UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH POLICY \ 01-03-01
CATEGORY: ADMINISTRATION
SECTION: University Governance
SUBJECT: Board of Trustees: Membership
EFFECTIVE DATE: November 2, 1987
PAGE(S): 3
I. SCOPE
This policy affirms the Membership of the Board of
Trustees of the University of Pittsburgh, and
includes requirements and restrictions on membership
within the classes designated. The following is
excerpted from the University of Pittsburgh BYLAWS
and the University of Pittsburgh Commonwealth Act.
(See Appendix A.)
II. POLICY
The Board of Trustees shall include thirty-six voting members,
one of whom shall be the President of the University.
It shall also include the Governor of the State, the Secretary
of Education, and the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, all
three of whom shall be non-voting members of the Board of
Trustees ex officio.
Twelve of the voting members shall be designated
Commonwealth Trustees and shall be appointed as
provided by the Charter.
The remaining twenty-four voting members shall
consist of three classes:
- Twelve Charter Trustees
- Six Alumni Trustees
- Six Term Trustees
Charter Trustees:
- At least one of the Charter Trustees shall be an
alumnus of the University.
- Charter Trustees are elected by the Trustees and
serve until retirement.
Alumni Trustees:
- All the Alumni Trustees shall be alumni of the
University.
- Alumni Trustees may be elected from nominations
submitted by the General Alumni Association of
the University in accordance with the plan
approved by the Board of Trustees on January
17, 1941, as amended.
- Alumni Trustees shall be elected for terms of
three years and until their successors have
been elected and have qualified. Terms shall
be staggered so that two Alumni Trustees are
elected at each annual meeting.
- Alumni Trustees shall not be eligible for
reelection to the same class of membership
after serving two consecutive full terms, but
they shall be eligible for reelection to the
same class after the lapse of two years
following the termination of their membership.
Term Trustees:
- Term Trustees shall be elected for terms of three years
and until their successors have been elected and have
qualified.
- Terms shall be staggered so that two Term
Trustees are elected at each annual meeting.
- Term Trustees shall not be eligible for
reelection to the same class of membership
after serving two consecutive full terms, but
they shall be eligible for reelection to the
same class after the lapse of two years
following the termination of their membership.
All elections of Charter, Alumni, and Term Trustees
shall be by the affirmative vote of a majority of
the Trustees present and voting at the annual
meeting.
- Vacancies ad interim among the Charter, Alumni,
and Term Trustees may be filled at a regular
meeting of the Board and members so elected
shall hold office for the remainder of the
unexpired term or until retirement.
Special Trustees:
- There shall, in addition, be a special class of
eight trustees nominated by the President of
the University and elected by the Board of
Trustees for terms of three years and until
their successors have been elected and
qualified, with terms staggered so that
approximately one-third of such Trustees are
elected at each annual meeting.
- However, the initial election of this class of
trustees will be to terms of varying length so as
to enable a regular future turnover.
- These Trustees shall not be eligible for
reelection to the same class after serving two
consecutive full terms, but they shall be
eligible for reelection to the same class after
the lapse of two years following the
termination of their membership.
- Any individual who by virtue of his leadership,
interest in, and service to the University, or
other exceptional contribution to the progress
and welfare of the University may be elected to
this class of Trustee.
- Such Trustees attend all meetings of the Board
and exercise and are entitled to all the
rights, responsibilities, and privileges of
trusteeship, except that votes will be recorded
only on matters not affected by the
Commonwealth Act for the University.
Commonwealth Trustees:
- Four of the Commonwealth Trustees shall be
appointed by the Governor, with the advice and
consent of two-thirds of all the members of the
Senate; four by the President Pro Tempore of
the Senate; and four by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives.
- Each of the three Commonwealth appointing
authorities shall make one appointment annually
for a term of four years.
Emeritus Trustees:
- Any person who has served as a Trustee of the
University and who is considered worthy of
special honor by virtue of his leadership, long
and devoted service, or other exceptional
contribution to the progress and welfare of the
institution may be elected an Emeritus Trustee
for life.
- Emeritus Trustees may attend meetings of the
Board but shall not be entitled to vote.
III. REFERENCES
- University of Pittsburgh of the Commonwealth System of
Higher Education - BYLAWS, Chapter I, Article I,
"Membership of the Board of Trustees." Adopted by the
Board of Trustees, January 14, 1969, and as amended
thereafter.
- University of Pittsburgh Commonwealth Act, 1966
Special Session No. 3, No. 3, An Act, Section
4, "Board of Trustees; Composition;
Commonwealth Trustees; Terms," BYLAWS, pages 10-
11.