US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

§18B-2A-1. Composition of boards; terms and qualifications of members; vacancies; eligibility for reappointment.

(a) A board of governors is continued at each of the following institutions: Bluefield State College, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, Concord University, Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College, Fairmont State University, Glenville State College, Marshall University, New River Community and Technical College, Shepherd University, Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, West Liberty State College, West Virginia Northern Community and technical College, the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, West Virginia State University and West Virginia University.
(b) The institutional board of governors for Marshall University consists of sixteen persons and the institutional board of governors for West Virginia University consists of eighteen persons. Each other board of governors consists of twelve persons.
(c) Each board of governors includes the following members:
(1) A full-time member of the faculty with the rank of instructor or above duly elected by the faculty of the respective institution;
(2) A member of the student body in good academic standing, enrolled for college credit work and duly elected by the student body of the respective institution;
(3) A member from the institutional classified employees duly elected by the classified employees of the respective institution; and
(4) For the institutional board of governors at Marshall University, twelve lay members appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, pursuant to this section and, additionally, the chairperson of the institutional board of advisors of Marshall Community and Technical College serving as an ex officio, voting member.
(5) For the institutional board of governors at West Virginia University, twelve lay members appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, pursuant to this section and, additionally, the chairpersons of the following boards serving as ex officio, voting members:
(A) The institutional board of advisors of:
(i) The Community and Technical College at West Virginia University Institute of Technology; and
(ii) West Virginia University at Parkersburg; and
(B) The Board of Visitors of West Virginia University Institute of Technology.
(6) For each institutional board of governors of an institution that does not have an administratively linked community and technical college under its jurisdiction, nine lay members appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, pursuant to this section.
(7) For each institutional board of governors which has an administratively linked community and technical college under its jurisdiction:
(A) Eight lay members appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, pursuant to this section and, additionally, the chairperson of the institutional board of advisors of the administratively linked community and technical college; and
(B) Of the eight lay members appointed by the Governor, one shall be the superintendent of a county board of education from the area served by the institution.
(d) Of the eight or nine members appointed by the Governor, no more than five may be of the same political party. Of the twelve members appointed by the Governor to the governing boards of Marshall University and West Virginia University, no more than seven may be of the same political party. Of the eight or nine members appointed by the Governor, at least six shall be residents of the state. Of the twelve members appointed by the Governor to the governing boards of Marshall University and West Virginia University, at least eight shall be residents of the state.
(e) The student member serves for a term of one year. Each term begins on the first day of July.
(f) The faculty member serves for a term of two years. Each term begins on the first day of July. Faculty members are eligible to succeed themselves for three additional terms, not to exceed a total of eight consecutive years.
(g) The member representing classified employees serves for a term of two years. Each term begins on the first day of July. Members representing classified employees are eligible to succeed themselves for three additional terms, not to exceed a total of eight consecutive years.
(h) The appointed lay citizen members serve terms of four years each and are eligible to succeed themselves for no more than one additional term.
(i) A vacancy in an unexpired term of a member shall be filled for the unexpired term within thirty days of the occurrence of the vacancy in the same manner as the original appointment or election. Except in the case of a vacancy, all elections shall be held and all appointments shall be made no later than the thirtieth day of June preceding the commencement of the term. Each board of governors shall elect one of its appointed lay members to be chairperson in June of each year. A member may not serve as chairperson for more than two consecutive years.
(j) The appointed members of the institutional boards of governors serve staggered terms of four years.
(k) A person is ineligible for appointment to membership on a board of governors of a state institution of higher education under the following conditions:
(1) For a baccalaureate institution or university, a person is ineligible for appointment who is an officer, employee or member of any other board of governors, a member of an institutional board of advisors of any public institution of higher education, an employee of any institution of higher education, an officer or member of any political party executive committee, the holder of any other public office or public employment under the government of this state or any of its political subdivisions or a member of the council or commission. This subsection does not prevent the representative from the faculty, classified employees, students or chairpersons of the boards of advisors or the superintendent of a county board of education from being members of the governing boards.
(2) For a community and technical college, a person is ineligible for appointment who is an officer, employee or member of any other board of governors; a member of an institutional board of advisors of any public institution of higher education; an employee of any institution of higher education; an officer or member of any political party executive committee; the holder of any other public office, other than an elected county office, or public employment, other than employment by the county board of education, under the government of this state or any of its political subdivisions; or a member of the council or commission. This subsection does not prevent the representative from the faculty, classified employees, students or chairpersons of the boards of advisors from being members of the governing boards.
(l) Before exercising any authority or performing any duties as a member of a governing board, each member shall qualify as such by taking and subscribing to the oath of office prescribed by section five, article IV of the Constitution of West Virginia and the certificate thereof shall be filed with the Secretary of State.
(m) A member of a governing board appointed by the Governor may not be removed from office by the Governor except for official misconduct, incompetence, neglect of duty or gross immorality and then only in the manner prescribed by law for the removal of the state elective officers by the Governor.
(n) The president of the institution shall make available resources of the institution for conducting the business of its board of governors. The members of the board of governors serve without compensation, but are reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of official duties under this article upon presentation of an itemized sworn statement of expenses. All expenses incurred by the board of governors and the institution under this section are paid from funds allocated to the institution for that purpose.