(1)(a)
There is established the board of trustees for Western Colorado university, which
consists of eleven members and is the governing authority for Western Colorado
university. The board of trustees is, and is hereby declared to be, a body corporate
and, as such and by the names designated in this section, may:
(I)Acquire and hold property for the use of Western Colorado university;
(II)Be a party to all suits and contracts; and
(III)Do all things necessary to carry out the provisions of this article 56 in
like manner as municipal corporations of this state, including but not limited to the
power to demand, receive, hold, and use for the best interests of Western Colorado
university such money, lands, or other property as may be donated or devised to or
for the universit
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(1) (a)
There is established the board of trustees for Western Colorado university, which
consists of eleven members and is the governing authority for Western Colorado
university. The board of trustees is, and is hereby declared to be, a body corporate
and, as such and by the names designated in this section, may:
(I) Acquire and hold property for the use of Western Colorado university;
(II) Be a party to all suits and contracts; and
(III) Do all things necessary to carry out the provisions of this article 56 in
like manner as municipal corporations of this state, including but not limited to the
power to demand, receive, hold, and use for the best interests of Western Colorado
university such money, lands, or other property as may be donated or devised to or
for the university.
(b) The board of trustees and its successors have perpetual succession, have
a seal, may make bylaws and regulations for the well-ordering and governance of
Western Colorado university, and may conduct the business of the university in a
manner not repugnant to the constitution and laws of this state. The board of
trustees shall elect from the appointed members a chairperson, whose duties and
responsibilities are prescribed in the duly adopted bylaws of the board of trustees.
The board of trustees shall also elect a secretary and a treasurer, who are not
members of the board and whose duties and responsibilities are prescribed in the
duly adopted bylaws of the board of trustees. The staff of Western Colorado
university shall provide staff support for the board of trustees.
(2) The governor shall appoint, with the consent of the senate, nine members
of the board of trustees. Members appointed by the governor shall serve terms of
up to four years, expiring on December 31 of the third calendar year following the
calendar year in which the member is appointed; except that the terms shall be
staggered so that no more than five members' terms expire in the same year. Of the
nine members appointed by the governor, no more than five members may be
affiliated with the same political party. Of the nine members appointed by the
governor, at least two shall reside in Gunnison county. Each trustee shall hold office
for the term for which the trustee has been appointed and until the trustee's
successor is appointed and confirmed by the senate.
(3) The tenth member of the board of trustees is a full-time junior or senior
student at Western Colorado university, elected by the members of the student
body of Western Colorado university. The term of the student member is one year,
beginning on July 1 each year. The student member is advisory, without the right to
vote and without the right to attend executive sessions of the board of trustees, as
provided by section 24-6-402.
(4) The eleventh member is a member of the faculty of Western Colorado
university elected by other members of the faculty for a term of two years,
beginning on July 1 every odd-numbered year. The faculty member is advisory,
without the right to vote and without the right to attend executive sessions of the
board of trustees, as provided by section 24-6-402.
(5) A vacancy of an appointed member of the board of trustees shall be filled
by appointment by the governor for the unexpired term. A vacancy of either of the
elected members of the board of trustees shall be filled by election for the
unexpired term. Each member of the board of trustees shall take an oath or
affirmation in accordance with section 24-12-101.
(6) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (6), the powers, duties,
and functions formerly performed by the trustees of the state colleges in Colorado
with respect to Western Colorado university are hereby transferred to the board of
trustees. Policies, resolutions, procedures, and agreements previously approved by
the trustees of the state colleges in Colorado and applicable to Western Colorado
university remain in force and effect unless and until changed by the board of
trustees.
(7) In addition to those powers conferred elsewhere in this article 56, the
board of trustees has the power to:
(a) Appoint a president of Western Colorado university;
(b) Appoint such other executive officers of the university as may be
required;
(c) Appoint faculty and employees as may be required;
(d) Determine the compensation to be paid to the president, executive
officers, faculty, and professional staff;
(e) With the advice of the faculty, prescribe the degree programs for the
university; and
(f) Prescribe the student admissions qualifications.