Article II: Board of Trustees
Section 1. Size and Composition
A. The Board of Trustees shall consist of not less than fifteen, nor more than twenty-one members.
B. One third of the Trustees must be active members of the Free Methodist Church - USA. All members shall embrace the history of and be in accordance with the Introduction (historical summary), Preamble, and Articles of Religion found in the current edition of the Book of Discipline of the Free Methodist Church-USA. Board members shall be persons choosing to lead Christ-like lives, taking seriously all aspects of Christian holy living and influence, as delineated in I Timothy, Chapter 3, and Titus, Chapter 1.
C. A majority of the Trustees shall be alumni of Greenville University.
D. At least three Trustees shall be elders of the Free Methodist Church - USA.
E. The President of the Institution shall be an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Board of Trustees. As the Executive Session is limited to duly elected Board members, the President shall not attend this portion of the meeting unless invited by the Board Chair.
Section 2. Duties
A. The Board of Trustees shall determine the Mission of the Institution and shall monitor the Institution’s performance in fulfilling that Mission. (See Article I. D.)
B. The Board of Trustees shall determine the policies that govern the institution. These policies may include, but are not limited to, board governance, University operations, business affairs including response to financial exigency, property acquisition, sale, and management, and matters relating to the identity, core values, and objectives of the institution.
C. The Trustees shall, in addition, carry out the following specific responsibilities:
1. Appointment, nurture, evaluation, and compensation of its President.
2. Receipt and disbursement of the funds of the institution, either directly or via delegated agents.
3. Development, adoption, and maintenance of Policies for the discharge of its duties. These policies shall be contained in the Board Policy Manual, which shall not contain any provisions that are in violation of the By-laws of the corporation or any applicable law.
Section 3. Nomination, Election, and Terms of the Board of Trustees
A. The Trusteeship Committee shall receive and review recommendations for candidates for Board of Trustees membership (Article IV, Section 2.). The Trusteeship Committee shall nominate candidates for election to the Board of Trustees.
B. Board members shall be elected to a term of three years, with terms staggered as possible, to attain three “classes” of like number. Terms of service mature at the May meeting.
C. During the third year of each trustee’s term, the Trusteeship Committee shall conduct a formal review of the Trustee’s contribution to the Board and the Institution. Such review shall include, but not be limited to, a trustee self-evaluation, peer evaluation, and a performance and attendance review by the Trusteeship Committee.
D. Trustees may be elected or re-elected at any official meeting. The Trusteeship Committee will determine if a candidate or member nomination is for a full term, or is to complete an unexpired term.
Section 4. Conditions for Continuing Membership
A. Board members, who miss two regular sittings of the Board during a three-year term, without just cause and advance notice to the Board Chair, shall be considered to have resigned.
B. Any Board member who has served for nine years or longer shall be eligible for Emeritus status, upon retirement from the Board. The honorific “Emeritus Trustee” may be bestowed on vote of the Board of Trustees, following nomination by the Trusteeship Committee. Emeritus Trustees are welcome to attend board meetings and board activities without vote or invitation to attend Executive Sessions unless re-elected to the Board. Emeritus Trustees will receive a copy of the Board minutes and Mid- Month Reports.
C. Additional conditions of membership shall be detailed in the Board Policy Manual.