Indiana University. Trustees

The Indiana University Board of Trustees serve as the governing board of the University. Created in 1820, its powers include the capacity to possess all the real and personal property of the university, to allocate the income of the university, and to create or approve all rules necessary to carry these powers into effect.

The Indiana University Trustees serve as the governing board of the university.

Created in 1820, today the Board meets ten times per year. Powers they have include the capacity to possess all the real and personal property of the university; to expend the income of the university; to prescribe the course of study and discipline and price of tuition; and to make all bylaws necessary to carry these powers into effect.

Created by the Indiana General Assembly in 1820 at the same time as the Indiana Seminary (the predecessor to Indiana University, the Board of Trustees is the governing body and legal authority of Indiana University. Initially, six men were named as trustees, with an additional four added in 1821 and another three in January 1926. The number of Trustees has fluctuated greatly through the years, reaching a height of 21 members in 1838. However, since 1975, there have been 9 members, including one full-time student. Today, the Board of Trustees meets nine times per year on various campuses across the state.

Please see the Board of Trustees website for further historical information such as lists of former Trustees and bylaws: http://www.indiana.edu/~trustees/history.shtml . Minutes of the Board can be found at http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/iubot/welcome.do .

The Board of Trustees was created by the General Assembly in 1820. Six men were named as trustees, and provision was made for four additional trustees in 1821, and for three more in 1826.

Throughout its history the number and residence of its members has varied: in 1828 it was increased to a 15 member board; in 1838, 21, including the Governor as ex officio vice president; in 1841 the board consisted of 9 members with only one from Monroe County; it was increased to eleven members in 1852; and in 1855 it was set at eight, with no two from the same county, save Monroe.

Since 1975, there have been 9 members, including one full-time student.

Board members have held their seat in a number of ways. Since 1891, three of the members are elected by alumni. In 1931, power was given to the State Board of Education to elect five members; when the role of the Board of Education was eliminated in 1984, the Governor was given full appointment power.

Today, the Board of Trustees meets ten times per year and has the power to elect one of their number as president; to elect a treasurer, secretary, and other officers, to prescribe the duties and fix the compensation of such officers; to possess all the real and personal property of the university; to expend the income of the university; to elect a president, professors and officers and prescribe their duties and salaries; to employ other persons as necessary; to prescribe the course of study and discipline and price of tuition; and to make all bylaws necessary to carry these powers into effect.