Overview of the R-MC Board of Trustees
The Bylaws of the Trustees of Randolph-Macon College were originally chartered by special legislation enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia on February 3, 1830, and subsequently amended from time to time by special legislation approved by said General Assembly on the following respective dates: July 9, 1870, April 9, 1874, March 31, 1875, and February 7, 1880 and most recently in Articles of Incorporation filed with the State Corporation Commission.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND POWERS OF TRUSTEES
The Board of Trustees shall have and exercise the corporate powers prescribed by law. Its primary function shall be policy making and its primary responsibilities shall be:
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To appoint, support, and assess the performance of the President.
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To clarify the mission of the College.
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To approve long-range plans.
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To approve the educational program.
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To ensure the well-being of faculty, students, and staff.
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To ensure strong financial management.
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To ensure adequate financial resources.
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To preserve institutional autonomy.
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To interpret and promote the campus to the community.
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To represent and interpret the needs of society to the campus.
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To assess Trustee performance.
The Board of Trustees shall further have the power to carry out any other functions which are permitted by these Bylaws or by the Articles of Incorporation, except as limited by law. These powers shall include but shall not be limited to the following:
- Appoint or remove the President, who shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the College, in accordance with these bylaws, and assess the performance of the President, as prescribed by resolution of the Board; appoint or remove any other Officers of the Board and administrative officers of the College, in accordance with these bylaws; however, the power to appoint or remove administrative officers is delegated to the President of the College.
- Determine and periodically review the purposes and the mission of the College.
- Establish, review and approve changes in the educational programs of the College, consistent with its mission.
- Establish policies regarding appointment, promotion, tenure and dismissal of faculty members.
- Approve and review personnel policies for academic and non-academic employees of the College.
- Approve and authorize degrees in course upon recommendation of the faculty, and approve and authorize honorary degrees.
- Establish annually the budget of the College, which shall be submitted to it upon recommendation of the Finance Committee.
- Establish guidelines for investment policies and practices.
- Authorize, establish policy guidelines for, and promote all fund raising efforts of the College, including annual programs and major capital programs.
- Authorize the purchase, management and sale of all land, buildings or major equipment for use of the College.
- Authorize the construction of new buildings and major renovations of existing buildings.
- Authorize the incurring of debts by the College and securing thereof by mortgage and pledge of real and personal property, tangible and intangible.
- Authorize any changes in tuition and fees within the College.
- Authorize officers or agents of the College to accept gifts or bequests on behalf of the College subject to the policies established by the Board of Trustees.
MEMBERSHIP OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Board of Trustees shall be composed of not more than forty elected members and five ex-officio members cited in this Section. The President of the College shall be a member of the Board, ex officio without vote. In addition thereto, the presiding Bishop of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church, the President of the Society of Alumni, the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Parents Association and the Chair of the Board of Associates shall serve as Trustees, ex officio with vote, during the terms of their respective offices.
Trustees shall serve for three year terms and until their successors are elected and qualified and may succeed themselves in office. Incumbent members of the Board of Trustees who are completing a three-year term shall be eligible for re-election at the annual meeting. However, trustees who have served for four consecutive terms (including any partial term), shall not be eligible for reelection until one year has elapsed after the end of their fourth term. Notwithstanding the provisions of this article, the Chair of the Board shall be eligible to remain a member of the Board so long as he or she shall be elected as Chair.
MEETINGS
There shall be no fewer than three regular meetings of the Board of Trustees annually on such dates and at such places as may be determined by the Board. No later than March 31 of each year, the dates and times for the meetings for the following fiscal year shall be set. The Annual Meeting of the Board shall be in May of each year.