3.2.5 Board dismissal

The governing board has a policy whereby members can be dismissed only for appropriate reasons and by a fair process.

Judgment of Off-Site Review Committee

Non-Compliance

Comments of Off-Site Review Committee

Article XIV of the bylaws provides a marginal statement addressing board member dismissal. The Off-Site Committee did not think that the statement was sufficiently detailed to appropriately guide either the board or an accused board member.  A more fully developed statement would be helpful.

Bennett Focused Response

In response to the Off-site Committee, the statement addressing board member dismissal in Article XIV of the Board of Trustees (BOT) bylaws was expanded.  During the July 2008 meeting of the Bennett College BOT, the board discussed and voted to approve the following amendment to the bylaws:

ARTICLE XIV
REMOVAL OF TRUSTEES

A trustee may be removed, after due process and upon 2/3 vote by the board, from the Bennett College Board of Trustees, for cause.  Cause being defined as any trustee who engages in any activity which reflects adversely on the reputation of the College, or any activity which demonstrates the unworthiness or the inability of such trustee to properly and effectively discharge the duties of the office of trustee, may be removed upon the affirmative vote of 2/3 of the trustees in attendance at any properly called meeting of the Board of Trustees.  Removal of a trustee from the Board of Trustees for cause will be pursued in accordance with due process standards, which include providing the trustee with adequate written notice, an opportunity to be heard at a fair and impartial hearing, and a prompt review and decision by an impartial decision maker.

Please see the Minutes of BOT July 2008, pp. 12-13.

Supporting Documents

SOURCE	LOCATION/Special Instructions
Board of Trustees Minutes dated July 10, 2008	Office of the President