The Board of Visitors gave preliminary approval to a proposal to appoint a student representative at its meeting Aug. 14. The proposal, which is in response to a General Assembly mandate requiring student representation on Virginia's public university boards, means a student representative could be named as early as the board's Sept. 14 meeting.

Under the proposal, which reflected a compromise between student body president Mike Arendall and student affairs administrators, a selection committee composed of the vice president for student services, director of student activities and leadership, and a student appointed by the Student Senate would review student applications and select three finalists. The names of the finalists would be submitted to the board's Student Affairs Committee and ultimately to the full board for a final decision.

The board will likely vote on the proposal at its Sept.14 meeting, but gave preliminary approval to begin the search process for a student representative.