Trustee Nominating Committee

The Trustee Nominating Committee oversees elections for student and employee elected trustee positions.

University Charter Clauses Pertinent to Elected Trustees

Cornell’s Charter is part of New York State Law. NYS Education Law Article 115, Section 5703.1.d, quoted here:

University Bylaws Pertinent to Elected Trustees

The university bylaws further clarify the student and employee elected trustee positions.

Article II, Section 2.a.(4) details the positions open to students and non-academic staff:

Article II, Section 5 of the University Bylaws defines the constituencies for student and employee trustee elections:

Charge of the Trustee Nominating Committee

Additionally, the Board of Trustees has approved a specific charge for the Trustee Nominating Committee to guide it in executing student and employee trustee elections.

As approved by the Board of Trustees on Saturday, 20 October 2007.

I. Nominating Committee

There shall be a nominating committee consisting of:

1. Up to four current or former trustees, appointed by the Board of Trustees. One of whom shall be a current or former faculty-elected trustee, up to two of whom shall be the incumbent student trustees, and one of whom shall be a current or former employee-elected trustee. An employee-elected trustee or a student-elected trustee who is a candidate for reelection shall not be appointed.
2. Two undergraduate student members, named by the Student Assembly, and one graduate or professional student member named by the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, who are not candidates for the trustee position.
3. In the years when there is an employee-elected trustee vacancy, three employee members named by the Employee Assembly. These individuals shall not be candidates for the trustee position, and shall, insofar as possible, represent statutory and endowed, exempt and nonexempt employees.
4. Chairperson - The Chairperson shall be elected by the Board of Trustees from among the trustee members. A Vice Chairperson may also be appointed.

All members of the committee shall serve one-year terms, starting as soon as possible at the beginning of the academic calendar year and ending on the last day of scheduled exams for that academic calendar year.

The duties of the Committee shall be as follows:

1. To nominate candidates for student and employee-elected trustee positions. In doing so, the Committee shall seek out individuals who have a demonstrated record of participation in campus activities and a commitment to the betterment of the University. The Committee shall seek individuals representing different interests and groups. Individuals may self-nominate. Both Committee-endorsed and self-nominated candidates must provide nominating petitions on which 200 signatures from their constituency shall be required.
2. To provide an education program for nominees before the start of the election. This shall consist of a discussion with:
   1. Several current members of the Board of Trustees, which would include responsibilities of a Board member - legal, fiduciary, work, etc.; the broad, non-constituency role of each member of the Board; participation on the Board and its committees.
   2. The President and members of his staff.
   3. The University Counsel and Secretary of the Corporation.
3. To provide for education of the community about the candidates. It shall set basic guidelines for the process of individual candidates making them known in the community. As part of this, it should ensure those nominees’ credentials, data about his/her participation at Cornell, and other such relevant information are made available to the campus. This should include opportunities for the campus community to meet the nominees as well as providing information through die media.

II. Elections

Office of the Assemblies shall conduct elections. The election shall be a direct election with the successful candidates being seated as student-elected or employee-elected trustees.

TNC Charge