Vote for Alumni Trustees
Sunday February 19, 2006 Category: Class of 96 Permanent Link
Hey Everyone! It’s that time of the year again to vote for alumni trustee. Cast your ballot online at http://trusteeballot.alumni.cornell.edu/. This year, four very qualified individuals have presented themselves for consideration. Just reading through their bios reminds me how able, motivated, and distinguished are our fellow alumni.
You should be receiving a paper ballot in the mail. If you did not, the university probably doesn’t have your correct address. If that’s the case, log in to the alumni directory to update your contact information.
You’ll need your 7-digit Cornell ID number to cast your vote online. You can find it on your printed ballot if you received one, or you can contact Beth Hamilton at ejh4@cornell.edu. (Note: You won’t find your ID in the alumni directory!)
I was curious about how many alumni-elected trustees serve on the board, and the length of their terms. The answers to these questions are in the University Bylaws (279K PDF), a section of which is excerpted here:
Membership and Tenure:
a. Membership: As provided in the University’s Charter, the Board of Trustees is composed of sixty-four members, as follows:
(1) Four ex officio trustees: The Governor of the State of New York, the Temporary President of the Senate, the Speaker of the Assembly and the President of the University shall be ex officio trustees during their respective terms of office.
(2) One life trustee: The eldest lineal descendent of Ezra Cornell shall be a trustee for his or her life.
(3) Three appointed trustees: The Governor shall appoint, subject to confirmation by the Senate, three trustees for terms of three years each, one being appointed each year.
(4) Fifty-six Board trustees: The fifty-six Board trustees specified in the University Charter shall be selected in the manner and for the terms that follow:
(a) Forty-three trustees-at-large shall be elected by the Board of Trustees for staggered terms of four years each, at least ten being elected each year. Such trustees-at-large at all times shall include at least two trustees from each of the fields of agriculture, business and labor in New York State.
(b) Eight trustees shall be elected from among and by the alumni of the University for staggered terms of four years each. at least two being elected each year.
(c) Two trustees shall be elected from among and by the faculty of the University at Ithaca and Geneva for terms of four years each, at least one being elected every second year.
(d) Two trustees shall be elected from among and by the membership of the University’s student body at Ithaca for terms of two years each, one being elected each year.
(e) One trustee shall be elected from among and by the nonacademic staff and employees of the University at Ithaca and Geneva for a term of four years.
