Board of Trustees Information: Meeting Structure

The hierarchical structure of this chart denotes the authority over agenda, schedule and goal setting at the meetings. Mr. Winston and President Sullivan prepare a memo that each board member and delegate receives about a week or two before each full board meeting, of which there are three (October, February and May) as well as a summer retreat at Canaras, St. Lawrence’s Adirondack conference center and camp. This memo sets the purpose[s] of the upcoming meeting and informs the recipients of what they should expect to vote on and be prepared to discuss. The memo also reports and updates information (financial, admissions results, etc.) for the recipients. It usually is accompanied with a general schedule for the meetings .

There are elected and appointed staffers, students and faculty that are present at the meetings and that sustain a flow of information to the Trustees while they are off-campus. Safely assume that the staffers and faculty concerned with the B. o. T. committee work are present at the appropriate non-executive sessions in addition to the permanent liaison (i.e. Steve Horowitz and Liz Regosion at Academic Affairs, Margaret Kent-Bass, Bill Burns and Jess Parillo at Student Life).

When they arrive in Canton , the Trustees get right to work. The schedule is jam-packed, beginning at 8, and running with non-stop committee, full-board meetings, departmental presentations, student meetings, performance and various other on-campus events (i.e.: ODK presentations, full 2-hour luncheon presentations from a different committee each weekend, tours of new buildings)

An aspect most notable for you is the points of access to Adam Casler and myself.. This is our most effective and direct point of entry to the board’s decision making system. What we bring forward falls on ears eager to hear the straight story from the students. These Trustees fervently seek out—even depend on the commentary from the Student Delegates before making some of the weekend’s important decisions.

Adam and I both give formal presentations of 15 or so minutes. But on top of that, and with much more importance and volume, is the informal discussions that completely saturate the weekends. During every break, meal, and meeting, the Trustees are picking my brain with questions both sweeping and general- “What are students saying about their time here?” – as well as pointed and informed- “Does the 24 hour room get a lot of use?”. These questions drive their vision of St. Lawrence; it gives them rationale for their commitment and donations. This is why it is important for you to contact me, connect with me—and let me know your thoughts. I can’t stress it enough.

Formally, the three regular on campus meetings begin on the Thursday evening before the weekend meeting. The first full board gathering sets the agenda and discusses the overarching issues. The needed outcomes of the committee meetings are made clear from the outset. For the next day—all day—committee work grinds out the issues in specific and real terms. Here, by the Chair and their committee, it is decided what will be voted on—what will become policy. There is another full board meeting that evening, where additional overarching discussion take place—often regarding financing or major campus issues. The following day is the actual Meeting of the Board of Trustees, where committee actions are presented and debated upon, and when the votes are made.

The schedule of Board meetings for the coming academic year is as follows:

-Oct 20-22

-Feb 23-25

-May 18-21

I will be in your service for the first two of these meetings. Consider that our role as proper students includes speaking up or acting promptly when we see room for improvement. It helps make our school the place we feel it can be.

Please keep in touch and enjoy yourselves.

Best,

Jason DeRosa ‘06

 

Links:

Main Page: Board of Trustees

The Big Picture and Mission Statement

Job Descriptions of Trustees and University Officers

Board of Trustees Meeting Structure

Trustees of St. Lawrence University

Committees of the Board of Trustees (Including Current Members)