Board of Trustees
Board of Trustees
Overview
The chief purpose of a board is more to provide for good governance than it is for itself to govern in detail. It is more important for the board to provide for effective governance than - for it to govern; it should spend more time on governance and less time on governing ... The board should neither abdicate its responsibilities to external or internal forces, nor bog itself down in the details of administration. It should not run the college, but it should assure that it is well run.*
Three full board meetings are held annually each February, June, and October. The board extends its February winter meeting to include an off-site retreat every-other-year, on the odd years.
*Carnegie Commission on Higher Education, Governance of Higher Education: Six Priority Problems (New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, April 1973), p.36
Trustees
The RIT Board of Trustees comprises 40 active trustees, including the President of the university and representatives from the RIT Alumni Association and the National Advisory Group of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, as well as 22 emeritus trustees. In total, the Board includes 65 active and emeritus members, 39 of whom are RIT alumni.
Committees
Appointed by the board to exercise the powers of the board between regularly scheduled meetings except those reserved to the full board by the bylaws. Under the auspices of the full board, create and monitor implementation of the strategic plan.
Advise and support the board and the administration in efforts to enhance access, engagement and success throughout the Institute. Monitor progress toward established goals.
Advise the administration on the relationship between the Institute and alumni, government, donors, the community, and other external parties; and to make recommendations to the administration and to the board concerning awards, honors, honorary degrees, memorials, and the naming of buildings and facilities.
To focus on the interdependency among academic program offerings, brand and market position, pricing and financial aid, competitive threats, and consumer behavior in the pursuit of enrolling students to match the strategic and financial needs of the university.
Review and approve compensation of the president and officers of the Institute and other designated employees, making recommendations to the executive committee during the annual approval process.
Advise the administration as to matters involving the university’s fiscal health and physical plant.
Advise the board in matters pertaining to board governance and compliance with applicable law, RIT’s bylaws and board-approved protocols and procedures. Review and recommend board candidates to the full board, coordinate election by the board of its officers, and periodically evaluate the performance of the board and its membership.
Provide oversight and formulate prudent and effective policies for the management of investments.
To support and monitor the university’s key strategic efforts, policies and procedures related to research and graduate education. The committee shall review and recommend new Ph.D. programs for consideration by the full board and advise the administration on policies and practices related to the effective recruitment, retention and promotion of faculty.
To advise and support the administration relating to the integrity of the university’s financial statements, systems of internal control, performance of the university’s independent auditors and internal audit function, and qualifications and independence of the independent auditors. The committee will also advise and support the administration relating to the implementation of the board and officer conflict of interest policies, the university’s enterprise risk management, and legal and regulatory compliance programs.
Support and monitor the university’s key strategic efforts related to the review of academic and student life programs, policies, and services to ensure that they are consistent with the university's mission, strategies, and priorities. Lead the board’s engagement on emerging issues relevant to its charge; provide input to university leadership on priorities; provide guidance and make recommendations to the board on matters related to undergraduate academic and student affairs.
Terms of Office
Each trustee is assigned to one of four classes, which serve for four-year renewable terms. The Governance and Membership Committee reviews the attendance, activities, philanthropic support and service of each trustee at the time the class is due for re-election. There is no limit to the number of terms to which trustees may be elected up to the age of 75, which is the maximum age for active status.
For a complete overview of the university’s governance structure and guiding principles, please refer to the official RIT Bylaws.