HB 2120

Abstract

Public institutions of higher education; governing boards; meetings, input, and disclosures. Requires the governing board of each public institution of higher education to establish and maintain on the institution's website (i) a listing of all board members, including the name of the Governor who made each appointment and the date of each appointment; (ii) a listing of all committees created by the board and the membership of each committee; (iii) a schedule of all upcoming meetings of the full board and its committees and instructions for the public to access such meetings; (iv) an archive of agendas and supporting materials for each meeting of the governing board and its committees that were held; and (v) an email address or email addresses that allow board members to receive public communications pertaining to board business. The bill requires such boards to solicit the input of representatives of the institution's faculty senate or its equivalent (a) at least twice per academic year on topics of general interest to the faculty and (b) in advance of decisions to be made on the search for the institution's new chief executive officer. The bill also requires the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, in consultation with the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council, to work with each public institution of higher education and with technology experts to develop a minimal uniform standard, to the extent practicable, for providing the public with real-time electronic access to meetings of the governing boards of public institutions of higher education.

Public institutions of higher education; governingboards; disclosures. Requires the governing board of each publicinstitution of higher education to disclose budgets, meeting minutes,and other governing board communications. The bill also requireseach governing board to establish and maintain on the institution'swebsite by way of a tab or link on the website's home page a webpage that includes or has links to information regarding board membersand board activities. The bill requires the governing board to solicitthe input of the institution's faculty senate or its equivalent (i)at least twice per academic year at a public venue and (ii) regardingthe search for candidates for the position of chief executive officerof the institution at a public or private venue. The bill also requiresthe governing board to solicit public comment, and each board memberto confirm in writing that he has reviewed such comment, prior tocasting any vote that establishes or amends a new university policy,capital improvement project, budget, or contract with a public orprivate entity that will have an impact on the rights of students, faculty, and staff.