All data, except where noted, is collected from state constitutions and laws. Many boards have unofficial non-voting representatives who attend board meetings but who are not officially board members. These representatives are not included in this database except where specifically mentioned in the notes.
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Board Type
The type of the board. Types include:


VM
The number of voting board members.

TM
The total number of members, both voting and non-voting, as outlined by state constitution, law, or charter. Unofficial representatives to the board are not included in these totals.

GA
The number of members appointed by the governor, including students and faculty if applicable. Specific requirements on the nature of the gubernatorial appointments are outlined in the notes.

LCR
Is legislative confirmation required for gubernatorial appointments? If yes, then the confirming chamber or committee is listed. Simple majority vote for confirmation is assumed unless otherwise mentioned in the notes.

LEG
The number of members elected or appointed by the legislature. Details on the election or appointment processes are outlined in the notes.

GE
The number of board members elected by the general public either through statewide or district election. Details are outlined in the notes.

AAV
The number of voting members appointed or elected by the alumni association. The number does not include alumni association executives who serve as ex officio board members.

AAT
The total number of members, both voting and non-voting, appointed or elected by the alumni association. The number does not include alumni association executives who serve as ex officio board members.

EOV
The number of voting ex officio board members.

EOT
The total number of ex officio members, both voting and non-voting. If the ex officio members are not the governor or president, they are mentioned in the notes.

SP
The number of self-perpetuating board members; new members elected by current board members. Details are provided in the noted.

Oth
The number of board members appointed through other means. This includes members elected by students, faculty, and staff, system appointments to institutional boards and vice versa, and other appointment procedures not otherwise covered.

Governor
Is the governor a voting or non-voting ex officio member? This includes boards in which the governor can appoint a designee in his or her seat, with that option mentioned in the notes where applicable.

President
Is the president of the university or system a voting or non-voting ex officio member? This only includes boards where the president has a statutorily or constitutionally conferred board status, and does not include boards where the president is allowed to sit with the board per bylaws or policy.

StV
The number of voting student trustees.

StT
The total number of student trustees, both voting and non-voting. Appointment/election procedures are outlined in the student notes.

FaV
The number of voting faculty trustees.

FaT
The total number of faculty trustees, both voting and non-voting. Appointment/election procedures are outlined in the notes.

Pol
Are there limits on the political party affiliation of members? This includes any definitive limit on the number of trustees with any particular party affiliation or any explicit requirement that more than one party is represented. General requirements that the board be politically representative of the state are not considered to be limits. Details on the requirements (where applicable) are included in the notes.

Reg
Are there in-state regional representation requirements? This includes any requirement that members represent a definitive geographic region of the state, whether it be a county, judicial district, congressional district or otherwise. It does not include general requirements that members represent the geographic diversity of the state. Details on the representation requirements are included in the notes.

SR
Are all members required to be state residents? In determining the requirement, it is assumed that all university presidents, ex officio state officers, and faculty trustees are state residents. It is not assumed that all student trustees are state residents unless specified in the constitution or state code.

Alum
Is the board required to have alumni members, other than those serving as ex officio members of the alumni association or selected by the alumni association?

Term
What is the term length of board members (in years) for non-ex officio, student, faculty, and staff trustees? Exceptions to the term length are mentioned in the notes, and student, faculty, and staff terms are noted appropriately.

Limit
Are there term limits (either consecutive terms or lifetime) for board members? Specific term limits for students or faculty trustees are noted where applicable.

RP
Are trustee removal procedures outlined in state law or state constitution? Specifics (if available) are in the notes. General removal procedures for state commission or board members are not included unless referenced in the code or constitution relating to the board.

Mt
The minimum number of meetings per year required by state law. The database considers less than one meeting per year to be zero. Note that this does not necessarily relate to the actual number of board meetings in a year, which will usually be higher.

Scr
Is there an external screening committee that screens and nominates candidates for board service? If yes, details are in the notes.

Authority
Is the board's composition and authority outlined in state constitution, state statutory, or conferred by charter? Boards mentioned in the state constitution but only outlined in state law are considered statutory in this database. Boards mentioned in charter, but which have their composition and authority detailed in law, are consisted statutory.

2and4
Does the board govern both two and four-year institutions?

CC
Does the board only govern community, technical, or other two-year and lesser degree institutions?