Rule 60301: Development Board of an Institution

1.  Title

Development Board of an Institution

2.  Rule and Regulation

Sec. 1  Authorization.   With the approval of the president of an institution, the Vice Chancellor for External Relations, Communications and Advancement Services, the appropriate Executive Vice Chancellor, the Chancellor, and the Board of Regents, each institution may have a development board dedicated to its own unique interests. 

Sec. 2  Purpose.   An institution’s development board shall serve an institution of the U. T. System by assisting in the development plans and programs of the institution with an emphasis on increasing private support.

Sec. 3  Composition.   Unless otherwise excepted, the institution’s development board shall consist of members recommended and appointed by the president of the institution. Presidents of institutions shall adopt guidelines for the appointment of the members of the institution’s development board. The guidelines shall make clear each individual's term of office and the expectations and responsibilities of membership. Consideration shall be directed to appropriate balance in board membership, including gender, ethnicity, range of experience, geographical distribution, and the special needs of the institution and the development board. All terms shall officially begin on September 1. The president of the institution shall be an ex officio member with voting privileges. 

Sec. 4  Governance and Bylaws.   Consistent with the Regents’ Rules and Regulations, the president of each institution shall be responsible for and have authority over the institution’s development board. The institution’s president may appoint from the development board’s membership a chair and such other officers as appropriate or may choose to allow the membership to elect such officers.

4.1  Model Bylaws.   Subject to the approval of the president of the institution, each development board shall adopt bylaws for its internal governance that are consistent with this Rule and that substantially comply with model bylaws developed by the Office of General Counsel.

Sec. 5  Reporting Rosters and Expenses.   Institutions shall annually forward an accurate roster of the development board membership to the Vice Chancellor for External Relations, Communications and Advancement Services on a designated date. In addition, each institution shall maintain specifically identifiable accounts that document any development board related revenues and expenses out of the president’s office or other offices that support development board activities. These accounts must be identifiable in an institution’s annual operating budget.

Sec. 6  Role of Internal Foundations.   As used in this Rule, the term “internal foundation” means an entity created by resolution of the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System for certain development purposes. An internal foundation is part of the organizational structure of either a development board or an advisory council and functions as an administrative and accounting mechanism that is employed to approach prospective donors. Internal foundations are not encouraged and shall not be established or maintained except with the approval of the president of the institution, the Vice Chancellor for External Relations, Communications and Advancement Services, the appropriate Executive Vice Chancellor, the Chancellor, and the Board of Regents.

Sec. 7  Private Development Campaigns. 

7.1  Comprehensive Campaigns.   All broad-scale, institution-wide campaigns must be reviewed and approved by the Vice Chancellor for External Relations, Communications and Advancement Services and the appropriate Executive Vice Chancellor before campaign plans, or any activity, including a silent phase of a campaign, are implemented and consultants retained. 

7.2  Special Purpose Campaigns.   From time to time, special purpose campaigns for campus-specific objectives (for example, a significant scholarship fund or faculty endowment program) may be conducted without approval by the Vice Chancellor for External Relations, Communications and Advancement Services and the appropriate Executive Vice Chancellor. However, special purpose campaigns regarding prominent buildings and programs as identified in Rule 80307 must be approved as set out in Section 7.1 above.

Sec. 8  Ex-Students’ Associations.   Not withstanding the provisions hereof conferring authority upon and placing responsibility with the Chancellor for fund development and fund raising, it is understood that ex-students' associations of the U. T. System institutions may engage in fund raising for their own support through dues and payments for memberships, both annual and life. However, it is expected that no such ex-students' association will sponsor or participate in any other organized fund raising effort without first consulting with and gaining the approval of the president of the institution.

Sec. 9  Development Activity Reporting.   Each institution shall participate annually in the Voluntary Support of Education (VSE) survey administered by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and submit the resulting report to the institution’s president and the Vice Chancellor for External Relations, Communications and Advancement Services.

3.  Definitions

None

4.  Relevant Federal and State Statutes 

None 

5.  Relevant System Policies, Procedures, and Forms 

Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Rule 60302 – Advisory Councils of an Institution 
Office of General Counsel – Model Bylaws for a Development Board 

6.  Who Should Know 

Administrators 
Development Officers 

7.  System Administration Office(s) Responsible for Rule 

Office of External Relations, Communications and Advancement Services 
Office of General Counsel 

8.  Dates Approved or Amended 

Regents’ Rules Revision History 

9.  Contact Information 

Questions or comments regarding this Rule should be directed to: 
•  bor@utsystem.edu