UC students want bigger say on Board of Regents

The University of California serves 300,000 students, yet only one of the two students on the 26-member Board of Regents is allowed to vote. Now student leaders are campaigning for a second vote, saying it would better ensure that UC policy reflects all students.

- By PHoEBE Huss AND KHADEEJAH KHAN

STUDENT leaders are campaigning for a second vote on the UC Board of Regents. Above, the UCLA campus.

(AL SEIB For The Times)

Regents are the top decision makers of the UC system and set policies for all campuses, including tuition increases. When one student has to represent the wishes of the entire student population, some feel other perspectives miss out. Last year, when one student regent voted in favor of raising nonresident tuition, the other student regent disagreed but couldn't vote on it.

Currently, the nonvoting student spends their first year on the board as a “regent-designate.” That student then moves into the voting position the following year. The students are selected from an applicant pool open to all UC graduate and undergraduate students and approved by the board.

By adding a second vote for student regents, UC would follow in the footsteps of the other two public higher education systems in the state: Legislation passed earlier this decade enabled voting power for two student representatives on the California State University and California Community College governing boards.

UC board policy, by contrast, cannot be changed through a legislative bill but could be through measures voted on by the regents or by a constitutional amendment approved by both the Legislature and California voters. Unlike Cal State and community colleges, UC was established by the state Constitution as a system that governs itself with very limited legislative oversight. An attorney general once likened the Board of Regents to a branch of state government, equal to the legislative, judiciary and executive.

If they choose to go for the amendment, student.advocates would like to see it passed by the end of next year’s legislative session so the measure can appear on the November 2026 midterm ballot.