Bylaws

H. Committees of the Board

The Board may organize itself into standing and other committees as necessary. Committee members are appointed by the Board president after informal consultation with other Board members. Any such standing or other committee may make recommendations to the Board, but may not take any action, except when authority to act has been delegated by the Board. The Board president may serve as an ex-officio member of any standing or other committee. The procedural guidelines for Board committees appear in the Board Governing Policies and Procedures.

For purposes of the bylaws, the University of Idaho, Boise State University, Idaho State University, Lewis-Clark State College, Eastern Idaho Technical College, the College of Southern Idaho and North Idaho College are included in references to the “institutions;” and Idaho Educational Public Broadcasting System, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Division of Professional-Technical Education, the State Department of Education, the State Historical Society, and the State Library are included in references to the “agencies.” The School for the Deaf and the Blind is referred to as “school.”* An institution, agency or school may, at its option and with concurrence of the Board president, comment on any committee report or recommendation.

1. Planning, Policy and Governmental Affairs Committee
   
   
   1. Purpose
      
      The Planning, Policy and Governmental Affairs Committee is a standing advisory committee of the Board. It is responsible for developing and presenting recommendations to the Board on matters of policy, planning, and governmental affairs. The committee, in conjunction with the chief executive officers and chief administrators of the Board governed agencies, institutions and school, will develop and recommend to the Board future planning initiatives and goals. This committee shall also advise the Board on collaborative and cooperative measures for all education entities and branches of state government necessary to provide for the general supervision, governance and control of the state educational institutions, agencies and public schools, with the goal of producing a seamless educational system.
   
   
   
   2. Composition
      
      The Planning, Policy and Governmental Affairs Committee is composed of two (2) or more members of the Board, appointed by the president of the Board, who designates one (1) to serve as chairperson of the committee. In addition, it includes as ex-officio, nonvoting members the chief executives of the institutions; the chief deputy superintendent of public instruction; the chief executive officers or chief administrators of the other agencies and the school; and the Board's executive director. The chairperson presents all committee recommendations to the Board.
   
   
   
   3. Responsibilities and Procedures
      
      The Planning, Policy and Governmental Affairs Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Board in the following general areas:
      
      
      1. long range planning and coordination;
      2. initial discussions and direction on strategic policy initiatives and goals;
      3. legislative proposals and administrative rules for Board agencies and institutions;
      4. coordination and communication with the Governor, the Legislature, and all other governmental entities with regard to items of legislation, Board policy and planning initiatives;
      5. review and revision of Board policies, administrative rules and education-related statutes for consistency and compatibility with the Board's strategic direction;
      6. reports and recommendations from the Presidents' Council and the Agency Heads' Council;
      7. other matters as assigned by the Board.
      
      

      At the direction of the Board President, any matter before the Board may be removed to the Planning, Policy and Governmental Affairs Committee for initial action or consideration.

      The Planning, Policy and Governmental Affairs Committee may establish necessary procedures to carry out its responsibilities. Such procedures must be consistent with the Board's Governing Policies and Procedures. The Board's executive director, under the direction of the chairperson, prepares the agenda for and schedules each meeting of the Planning, Policy and Governmental Affairs Committee and maintains a written record of the committee's activities and recommendations. A copy of the written record is included in the official minutes of the State Board of Education and Board of Regents of the University of Idaho.



2. Instruction, Research and Student Affairs Committee
   
   
   1. Purpose
      
      The Instruction, Research and Student Affairs Committee is a standing advisory committee of the Board. It is responsible for developing and presenting recommendations to the Board on matters of policy and procedure concerning instruction, research and student affairs.
   
   
   
   2. Composition
      
      The Instruction, Research and Student Affairs Committee is composed of two (2) or more members of the Board, appointed by the president of the Board, who designates one (1) to serve as chairperson of the committee. In addition, it includes as ex?officio, nonvoting members the chief academic officers of the institutions; a representative of the Division of Professional-Technical Education; a representative of the state department of education; a postsecondary faculty representative; a postsecondary chief student affairs officer representative; a postsecondary student body officer representative; a representative of the Targeted Educational Groups Advisory Council; and the Board's chief technology officer and chief academic officer. The chairperson presents all committee recommendations to the Board.
   
