The VSC Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees provides leadership and governance at the system level. System policies govern fiscal, academic and personnel matters.
The Board of Trustees is a body of 15 people. Nine are appointed by the Governor of Vermont and each serve a six-year term. Four trustees are state legislators who are elected by the Vermont Legislature and each serve a four-year term. There is one student trustee elected by the VSC Student Government Association. The student trustee serves a one-year term.
The Vermont State Colleges Board of Trustees plays a vital role in the college experiences of more than 18,000 students of all ages, backgrounds, and lifestyles. The Board also plays a major oversight role for institutions that are vital to the training of Vermont's future workforce and the state’s economic development.
Trustee Roles & Responsibilities
Board Principles & Governance
There are certain clear and accepted principles that govern the board’s conduct of VSC affairs and its relationships. These include the following:
Board Members are officers of the system with a fiduciary responsibility for the entire system. They represent statewide, rather than regional, political, or personal interests.
The board limits its direct action to the development and oversight of policy and finances, and to the hiring and evaluation of its executive officers.
The board takes action as a board, not as 15 individual Trustees. Board members express their views and seek changes within the committees and other structures of the board, rather than “outside” the board process.
Openness, trust, and honesty are the trademarks of all dealings between board members, the officers of the institutions, and the public.
Annual Tasks
Selection of external auditor and review of audit reports
Approval and audit of internal operating and capital budgets
Establish tuition rates and fees
Develop request for state appropriations
Review of existing academic programs under VSC Policy 101
Review of and action on new program proposals under VSC Policy 102
Review of program enrollment under VSC Policy 109
Election of board officers (chair, vice-chair, secretary, and treasurer
VSC Board of Trustees Annual Retreat
Performance review of Chancellor, college presidents and vice presidents
Reappointment of Chancellor and college presidents
On-going Tasks
Review of VSC mission
System-wide strategic planning
Policy development
Policy review and revision
Participation in legislative activities
Intermittent Tasks