University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees

University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees is the governing body of the University of Massachusetts system. Established by an act of the Massachusetts General Court in 1964, it holds fiduciary responsibility for the five-campus public research university system. The board appoints the system president, approves budgets and tuition, and sets overarching academic and strategic policy for the institution.

History

The board was created in 1964 through legislation signed by Governor Endicott Peabody, consolidating governance of the then-independent campuses in Amherst, Boston, and Worcester under a single authority. This reorganization was part of a broader transformation of public higher education in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, influenced by the post-World War II expansion and the California Master Plan for Higher Education. Key early figures in its formation included John W. Lederle, the first system president, and legislators like Michael S. Dukakis. The board later oversaw the incorporation of the Lowell and Dartmouth campuses following the merger with the former Massachusetts State College system in 1991.

Composition and selection

The board comprises 22 voting members, including 17 appointed by the Governor of Massachusetts with the consent of the Massachusetts Governor's Council. These appointees serve five-year terms. The board also includes five *ex officio* members: the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, the president of the University of Massachusetts Alumni Association, and the student body president from each of the three primary undergraduate campuses in Amherst, Boston, and Lowell. The chair and vice chair are elected by the trustees from among the appointed members.

Powers and responsibilities

The board holds ultimate legal authority and fiduciary duty for the University of Massachusetts system. Its powers include appointing and evaluating the system president and each campus chancellor, approving the annual operating budget and capital plans, setting student tuition and fees, and conferring all academic degrees. The board also approves new academic programs, oversees the issuance of debt, and manages the system's endowment through its committee on administration and finance. It regularly interacts with the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and testifies before committees of the Massachusetts General Court.

Current members

As of 2023, the board is chaired by Stephen P. Karam, with Robert L. Manning serving as vice chair. Other appointed trustees include members such as Margaret “MarG” McKenna, a former president of Lesley University, and Carlos E. Santiago, the former Commissioner of Higher Education for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The *ex officio* members are Jeffrey C. Riley (Commissioner), along with student trustees from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Massachusetts Boston, and University of Massachusetts Lowell. The system president, Marty Meehan, serves as a non-voting member.

Notable past members

Numerous prominent figures from Massachusetts public life have served on the board. These include former Governor Paul Cellucci, who served as a trustee after his tenure as United States Ambassador to Canada. Other notable past members include James J. Karam, a prominent real estate developer and former chair; Katherine “Kay” Sloan, former president of Massasoit Community College; and Andrew “Andy” Nussbaum, a noted attorney and civic leader. Former United States Senator Mo Cowan also served as a trustee prior to his appointment to the United States Senate.

Category:University of Massachusetts Category:Education in Massachusetts Category:1964 establishments in Massachusetts