Core Requirement: The institution has a governing board of at least five members that is the legal body with specific authority over the institution. The board is an active policy-making body for the institution and is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the financial resources of the institution are adequate to provide a sound educational program. The board is not controlled by a minority of board members or by organizations or interests separate from it. Neither the presiding officer of the board nor the majority of other voting members of the board have contractual, employment, or personal or familial financial interest in the institution.
X Compliance
Partial Compliance
Non-Compliance
Narrative:
Georgia State University is a member institution of the University System of Georgia (USG). USG is governed by the USG Board of Regents (BOR). As stated in the Constitution of the State of Georgia (Article VIII, Section IV, Paragraph I), the BOR “Shall consist of one member from each congressional district in the state and five additional members from the state at large, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.” [1] With 13 congressional districts, this provides a governing board of 18 members.
The same constitutional paragraph specifies that the BOR will be the sole recipient of state appropriations for the USG and will have authority, responsibility, and accountability to distribute those funds among the member institutions. The constitution specifies that the BOR will have “government, control, and management” authority over all institutions in the USG. [2]
The BOR is an active policy-making body. Its By-Laws state that the BOR must hold a meeting at least 8 times annually (BOR By-Laws, Section III). The duties of the BOR, including budget responsibilities, are described in the BOR By-Laws (Section V). [3] [4] [5] The BOR is not controlled by a minority of board members. A majority of members is required to constitute a quorum to conduct business (BOR By-Laws, Section III). Each BOR member must be notified a minimum of five days in advance of regular or called meetings. Each committee must have a minimum of four BOR members and must provide minutes of its meetings to the full BOR. [6]
No member of the BOR has a financial, contractual, or employment relationship with Georgia State University. Such a relationship would be in violation of State of Georgia Code Section 45-10, which includes a Code of Ethics and a statement regarding conflict of interest. [7] The BOR By-Laws (Section II) state that BOR members may not “accept gifts, honoraria, or other forms of compensation from University System institutions…” [8]
Supporting Documentation:
- State of Georgia Constitution (Article VIII, Section IV)
- State of Georgia Constitution (Article VIII, Section IV)
- USG BOR Bylaws, Section III
- USG BOR Bylaws, Section V
- USG BOR Bylaws, Section VII
- USG BOR Bylaws, Section III
- State of Georgia Code Section 45-10
- USG BOR Bylaws, Section II
- SACS_BOR_sections_3.01-3.10
- sacs_G_BORR_1420
- Board_of_Regents_Policy_Manual-Section_700