Update on Bylaws
S. Luster, VP of Personnel Services and General Counsel, presented the revised bylaws.

• Substance of Changes: The revisions align the bylaws with the Board of Trustees’ reorganized committee structures.
• New Standing Committees: Academic Affairs, Student Experience, Finance, Operations and Safety, and Enrollment Management and Student Success were incorporated.
• Key Change: The Executive Committee will now handle the President’s evaluation, as the Committee on Human Resources has been eliminated.
• Committee Requirements: According to the bylaws, every trustee must serve on at least one standing committee.
• Next Steps: Further updates are needed to ensure alignment with state mandates. These revisions will be reviewed during the trustee retreat in August, with a plan for a full board vote on additional revisions in the fall. The Chair may nominate a committee to perform this review.

L. Barrieau motioned to recommend approval of the revised bylaws by the full board. 

D. Tiernan seconded the motion. 

Roll Call

M. Fiorentino - Aye

L. Barrieau – Aye

D. Tiernan - Aye

Presidential Evaluation
L. Barrieau inquired about the timeline for the presidential evaluation.

• Timeline: M. Fiorentino noted that the commissioner provided a comprehensive approach, and the evaluation must be submitted by early September.
• Action: The Executive Committee should meet within the next month to determine if the evaluation will be handled by the Executive Committee or a special committee.

Advancement Operation
M. Fiorentino commented that attention to advancement must be a high priority for the board, as it relates to the university’s overall finances and community role.

• Status: The President expressed concerns about the rapidly changing landscape of advancement and fundraising.
• Review: An expert advancement partner, Goner Gerber, has been hired to conduct an evaluation of the operation to prepare for the next ten years.

Three-Year Undergraduate Degree
M. Fiorentino raised the topic of the national momentum toward the three-year undergraduate degree and the need for the university to engage in the conversation.

• General Education Review: The President stated that the primary focus before moving to a sub 120-degree program must be on reforming the General Education program, which currently stands at 51 credit hours (compared to a national standard of 32–40). A committee has been charged with this work.
• Concerns: The President expressed concern that if state universities do not move forward with three-year degree options, community colleges may push for statutory changes to award bachelor's degrees.
• The three-year degree discussion will be included in the agenda for the trustee retreat.