Executive summary of a study that explored the role of student board members at two- and four-year institutions. The researcher mailed a survey to 590 randomly chosen student and non-student board members and received responses from 266 (45% return rate). Research insights, policy implications, and recommendations for the future were organized around the following themes: selection, orientation/training, attendance, participation, interaction with public officials, satisfaction with being on board, recommendation of continuing the practice of having a student board member. Key findings and recommendations include: (1) increasing the knowledge level of students on campus regarding the position of student board members; (2) electing student board members rather than appointing them; (3) providing quality training to student board members; (4) creating the position of student board member-elect as a means of enhancing the student's knowledge of key issues and policies; and (5) granting student board members full voting rights. With respect to this last recommendation, the author asserts that students with voting privileges will be more actively involved in the board and will be perceived as more legitimate by other organization members. (RC)