Facts About the Present Board
SIZE OF THE BOARD: The Charter of Dartmouth College specifies the Board "hereafter forever to consist of TWELVE and no more" Trustees. By Act of the New Hampshire Legislature in 1891, the Board was authorized to add five additional Trustees (to the original twelve) to be chosen by the alumni of the College. This Act was not accepted by the Board and expired by reason of the express limitations contained in it. (N. H. Laws of 1891, Chapter 5.)
The CTO recommends enlargement of the Board to sixteen members, by adding two Life Trustees and two Alumni Trustees.
METHOD OF SELECTION: The Dartmouth Board now consists of five Life Trustees, five Alumni Trustees, the President of the College, and the Governor of New Hampshire who serves ex officio. A Life Trustee is nominated by a committee of the Board, appointed by the President, and is elected by the full Board. An Alumni Trustee is nominated by the Alumni Council, with other nominations permissible by any group of 100 alumni, and is elected by the full Board. Alumni Trustees, by agreement at the time of election, serve for five-year staggered terms, with one new election each year. An Alumni Trustee is allowed to serve only two five-year terms in the Alumni Trustee category.
The CTO recommends that no changes be made in present procedures fornominating and electing Trustees.
GEOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION: Under the latest amendment to the Dartmouth College Charter, dated 1921, the Trustees "may elect persons not resident in New Hampshire to a number not exceeding seven." (N. H. Laws of 1921, Chapter 245, accepted by the Board of Trustees in 1921.)
The CTO recommends that the Board take action to eliminate this geographicrestriction from the Charter.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD: At a meeting of the Board of Trustees held on March 27, 1822, the Trustees voted "That in the future the President of the College, being a Trustee of the College, be President of the Trustees."
The CTO recommends that the chairmanship of the Board be left as amatter for Trustee decision, as it is now; and that the Trustees not hesitate toelect a separate chairman any time they believe the interests of the College willbe served, although CTO sees no reason for making any change at the presenttime.
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD: The full Board holds four regularly scheduled meetings a year - in October, January, April and June. Meetings are usually held in Hanover, although occasionally one may be held in either New York or Boston.
The CTO makes no recommendations concerning the meeting schedule, butit does propose that the Trustees and the Alumni Council periodically hold ajoint session in Hanover, perhaps in January of every other year, to hear reportson the College and then hold individual working sessions following the jointmeeting.
STANDING COMMITTEES: The six standing committees of the Board at present are an Executive Committee, a Budget Committee, an Investment Committee, a Committee on Buildings and Grounds, a Development Committee, and a Committee on Degrees. Members of the Board may serve on more than one of these committees, which have an average membership of five. In addition to the standing committees, three Trustees now serve on a special Trustees Planning Committee.
The CTO recommends a realignment of standing committees to include anExecutive Committee, an Investment Committee, a Buildings and GroundsCommittee, a Budget Committee, an Educational Affairs Committee, an Alumniand Public Affairs Committee, and a Trustees Planning Committee.
RETIREMENT AGE: By an understanding at the time of his election, each Trustee agrees to retire from the Board at the age of 70.
The CTO recommends retaining this mandatory retirement age.
