Overview
Today, the board meets three times a year, typically in October, January and May—the latter meeting being designated as the annual meeting of the board. The board has sole fiduciary responsibility for the college, and as such, it:
- Reviews and approves the annual budget and critical financial or legal documents
- Oversees matters of basic policy
- Elects and reviews the performance of the president of the college
- Appoints board committees and elects board officers
The chair and vice chair of the board, officers chosen from among term trustees, serve as the board’s leadership. Other officers are administrative staff of the college. The college’s vice president for financial affairs typically serves as treasurer, and the president’s chief of staff is usually chosen as secretary. Other officers include an assistant secretary and an assistant treasurer.
Size and Composition
The minimum (28) and maximum (40) size of the board is established by the bylaws. Ex officio voting members include the president of the Alumni Council and the immediate past president of the Alumni Council. Each spring a member of the graduating class is elected to serve a two-year term as the Young Alumni Trustee.
Trustee Expectations
It is expected that trustees will:
- provide up to 12 years of active and engaged service (board members are limited to three four-year terms)
- attend and participate regularly in board meetings and other campus activities
- make Dickinson a primary philanthropic priority
- be reviewed on a four-year cycle through a process followed by the Committee on Governance
Trustees who have demonstrated exceptional and distinguished service to the college may be elected to emeritus status one year after their board service has ended.
Role of the President
The president of the college is an ex officio member of the board with the right to attend and actively participate, but does not have voting privileges and will not be counted in a quorum when present. The president of the college is charged with keeping the board apprised of significant issues confronting the college. The president meets this requirement through three written reports a year, a verbal report at each meeting of the board and through special communications throughout the year.