Committees
Members of the Board of Trustees serve on committees that handle specific aspects of the Board’s responsibilities. In addition to the Executive Committee, six standing committees consider issues and present recommendations to the full Board for review and/or vote.
The Board committees are listed below. For each, you’ll find a brief explanation of the committee’s purposes and goals.
Current membership of the committees
The purpose of the Executive Committee shall be to transact all necessary business as may arise in the intervals between regular meetings of the Board; it being understood that official action by the Executive Committee would not be expected to be taken except in extraordinary circumstances. The Executive Committee shall have principal responsibilities inter alia on matters pertaining to:
- Operations of the Board, including annual committee plans and agenda coordination
- Outreach, including community relations, alumni relations, government relations, agricultural extension, and the Penn State brand
- The Corporation for Penn State and Penn College of Technology and
- Operational oversight of university activities that transcend individual Standing Committee areas of responsibility or are otherwise trans-university in scope or impact.
Standing Committees
The Committee on Audit and Risk including its Risk Subcommittee considers and reports or makes recommendations to the Board inter alia on matters pertaining to:
- Financial Reporting and Controls
- Independent Auditors
- Internal Audit
- Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)
- Complaints and Investigations
- Litigation
- Compliance
Committee on Audit and Risk Operating Guidelines
Matrix of Committee on Audit and Risk Responsibilities
The Committee on Equity and Human Resources shall consider and report or make recommendations to the Board inter alia on matters pertaining to:
- Selection, evaluation, and compensation of the President
- Executive Compensation
- Total Rewards
- Equity, Diversity & Inclusion/Belonging
- Succession Planning
- Talent Development/Training
Committee on Equity and Human Resources Operating Guidelines
The Committee on Finance and Investment including its Facilities Planning Subcommittee shall consider and report or make recommendations to the Board inter alia on matters pertaining to:
- Budgeting
- Capital Expenditures
- Capital Planning
- Debt Structure/Borrowing Authority
- Student Aid
- Tuition, Rates and Fees
- Investment Council
- Real Estate
- Facilities Plan
- New Construction & Renovation
- Physical Plant and Infrastructure
- Naming of University buildings, fields, and other facilities
Committee on Finance and Investment Operating Guidelines (PDF 160KB)
The Committee on Governance including its Nominating Subcommittee shall consider and report or make recommendations to the Board inter alia on matters pertaining to:
- University Charter and Bylaws updates
- Trustee Qualifications and Skillsets; Board Composition
- Nominations, Elections, Appointments
- Long-Range Planning/Strategy
- The Trustee Code of Conduct
- Board Education, Development and Assessment
- Board Retreats
Committee on Governance including its Nominating Subcommittee Operating Guidelines
Nominating Subcommittee Trustee Candidate Screening Matrix
The Committee on Research and Technology considers and reports or makes recommendations to the Board inter alia on matters pertaining to:
- Information Technology
- Intellectual Property
- Artificial Intelligence
- Emerging Technologies
- Innovation
- Strategic Technology Partnerships
- Research Funding
- Research Commercialization
- Technology in the Classroom
- Technology Governance
Committee on Research and Technology Operating Guidelines
The Committee on Student Success considers and reports or makes recommendations to the Board inter alia on matters pertaining to:
- Student Engagement
- Graduation Rates and Progress
- Commonwealth Campus Strategy
- World Campus
- Med School/Law School/Graduate Programs
- Program Rankings
- Establishment of Schools and Colleges
- College, School, Department Naming
- Mergers of Departments
- Student Health & Wellness
- Enrollment Management
- Educational Equity
- Greek Life
Committee on Student Success Operating Guidelines
Additional information can be found in the Charter and Bylaws.