the following documents:

  1. THECB application (.docx, 64.2 KB)
  2. Governor's Appointment Application
  3. Resume
  4. Unofficial Transcript

For more information contact the Student Government Association at 832-842-6225 or the Office of Vice Chancellor/Vice President for Student Affairs at 713-743-5390.