   
   
   3. Responsibilities and Procedures
      
      The Instruction, Research and Student Affairs Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Board in the following general areas:
      
      
      1. agency and institutional instruction, research and student affairs agenda items;
      2. instruction, academic or professional-technical program approval;
      3. instruction, academic or professional-technical program review, consolidation, modification, and discontinuance, and course offerings;
      4. outreach, technology and distant learning impacting programs and their delivery;
      5. long-range instruction, academic and professional-technical planning;
      6. registration of out-of-state institutions offering programs or courses in Idaho;
      7. continuing education, professional development, workforce training, programs for at-risk populations, career guidance;
      8. student organizations' activities and issues; and
      9. other matters as assigned by the Board.
      
      

      The Instruction, Research and Student Affairs Committee may establish necessary procedures to carry out its responsibilities. Such procedures must be consistent with the Board's Governing Policies and Procedures. The Board's chief academic officer, in conjunction with other Board governed agencies and under the direction of the chairperson, prepares the agenda for and schedules each meeting of the Instruction, Research and Student Affairs Committee and maintains a written record of the committee's activities and recommendations. A copy of the written record is included in the official minutes of the State Board of Education and Board of Regents of the University of Idaho.




3. Business Affairs and Human Resources Committee
   
   
   1. Purpose
      
      The Business Affairs and Human Resources Committee is a standing advisory committee of the Board. It is responsible for developing and presenting recommendations to the Board on matters of policy and procedures concerning business affairs and human resources affairs.
   
   
   
   2. Composition
      
      The Business Affairs and Human Resources Committee is composed of two (2) or more members of the Board appointed by the president of the Board, who designates one (1) to serve as chairperson of the committee. In addition, it includes as ex?officio, nonvoting members the chief financial officers of the institutions; the chief financial officers of the agencies and the school; and the Board's chief financial officer. The chairperson presents all committee recommendations to the Board.
   
   
   
   3. Responsibilities and Procedures
      
      The Business Affairs and Human Resources Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Board in the following general areas:
      
      
      1. Selection of the external auditor and review of the fiscal and internal operations and performance of the agencies and institutions;
      2. Agency and institutional financial agenda items;
      3. Coordination and development of guidelines and information for agency and institutional budget requests and operating budgets;
      4. Long-range fiscal planning;
      5. Fiscal analysis of the following
         1. New and expanded financial programs;
         2. Establishment, discontinuance or change in designation of administrative units;
         3. Consolidation, relocation, or discontinuance of programs;
         4. New facilities and any major modifications to facilities which would result in changes in programs or program capacity; and
      6. other matter as assigned by the Board.
      
      

      The Business Affairs and Human Resources Committee may establish necessary procedures to carry out its responsibilities. Such procedures must be consistent with the Board's Governing Policies and Procedures. The Board's chief fiscal officer, under the direction of the chairperson, prepares the agenda for and schedules each meeting of the committee and maintains a written record of the committee's activities and recommendations. A copy of the written record is included in the official minutes of the State Board of Education and Board of Regents of the University of Idaho.



4. Audit Committee
   
   
   1. Purpose
      
      The Audit Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) is appointed by the Board in fulfilling its fiscal oversight responsibilities. The Committee provides oversight to the organizations under its governance (defined in Idaho State Board of Education, Policies and Procedures, Section I. A.1.) for: financial statement integrity, financial practices, internal control systems, financial management, and standards of conduct.
   
   
   
   2. Composition
      
      The Committee members shall be appointed by the Board and shall consist of six or more members. Three members of the Committee shall be current Board members and three members shall be independent non-Board members who are permanent residents of the state of Idaho. Each Audit Committee member who is a Board member shall be independent, free from any relationship that would interfere with the exercise of her or his independent judgment. The Audit Committee may appoint a working unit or units, which could include the chief financial officers of the institutions and financial officers of the Board office.
      
      All members shall have an understanding of the Committee and financial affairs and the ability to exercise independent judgment, and at least one member of the Committee shall have current accounting or related financial management expertise in the following areas:
      
      1. an understanding of generally accepted accounting principles, experience in preparing, auditing, analyzing, or evaluating complex financial statements, and;
      2. the ability to assess the general application of such principles in the accounting for estimates, accruals, and reserves, and;
      3. experience in preparing or auditing financial statements and;
      4. an understanding of internal controls
      
      

      Appointments shall be for a three-year term. Terms will be staggered such that two members exit and two new members are added each year. The Committee chair shall be appointed by the Board President.

