SB 551
Restoring voting rights to faculty, student, and employee members of institutional boards of governors
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- Passed Senate
- Passed House of Delegates
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill aims to restore voting rights to faculty, student, and employee members on the boards of governors for West Virginia’s public colleges and universities. Currently, these members serve in an advisory role only. The legislation amends the state code to allow these groups to participate fully in board decisions, ensuring their perspectives are included in governance. It outlines specific appointment procedures and term lengths for each member type, including lay members appointed by the Governor.
Key provisions
- Faculty members (with instructor rank or above) will serve as nonvoting advisory members.
- Student members will serve for one year, elected by the student body.
- Employee members (classified or non-classified) will serve for two years, elected by their respective employee groups.
- Lay members appointed by the Governor will serve four-year terms, with restrictions on political party representation and residency.
- The bill establishes staggered terms to ensure continuity on the boards.
- Specific requirements are outlined for the composition of boards at Marshall University and West Virginia University, including designated representatives for agriculture/forestry and graduates of specific WVU programs.
- Members are ineligible if they hold certain public offices or positions within higher education institutions.
- Members are reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred while performing their duties.
Who is affected
- Faculty members
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