A newly elected student member of Ball State University's Board of Trustees was announced earlier this week.
Junior finance and economics major Nicole Vauter said she will jump right in at her first meeting, where she will be voting on the budget and tuition rates for the upcoming school year.
"It is a little intimidating," she said.
Vauter said she has not yet been briefed on tuition, but has been thinking about it.
"I know everyone would like to see it be the same or be lowered," Vauter said. "But I think that with economy like it is and with the funding that we have, it is kind of up in the air right now. It might need to be increased."
She said she would wait to learn more about the position the university is in before making a decision.
Vauter was giving plasma when she got a call from the governor's office telling her that she had been selected as the newest member.
"I was completely ecstatic," she said, after leaving the nurses thinking that something was wrong. They celebrated together when she explained.
Vauter is filling the position that was vacated by Ball State student Kellie Conrad when her two-year term ended.
Vauter said she is a quick-learner who will bring an open mind to the Board.
"I've been thinking about it a lot, about all the different things that I'm going to be able to do," she said. "It's very exciting."
She said she isn't thinking about major changes right now.
"The ideas that I have are basically right in line with President Gora's strategic plan, the Bold campaign and pretty much where [the university is] going right now."
Vauter said she isn't ready to share her ideas yet, but did say a major goal of hers is to use make sure the university spends it's money in a responsible way.
Vauter said she sees her role on the Board as being the connection between the students and the Board of Trustees. She said her job is to look at the big picture, considering both what students want and the reality that the Board faces.
Vauter said her service on the Student Alumni Relations Team, where she served as a liaison between alumni and students, would help her in her job. She said that experience will transfer to being the connection between students and the administration.
As she begins her term, Vauter invited people to attend board meetings or e-mail her to share their views. She said she would also work with Ball State's Student Government Association to get student input and let the Board know what the student body has to say.
Vauter will serve a two-year term.
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