New York Laws
Article 8 - State University and State Financial Assistance for Higher Education
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.