Board of Trustees: Committees of the Board
- Function: The Board's standing committees (Sec. 3-6, below) and the ad hoc committees (Sec. 8, below) shall study matters within their jurisdiction and shall make recommendations to the Board regarding such matters. The jurisdiction of the committees shall include the matters set forth below (Sections 3-7), and such other matters as the Board shall from time to time assign.
- Membership of Committees: The chairperson shall make committee assignments, including the appointment of committee chairpersons, from among the voting members of the Board. The chairperson of the Board and the president shall serve ex officio and without vote on each committee. No committee, except the Executive Committee, shall consist of more than four (4) public members. The student trustee shall be appointed to at least two of the standing committees (other than the Executive Committee and Nominating Committee) and, in the absence of the student trustee, the alternate student trustee may participate in, and vote at, committee meetings to the same extent as the student trustee. The Faculty Assembly, Student Government and the Professional Staff Association may annually name non-voting representatives to the Academic, Student Affairs, Finance, Capital Improvements, and Institutional Advancement committees. Such representatives need not be the same persons who are selected as non-voting representatives to the Board and each such person may participate in, but not vote at, committee meetings to the same extent as the non-voting representatives to the Board.
- Academic Committee: This committee will consider all aspects of academic affairs, including academic programs, academic standards, advising, library and audio visual services, and academic personnel policy. In addition, it will consider the purpose and operations of the Division of Academic Affairs. This committee will consider all aspects of academic affairs, including academic programs, academic standards, advising, library and audio visual services, and academic personnel policy. In addition, it will consider the purpose and operations of the Division of Academic Affairs.
- Student Affairs Committee: This committee will consider all aspects of student affairs with special reference to recruitment, financial aid, retention, quality of life on campus, housing, athletics, discipline, and counseling. In addition, it will consider the purpose and operations of the Division of Student Affairs.
- Finance Committee: This committee will oversee the College's fiscal operation and monitor its fiscal viability. The committee shall review (1) institutional financial policies, operating and capital budgets, and priority spending plans; (2) financial and audit reports, controls and accounting systems; and (3) student fees and charges. Additionally, within limits set by the Board of Trustees, the committee shall authorize adjustments in the annual operating budgets of the various College funds and determine policy covering college funds available for investment.
This committee will consider all aspects of administration and finance, including administrative services, maintenance and operation of physical plant, campus design and construction, contract administration and budget, and other fiscal affairs.
The Finance Committee also reviews and approves compensation policy, aspects of labor relations, and other personnel related programs, such as the authority to approve tenure, promotions and reappointment, and to maintain an environment at Ramapo College that attracts and retains people of high capability, commitment, and integrity. The committee reviews and approves programs that support the College's full commitment to Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity as well as all other governmental regulations and College policies with direct personnel and workplace impact, such as Title IV, Title IX, The Warren Act, Sexual Harassment, Patent Agreements, Confidential Information, Campus Crime, Right-to-Know, Contagious Diseases, Clean Air, Drug Free Schools, International Students, Toxic Catastrophes, and Americans with Disabilities, etc.
- Executive Committee: This committee includes the chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary and immediate past chairperson of the Board, or a substitute selected by the chairperson in the event that the past chairperson is not available, and the president of the College (ex officio). This committee will consider Board organization and operation, presidential evaluation, long-term planning and other matters at the decision of the chairperson of the board.
- Nominating Committee: This committee shall: (a) nominate a chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary for the Board, and shall also nominate such other officers as the Board shall determine; and (b) in consultation with the president, identify the Board's need for members and interview and recommend to the full Board candidates for membership; and (c) develop and implement an orientation program for trustees. Nominations for officers shall be reported at the Board's annual meeting. Other nominations for any office may be made by any voting member of the Board at the annual meeting.
- Ad Hoc Committees: The chairperson of the Board may create and disband ad hoc committees, and each such committee shall cease to exist upon completion of its assignment.
- Procedure: Committee meetings shall be convened by committee chairpersons. Notice of said meetings and agendas will be posted five days in advance, with copies sent to committee members and faculty, staff, and student representatives. Committee meetings will ordinarily include a period at which faculty, staff, and student representatives will be invited to participate. To the extent permitted by law, disposition of agenda items will be determined by voting members of the committee by majority vote in closed session with the president. Staff members with appropriate administrative responsibilities will be assigned to work with each of the committees and to assist the committee chairpersons in the development of committee agendas and reports.
- Reports and Minutes: Minutes of each committee shall be prepared and distributed to the Board with the agenda for each Board meeting. The minutes shall set forth the committee recommendations; the committee vote on each recommendation; and, to the extent practicable, a summary of the reasons for each recommendation and any countervailing considerations. In addition, the chairperson of any committee and any dissenting members may prepare reports to the Board on any recommendation. For good reason (including, without limitation, emergencies), committee reports may be presented orally at Board meetings, but consideration of such reports and/or Board action on recommendations embodied therein may be deferred to a subsequent Board meeting at the discretion of the chairperson of the Board unless the Board by majority vote, shall decide otherwise.
- Committee Meeting Dates: Except for emergencies, Board committee meetings shall be held on dates different from the dates of the regular Board meetings to allow more time for comprehensive discussion among assigned committee members, as well as to allow for student and faculty input.
Capital Improvement Committee: an ad hoc committee which reviews matters related to the infrastructure of the College, including technology as well as buildings and grounds.
The Institutional Advancement and Alumni Relations Committee: The committee was established to work collaboratively with the Ramapo College Foundation in advancing fund raising efforts and community outreach. The committee should assist the president with fund raising initiatives, review fund raising priorities for the College, and support outreach efforts to various constituencies including alumni, parents, legislators, corporate partners, foundations, friends and the media.
