Powers & Duties

New York State Education Law § 356

Subject to the general management, supervision and control of and in accordance with rules established by the state university trustees, the operations and affairs of each state-operated institution of the state university shall be supervised locally by a council consisting of ten members, nine of whom shall be appointed by the governor and one of whom shall be elected by and from among the students of the institution. Such voting members shall be subject to every provision of any general, special or local law, ordinance, charter, code, rule or regulation applying to the voting members of such board with respect to the discharge of their duties including, but not limited to, those provisions setting forth codes of ethics, disclosure requirements and prohibiting business and professional activities. The election of the student member shall be conducted in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the respective representative campus student association in accordance with guidelines established by the state university trustees. One member shall be designated by the governor as chairman. Where an undergraduate state-operated institution of the state university is located adjacent to another institution of higher education and students of such undergraduate state-operated institution are, under arrangements made by the state university, taking a substantial portion of their courses at such other institution, the president or other head of such other institution shall be an ex-officio member of the council for such undergraduate state-operated institution. Initial appointments, other than the student member and ex-officio members, shall be for terms expiring July first, nineteen hundred fifty-four, July first, nineteen hundred fifty-five, July first, nineteen hundred fifty-six, July first, nineteen hundred fifty-seven, July first, nineteen hundred fifty-eight, July first, nineteen hundred fifty-nine, July first, nineteen hundred sixty, July first, nineteen hundred sixty-one and, where there is no ex-officio member, July first, nineteen hundred sixty-two, respectively, and subsequent appointments, other than the student member, shall be for a full term of nine years from the first day of July of the calendar year in which the appointment is made. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as original selections. The term of office for each council member appointed on or after April first, nineteen hundred eighty-six shall be seven years. The term of office for the student member shall be one year commencing July first of the calendar year in which the election is conducted, provided, however, that the term of the student member first elected shall be nine months commencing October first, nineteen hundred seventy-five and expiring June thirtieth, nineteen hundred seventy-six. In the event that the student member ceases to be a student at the institution, such member shall be required to resign. Members of such councils appointed by the governor may be removed by the governor. Members of such councils elected by the students of the institution may be removed by such students in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the respective representative campus student association in accordance with guidelines promulgated by the state university trustees. Members of such councils shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for the expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in the performance of their duties hereunder.
The councils of state-operated institutions shall provide for regular meetings at least four times annually, and the chair, or any five members by petition, may at any time call a special meeting of the council and fix the time and place therefor. At least seven days notice of every meeting shall be mailed to the usual address of each member, unless such notice be waived by a majority of the council. Resolutions for the consideration of the councils must be mailed to the usual address of each council member no less than seven days prior to a meeting, unless the chair shall make available in writing on the day of the meeting the facts which necessitate an immediate vote. The agenda for such meetings shall be available three days prior to the meetings and shall be considered public records. Five members attending shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the members present at any meeting shall be the act of the council.
Subject to the general management, supervision, control and approval of, and in accordance with rules established by the state university trustees, the council of each state-operated institution shall, with respect to the institution or institutions for which it serves, exercise the following powers:
a. recommend to the state university trustees candidates for appointment by the state university trustees as head of such institution;

b. review all major plans of the head of such institution for its more effective operation and make such recommendations with respect thereto as it deems appropriate. Such plans shall be submitted for approval by the state university trustees, together with the recommendations of the council with respect thereto. The state university trustees shall determine what constitute such major plans, which are hereby generally defined to include, among others, plans for the appraisal or improvement of the faculty and other personnel, expansion or restriction of student admissions, appraisal or improvement of academic programs and of standards for the earning of degrees, expansion of institutional plants and appraisal or improvement of student activities and housing;

c. make regulations governing the care, custody and management of lands, grounds, buildings and equipment;

d. review the proposed budget requests for such institution prepared by the head thereof and recommend to the state university trustees a budget for such institution;

e. foster the development of advisory citizens committees to render such assistance as the council may request, and to appoint the members of such citizens' committees. Members of such citizens' committees shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for the expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in the performance of their duties;

f. name buildings and grounds;

g. make regulations governing the conduct and behavior of students;

h. prescribe for and exercise supervision over student housing and safety;

i. make an annual report to the state university trustees on or before September first of each year, and report to them from time to time on any matter it believes requires their attention;

j. perform such other powers and duties as may be authorized or required by the state university trustees by general rules or special directives; and

k. make and establish, and from time to time alter and amend, such regulations pertaining to the affairs of its institution, not inconsistent with law or the rules of the state university trustees, as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out effectively the foregoing powers and duties.

(As amended L.1975, c. 587, § 2; L.1977, c. 164, § 2; L.1979, c. 406, § 2; L.1984, c. 296, § 6; L.1985, c. 552, § 8.)