GP-14 Board Committee Principles Policy

Board committees, when used, will reinforce the wholeness of the Board’s job and will never interfere with the Board’s delegation to the President.

1. Board committees are to help the Board do its job and may not exercise authority over staff. Expectations and authority will be carefully stated in order not to conflict with authority delegated to the President.


2. Committees may provide the Board with alternatives, analysis, and implications to support the Board's informed decision-making.


3. Because the President works for the full Board, the President will not be required to obtain approval of a Board committee before an executive action.


4. Board committees may not speak or act for the Board except when formally given such authority for specific and/or time-limited purposes.


5. Committees will be used sparingly and ordinarily in an ad hoc capacity.


6. This policy applies to any group that is formed by Board action, whether or not it is called a committee, and whether or not it includes board members. It does not apply to committees formed under the authority of the President.


7. All committee members shall abide by the same Code of Conduct as governs the board.


8. No Committee has authority to commit the funds or resources of the College unless the Board specifically grants such authority in written Terms of Reference or other Board action.


9. Committees shall not adopt, amend, suspend, or repeal Board policy. Any proposed change to Board policy shall be submitted to the full Board for consideration and action.


10. Committees shall operate within a written charge established by the Board. For committees with an ongoing or extended mandate, the Board shall specify the Terms of Reference in a Governance Process policy that identifies the purpose, products (or deliverables) and relevant timelines, authority, composition and leadership.


11. The Board may assign a time-limited task to a group without establishing separate Terms of Reference. In such cases, the Board will specify the group’s expected deliverables including reporting requirements, timeline and authority in a motion duly approved by the Board.


12. Committees shall report their findings, recommendations, and/or other assigned deliverables to the full Board as specified in their charge or Terms of Reference.


13. Committee authority shall be limited to the specific purpose and duration established by the Board. Unless otherwise specified by the Board, a committee shall cease to exist upon completion of its assigned charge.