Section 5050.200  Organization of Illinois Board of Higher Education

a)         The Illinois Board of Higher Education, the State coordinating agency for public and private postsecondary education, is composed of 16 members:  ten members appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate (including one faculty member from a public university), a member appointed by the Governor to represent public universities, a member appointed by the Governor to represent independent institutions, the Chairman of the Illinois Community College Board, the Chairman of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and two student members selected by the recognized student advisory committee to the IBHE, one of whom must be a non-traditional undergraduate student who is at least 24 years old and represents the view of non-traditional students, such as a person who is employed or is a parent [110 ILCS 205/2].

b)         There are five standing advisory committees to the Board:  the Faculty Advisory Council, the Independent College and University Advisory Committee, the Proprietary Advisory Committee, the Student Advisory Committee, and the Council of Community College Presidents. 

c)         The Board is supported by a staff headed by an Executive Director who serves at the pleasure of the Board.  The organizational structure is illustrated by function in Appendix A.

d)         To the extent practicable, Board meetings will be held every third month.  The Board shall convene at least four times per year.  The annual meeting schedule shall be adopted by the Board at its last meeting of the calendar year for the following calendar year.  The meeting calendar shall be posted on the Board's web site (www.ibhe.org).  Special or additional meetings may be held on call of the Chairman, or upon a call signed by at least 6 members, or upon call of the Governor [110 ILCS 205/4].  All Board meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the Open Meetings Act [5 ILCS 120/1.01].

e)         Eight members of the Board shall constitute a quorum at all its meetings [110 ILCS 205/4].  Pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Open Meetings Act, all Board members physically present at two or more public locations during an interactive video conference of a meeting will count towards determining a quorum when one location is the Board's office in Springfield [5 ILCS 120/2.01].

f)         When a quorum is present, a majority of the votes cast is sufficient for the adoption of any motion that is in order, except for those specified in statute.  The majority of all the members of the Board is required for the approval of a new unit of instruction, research or public service for a public institution of higher education [110 ILCS 205/4] and for the approval of a plan for capital improvements of noninstructional facilities submitted by a State supported institution [110 ILCS 205/8].

g)        A Vice-Chairperson shall be elected by the Board. The Vice-Chairperson shall preside at all meetings in the absence of the Chairperson.  In the absence of the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson at any regular meeting, the members present shall designate one of those in attendance to serve as acting Chairperson for that meeting only.

(Source:  Amended at 39 Ill. Reg. 16387, effective December 9, 2015)