James Innes was sworn in as the Northern Illinois University student trustee during the Aug. committee meeting of the Board of Trustees, and board leaders outlined the student trustee’s selection process and voting limits.
Committee chair Veronica Herrero opened the swearing-in and explained that “the student trustee is selected by the student body” and is “the only elected member of the board.” Herrero said the student trustee “is a fully participating member of the board and its committees, with the ability to vote on all the issues that come before the board with the exception of tenure and promotion, or when the student trustee has a conflict of interest.”
The nut graf: The student trustee serves as the student body’s elected representative on the board and participates in deliberations and votes except for matters explicitly excluded by the board (tenure and promotion and conflict-of-interest situations), a limitation the chair explained at the swearing-in.
Board chair Montel Gales and other trustees took part in a brief swearing-in ceremony at the podium. After being sworn, Innes spoke briefly: “Thank you to my fellow board members, president Freeman and our entire cabinet for being so welcoming. I look forward to working with each and every one of you.”
The record indicates the ceremonial oath invoked the U.S. Constitution, the Illinois Constitution and Northern Illinois University bylaws and policies as part of the formal language used during the swearing-in. The committee then moved on to regular business; no separate vote was required for the swearing-in itself.
Ending: The committee proceeded with its agenda after welcoming Innes; the board’s next Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Personnel Committee meeting was announced for Nov. 13, 2025.