Candidates for student trustee are screened by the Agenda Setting Committee of the University Student Advisory Board, which works in conjunction with the current student trustee, and then delivers its recommendations to the governor's office.

The committee is composed of the Undergraduate Student Government president, the Graduate Student Association president and the Council of Commonwealth Student Government coordinator.

GSA President Ken Martin said the committee members and the student trustee are the only University figures who interview prospects for the post. "The University plays no role in the process. They have traditionally played no role at all," he added.

Grace Younginger, associate secretary in the Board of Trustees office, said, "The actual selection process does not go through our office. We play no role."

As many as 50 applications were turned in when the position was vacant in the past, Martin said. From that number, the committee selects about 15 for further scrutinization.

"When the screening process is over, the committee usually ends up with three to five students," said Martin, who made it to this final stage in 1987 when Henke was chosen.

Those names and applications are then sent for further review to the office of the state secretary of education. The secretary appoints an assistant to conduct more interviews and a recommendation is then sent to the governor's office. The governor makes the final decision.

"Any student is eligible to fill out an application," he said.

Applicants must provide a transcript and two recommendations from University staff members, in addition to answering a short list of questions.

"There are about eight to 10 questions and they're your basic 'Do you plan to be here for the next three years?' 'What is your knowledge of the board?' 'What kind of experience do you have?' 'What do you believe are the major problems at Penn State?'."

CCSG Coordinator Tony Bottino said he looks for dependability when choosing a student trustee.

"Continuity is the big problem with any student representation. Each year a different student leader seems to dig a new ditch," he said. "We have to prove to the trustees that students can be continuous in their working relationship."