N.Y. Education Law § 353: State university trustees

§ 353. State university trustees. 1. The state university shall be

governed, and all of its corporate powers exercised, by a board of

trustees. Such board shall consist of eighteen members, fifteen of whom

shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the

senate, one of whom shall be the president of the student assembly of

the state university, ex-officio and voting, one of whom shall be the

president of the university faculty senate, ex-officio and non-voting,

and one of whom shall be the president of the faculty council of

community colleges, ex-officio and non-voting. Such ex-officio members

shall be subject to every provision of any general, special, or local

law, ordinance, charter, code, rule, or regulation applying to the

voting members of such board with respect to the discharge of their

duties, including, but not limited to, those provisions setting forth

codes of ethics, disclosure requirements, and prohibiting business and

professional activities. One member of the board shall be designated by

the governor as chairperson and one as vice-chairperson. Of the members

first appointed, two shall be appointed for a term which shall expire on

June thirtieth, nineteen hundred fifty-two; one for a term which shall

expire on June thirtieth, nineteen hundred fifty-three; two for a term

which shall expire on June thirtieth, nineteen hundred fifty-four; one

for a term which shall expire on June thirtieth, nineteen hundred

fifty-five; two for a term which shall expire on June thirtieth,

nineteen hundred fifty-six; one for a term which shall expire on June

thirtieth, nineteen hundred fifty-seven; two for a term which shall

expire on June thirtieth, nineteen hundred fifty-eight; one for a term

which shall expire on June thirtieth, nineteen hundred fifty-nine; two

for a term which shall expire on June thirtieth, nineteen hundred sixty;

and one for a term which shall expire on June thirtieth, nineteen

hundred sixty-one. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term in

the same manner as original appointments. The term of office of each

trustee appointed on or after April first, nineteen hundred eighty-six

shall be seven years, except those of the student member and the faculty

members. Trustees shall receive no compensation for their services but

shall be reimbursed for their expenses actually and necessarily incurred

by them in the performance of their duties under this article.

2. a. The board may provide for regular meetings, and the chairman, or

the vice-chairman, or any eight members by petition, may at any time

call a special meeting of the board of trustees and fix the time and

place therefor; and at least seven days notice of every meeting shall be

mailed to the usual address of each trustee, unless such notice be

waived by a majority of the board. Resolutions for the consideration of

the board of trustees must be mailed to the usual address of each

trustee no less than seven days prior to a meeting, unless the chair

shall make available in writing on the day of the meeting the facts

which necessitate an immediate vote. Eight trustees attending shall be a

quorum for the transaction of business and, unless a greater number is

required by the by-laws, the act of a majority of the members present at

any meeting shall be the act of the board. The board shall hold at least

two public hearings each year. One public hearing shall be held during

the spring semester and one public hearing shall be held in the fall

semester. The purpose of such hearings shall be to receive testimony and

statements from concerned individuals about university issues. The board

shall fix the time, place, duration and format of each hearing. At least

three members of the board shall attend each hearing. At least thirty

days notice of the hearing shall be given by the chairman of the board

to all members of the board, to all presidents of state operated

campuses, to the chair of faculty-senate bodies of state operated

campuses, to all student government presidents of state operated

campuses, to the certified or recognized employee organizations

representing employees of the state university and to the media. Such

notice shall contain the time and place of the public hearing.

b. The agenda for any such meeting of the board of trustees shall be

electronically available on the state university of New York website

three days prior to the meetings unless an executive committee meeting

has been called in which an agenda must be available twenty-four hours

in advance, and shall be considered a public record. A summary of

resolutions and board actions for any such meeting of the board of

trustees shall be electronically available on the state university of

New York website no later than seven days after the meeting and shall be

considered a public record. The approved minutes, attendance, voting

record and either transcripts or video record for any such meeting must

be posted no later than seven days following their approval by the board

or executive committee. Information posted on the state university of

New York website regarding board of trustee meetings shall remain on the

site as archived data for a minimum of ten years.

c. Any such meeting of the board of trustees shall be conducted in

accordance with article seven of the public officers law.

3. The board shall appoint its own officers and staff, prescribe the

duties of such employees, and fix their compensation within the

appropriations prescribed therefor. Other than those positions included

in section one hundred sixty-nine of the executive law, the board shall

fix the compensation and benefits of employees in positions in the

professional service in the state university which are designated,

stipulated or excluded from negotiating units as managerial or

confidential as defined pursuant to article fourteen of the civil

service law.

4. a. The board may elect an executive committee of not less than five

members, who, in intervals between meetings of the board may transact

such business of the state university as the board may from time to time

authorize, except to grant degrees or to make removals from office. The

student member of the board shall be a member of such committee. A

majority of the whole of the executive committee, but in any event not

less than four members, attending shall be a quorum for the transaction

of business and the act of a majority of the members of the executive

committee present at any meeting thereof shall be the act of such

committee.

b. The agenda for any meeting of any committee and subcommittee of the

board of trustees shall be available electronically on the state

university of New York website three days prior to the meeting unless an

executive committee meeting has been called, in which case an agenda

must be available twenty-four hours in advance, and shall be considered

a public record. A summary of resolutions and actions by the committee

or subcommittee for any such meeting shall be electronically available

on the state university of New York website no later than seven days

after the meeting and shall be considered a public record. The approved

minutes, attendance, voting record, and either transcripts or video

record, for any such meeting must be posted no later than seven days

following the approval by the board, committee or subcommittee.

Information posted on the state university of New York website regarding

such meetings shall remain on the site as archived data for a minimum of

ten years.

c. Any such meeting of a committee or subcommittee of the board of

trustees shall be conducted in accordance with article seven of the

public officers law.