University of Wisconsin students will have additional representation on the UW System Board of Regents if a bill passed in the State Assembly Thursday becomes law.

The current board consists of 17 regents, including one UW student, but another student representative will be given a seat on the board upon the signature of Gov. Jim Doyle, who is expected to approve the bill once he returns from Europe.

"Passage of this bill proves that students can make a difference," State Rep. Rob Kreibich, R-Eau Claire, a co-author of the legislation, said in a release. "This will add another student voice to this important board, and hopefully that added voice will lead to lower tuition and higher financial aid."

The new student board member must be a non-traditional student, or an undergraduate student who is at least 24 years old and a part-time or full-time student. Though elected representatives of student organizations can make recommendations of students who may make good candidates, the governor will make the final appointment for the new position. Like the other student regent, the new regent will serve a two-year term, and the two regents' terms will be staggered.

State Rep. Andy Lamb, R-Menomonee, another co-author of the bill, said the addition of a non-traditional student is especially timely, with many adults going back to college in order to pursue other careers, and others starting school for the first time at a later age.

"Non-traditional students deserve a voice on the Board of Regents to help our UW campuses to better serve the community," Lamb said in a release.

Currently, there are 160,000 students in the UW System, which is comprised of 26 universities in the state.

"At a time when state support is diminishing, it's critical that we have additional student perspective as the Board of Regents works to ensure a future for the UW System," said Brian Tanner, communications director for United Council of UW Students.

However, getting another student voice was not an easy task. According to Tanner, the doubling of student presence on the board has been a long time coming.

"This is extremely exciting — this is legislation that has been six years in the making," Tanner said, noting in previous legislative sessions, the similar bills did not fare as well.

UW Board of Regents President David Walsh said if the Legislature deems it necessary to add another student to the board, he will support it, though he feels adding regents based on constituencies is not essential.

"Every student regent we've had has been a wonderful addition to the board," Walsh said.