At its Dec. 5 meeting, the Indiana University Board of Trustees approved a series of updates to its bylaws and committee structure designed to strengthen board governance, increase clarity around committee responsibilities, and ensure timely decision-making on urgent university matters.

Bylaw amendments create flexibility for committee structure

Trustees approved bylaw amendments that allow for establishing standing committees through resolution as needed. The changes also outline procedures for designating standing committee membership and responsibilities.

New standing committee structure adopted

Trustees also approved a resolution formalizing a new standing committee structure. Under the revised framework, the Board of Trustees will have the following standing committees:

• Academic and Student Affairs
• Finance and Facilities
• Audit, Compliance and Governance
• Compensation
• Executive Committee

These changes bring together related portfolios to support more efficient oversight, such as separating audit and compliance from finance functions and consolidating student and academic affairs into a single committee.

Each standing committee will consist of five trustees, with the chair of the board serving as one of those members in an ex-officio capacity. The board chair will appoint the remaining four members as well as the chair of each standing committee. For the Executive Committee, leadership will continue to be appointed jointly by the chair and vice chair as permitted under the updated bylaws.

Executive Committee authority clarified

Trustees also advanced a resolution clarifying the scope and limitations of the Executive Committee’s authority. The Executive Committee — composed of the board chair and vice chair, and two additional trustees selected by both — is empowered to act on behalf of the full board only when urgent university business must be addressed between regularly scheduled board meetings. The resolution outlines that:

• The Executive Committee may meet at the request of the board chair.
• Meetings may include the university president and general counsel.
• The committee’s actions remain subject to specific limitations established by the full board.

These changes are intended to ensure that essential decisions can be made promptly while preserving the full board’s oversight authority.