Section 1. The Officers and Members
a. Membership of the Board of Trustees (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "the Board") is as provided for by State Law (RSA 187-A:13).
[Under state law, there are twenty-seven Trustees including eleven members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Executive Council; four members, at least one of whom shall be a resident of New Hampshire, elected by the alumni of the University of New Hampshire; one member elected by the Keene State College alumni; one member elected by the Plymouth State University alumni; two members who are students enrolled at and elected by the student body of the University of New Hampshire, Keene State College, or Plymouth State University; and eight ex officio members (the Governor, the State Commissioner of Agriculture, the State Commissioner of Education, the Chancellor of the University System, the President of the University of New Hampshire, the President of Keene State College the President of Granite State College, and the President of Plymouth State University.)
Terms of office of the appointed/elected members (except the student members) are for four years and end on June 30th; each member (except the student members) holds office until a successor is appointed and qualified. The student members are elected each year and their terms begin on July 1 and end on June 30. Appointment of successors or filling of vacancies for unexpired terms is by appointment or election in the same manner as the original appointment. The law specifies that two members of the Board shall be farmers; and both political parties shall be represented on the Board.]
b. The Officers of the Board shall be elected by the members. There shall be a: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and Secretary. All officers shall be members of the Board.
Section 2. Election of Officers
At the regular meeting next preceding the Annual Meeting, the Chairperson of the Board shall appoint three members of the Board as a nominating committee. This committee shall submit a list of nominees at the Annual Meeting, at which time the officers of the Board shall be elected. Officers elected shall hold their respective offices until their successors are chosen and qualified. Vacancies may be filled by the Chairperson at any time, on a pro-tem basis, subject to approval of the Board at a subsequent meeting.
Section 3. The Chairperson of the Board
The Chairperson of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board; shall appoint all committees and all committee chairpersons.
Section 4. The Vice Chairperson of the Board
The Vice Chairperson of the Board shall act for the Chairperson of the Board at the discretion or in the absence of the Chairperson, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Chairperson of the Board.
Section 5. The Secretary of the Board
The Secretary of the Board shall oversee the maintenance of an accurate record of all votes and acts of the Trustees.
a. Assistant Secretary. The Board of Trustees may, from time to time, designate one or more persons who may or may not be Trustees, to be an Assistant Secretary. The duties of the Assistant shall be the same as those of the Secretary, with the Assistant being empowered to perform the duties of the Secretary during the absence of the Secretary or in such other circumstances as may apply. An Assistant Secretary shall have such other duties and powers as the Board of Trustees shall determine.
Section 6. Removal of Officers
An officer of the Board may be removed from office at any time by a vote of two-thirds majority of the Board members eligible to vote. A vacancy thus created will be filled as prescribed in Article 1, Section 2.
Section 7. Trustee Emeritus
The Board of Trustees has established the category of Trustee Emeritus to honor and acknowledge distinguished service by a Trustee to the University System at large and to enable the Board to benefit from the continuing involvement of valued individuals in the Board's activities and decision-making.
A Trustee who has served two full terms (eight years or longer) becomes eligible for nomination as a Trustee Emeritus after leaving Board service. Terms need not be sequential, and the Board may waive qualifications under special conditions. Election to Trustee Emeritus status shall be by majority vote of the Board of Trustees upon nomination by the Executive Committee. Trustees Emeriti shall be elected for four year terms and may be re-elected without limit.
Trustees Emeriti shall be entitled to receive the schedule of Board meetings, to attend and speak at all public meetings, to request minutes of meetings of the Board, and to serve on special committee assignments upon invitation of the Board Chair. A Trustee Emeritus shall not be counted as a member of the Board for any purpose.