How Boards of Trustees are Selected

To gain a deeper appreciation of what is important to a university, one place to examine is the composition of the governing board -- the board of trustees -- and how trustees are selected to fill these important positions. Some are appointed by state governors or legislatures, while others are elected by a constituent group like the alumni, students, or agricultural societies. Some are self appointing, selecting new members through the existing membership, often via a nominating committee's recommendation. In addition to looking at how boards of trustees are selected, it is valuable to examine important issues such as term limits, the executive committee selection process, rules of authority, etc. Why are these guiding principles and selection criteria important? Think about the impact that having the right trustees can have on the positioning of the university for success.

Take time to review a few of the examples below to see how various universities select their board members and how they govern the university.

• Penn State
• Florida State
• Duke University
• Slippery Rock University
• Lehigh Carbon Community College 
• University of Pennsylvania