   
   
   3. Responsibilities and Procedures
      
      It is not the Committee's duty to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the institution's financial statements are complete, accurate and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Management is responsible for the preparation, presentation, and integrity of the financial statements and for the appropriateness of the accounting principles and reporting policies used. The following shall be the principle duties and responsibilities of the Committee:
      
      
      1. Approve the appointment, establish the compensation, and evaluate and oversee the work of the independent auditors. The Committee must approve any services prior to being provided by the independent auditor. The independent auditing firm shall report directly to the Committee and the auditor's "engagement letter" shall be addressed to the Committee and the President of each institution. The Committee shall have the authority to engage the Board's legal counsel and other consultants necessary to carry out its duties.
      2. Discuss with the independent auditors the audit scope, focusing on areas of concern or interest;
      3. Review the financial statements, adequacy of internal controls and findings with the independent auditor. The independent auditor's "management letter" shall include management responses and be addressed to the Audit Committee and President of the institution.
      4. Present the financial statements to the Board and provide detail and summary reports as appropriate.
      5. Oversee standards of conduct (ethical behavior) and conflict of interest policies of the Board and the institutions under its governance including establishment of confidential complaint mechanisms.
      6. Monitor the integrity of each organization's financial accounting process and systems of internal controls regarding finance, accounting and stewardship of assets;
      7. Monitor the independence and performance of each organization's independent auditors and internal auditing departments;
      8. Provide general guidance for developing risk assessment models for all institutions.
      9. Provide an avenue of communication among the independent auditors, management, the internal audit staff and the Board.
      10. Maintain audit review responsibilities of institutional affiliates to include but not limited to foundations and booster organizations.
      11. As a matter of independence, the Committee will not approve policy.
   
   

   The Committee will meet as needed. The Committee may establish necessary procedures to carry out its responsibilities. Such procedures must be consistent with the Board's Governing Policies and Procedures. The Board's chief fiscal officer, under the direction of the chair, prepares the agenda for and schedules each meeting of the Committee and maintains a written record of the Committee's activities and recommendations. A copy of the written record is included in the official minutes of the State Board of Education and Board of Regents of the University of Idaho.



5. Targeted Educational Groups Advisory Council
   
   
   1. Purpose
      
      The purpose of the Targeted Educational Groups Advisory Council (TEGAC) is to provide an advisory and reporting function to the Board regarding the needs and viewpoints of the represented populations with regard to all Board operations. It is intended this Council will provide a mechanism for feedback and ensure the responsiveness of the educational system to the needs and viewpoints of the groups represented. The Targeted Educational Groups Advisory Council shall report to the Board through its representative on the Instruction, Research and Student Affairs Committee.
   
   
   
   2. Composition
      
      The Targeted Educational Groups Advisory Council is comprised of one (1) or more member(s) of the Board, appointed by the president of the Board, who designates one (1) to serve as chair of the committee. Representatives from the institutions, agencies, school, and other groups with targeted educational needs, including but not limited to the Five Tribes in Idaho, the Hispanic Education Task Force, and the education system for the Department of Correction and the Department of Juvenile Justice, may be members of the Advisory Council. In addition, it includes as ex-officio, nonvoting members, designated Board staff. The TEGAC member assigned as the representative to the Instruction, Research and Student Affairs Committee will work with the Council chairperson to present Council recommendations to the Instruction, Research and Student Affairs Committee.
   
   
   
   3. Responsibilities and Procedures
      
      The Targeted Educational Groups Advisory Council is responsible for advising the Board in the following general areas:
      
      
      1. initiatives and improvements to the educational system for the benefit of the represented groups;
      
      
      2. related matters pending before the Board's standing committees; and
      
      
      3. policy recommendations, budget items and other matters related to the targeted educational population.
      
      
      
      

      Board staff, under the direction of the Council chairperson, prepares the agenda for and schedules each meeting of the Council and maintains a written record of the Council's activities and recommendations.

Additional Resources

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