Governing Bodies and Constitutional Charter
In the realm of governance, the standing committees of a Board of Trustees play a crucial role in overseeing various aspects of an organization's operations. These committees, each with distinct roles and responsibilities, help streamline the work of the full board, enabling more effective decision-making and governance.
The Board of Trustees, in question, has nine standing committees, each focusing on specific areas of governance. These include the Executive Committee, Budget & Finance Committee, Audit & Risk Management Committee, Capital Planning Committee, Investment Committee, Advancement Committee, Student & Faculty Success Committee, Tenure & Promotion Committee, and Nominations & Governance Committee.
The Executive Committee oversees and directs the Board and CEO between full board meetings, exercising full board powers when the board is not in session. The Budget & Finance Committee, on the other hand, oversees financial planning, budgeting, and financial reporting, ensuring the board receives accurate financial information.
The Audit & Risk Management Committee is responsible for overseeing financial reporting integrity, internal controls, audit processes, and compliance. The Capital Planning Committee guides capital investments, long-term infrastructure planning, and major asset acquisition or construction projects.
The Investment Committee oversees the management of organizational investments and endowments, setting investment policies, monitoring portfolio performance, and ensuring alignment with financial goals and risk tolerance. The Advancement Committee focuses on fundraising, development activities, alumni relations, and external engagement to support organizational goals and resource development.
The Student & Faculty Success Committee oversees initiatives related to student success, faculty development, academic quality, and overall educational outcomes and support services. The Tenure & Promotion Committee reviews and recommends policies, guidelines, and individual cases related to faculty tenure and promotion, ensuring standards of academic excellence and fairness.
Lastly, the Nominations & Governance Committee manages board composition by identifying, vetting, and nominating board candidates. They also oversee governance policies, board orientation, evaluation, and succession planning.
Regarding the availability of committee charters, these are typically accessible through the organization's governance documents or board website. Specific committee charters sometimes are posted as standalone documents or included in the organization’s governance manual or board policies. For more detailed information, the Office of the Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary is the best starting point.
It is important to note that no new committee names, policies, or guidelines affecting the Board of Trustees were announced in this update. No new decisions or actions taken by the Board of Trustees were reported, and no changes in the composition or membership of the committees were mentioned. Furthermore, no new appointments to the Board of Trustees were made, and no new information about the responsibilities or meetings of the existing committees was provided.
This article was updated on June 13, 2025. Although no new achievements or milestones for the institution were reported, the standing committees continue to play their vital roles in supporting the full board's strategic and oversight functions.
[1] General governance principles and typical board committee charters. [2] Duke University’s Board of Trustees bylaws detail committees and governance rules.
The Budget & Finance Committee, one of the nine standing committees of the Board of Trustees, focuses on overseeing financial planning, budgeting, and financial reporting, ensuring the board receives accurate financial information, aligning with the general governance principles and typical board committee charters.
The Investment Committee, a committee of the Board of Trustees, is responsible for the management of organizational investments and endowments, setting investment policies, monitoring portfolio performance, and ensuring alignment with financial goals and risk tolerance, which is integral to the business aspects of the institution.
