Chapter 3357:15-11 | Board of Trustees

Rule 3357:15-11-01 | Composition.

• Effective: March 18, 2024
• Promulgated Under: 111.15

The board of trustees shall consist of nine qualified electors residing in the Stark state college (the college) district who are not employees of the college or members of any board of education or educational service center governing board.

(A) Gubernatorial appointees. Three trustees shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate.

(B) Local appointees. Six trustees shall be appointed by a three-person trustee selection committee, with the advice and consent of the senate. Not more than one member of the board of trustees selected in this manner shall be a resident of Summit county, and not more than two members of the board of the board of trustees selected in this manner shall be employees of government agencies. Local trustees shall serve three-year terms.

Trustee selection committee members are local business, civic or nonprofit leaders in the college service district who are not current members of the college board and who are appointed by the executive committee of the college board of trustees. When a local trustee vacancy occurs, the board must nominate trustee candidates to the trustee selection committee. The trustee selection committee will meet to consider nominees recommended by the college board of trustees, but may also consider other applicants.

The trustee selection committee shall appoint trustees:

(1) Who hold leadership positions within significant industries in the college's service district, to the greatest extent possible;

(2) Who reside in the college's service district.

Once the trustee selection committee selects the new local trustee, the college must forward that local trustee candidate's name to the state of Ohio for the advice and consent process of the Ohio Senate.

(C) Terms. The term of office for each trustee shall be three years, with terms arranged so that not less than two or more than three expire in a given year, and terms of the gubernatorial appointees shall expire in different years. Each trustee shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the appointed term. Gubernatorial and local trustees shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the trustee's term until a successor takes office.

(D) Vacancies. If there is a vacancy, such vacancy shall be filled by the authority making the original appointment for the balance of the unexpired term.

Last updated March 18, 2024 at 11:51 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 3357.09
Amplifies: 3357.09
Prior Effective Dates: 2/14/2015

Rule 3357:15-11-02 | Officers.

• Effective: September 12, 2022
• Promulgated Under: 111.15

The officers of the board of trustees shall consist of a chair, first vice-chair, second vice-chair and a secretary to the board.

(A) Election of officers: Election of officers shall be held at the August meeting of the board of trustees or first meeting thereafter if there is no August meeting. All officers shall take office at the adjournment of the meeting at which they were elected and shall hold office for a term of one year and until their successors are elected and qualified. The chair, first vice-chair and second vice-chair are eligible for re-election to their respective offices for up to three consecutive terms. If a vacancy occurs for either the chair, first vice-chair, second vice-chair, or either officer is unable or unwilling to serve a full term and such vacancy occurs more than sixty days prior to the August meeting, then the board shall hold a special election for such office, which may be held at the next regular or special meeting of the board of trustees. The chair, first vice-chair and second vice-chair must be members of the board of trustees. The secretary may be a member of the board of trustees or the president or the president's designee. The secretary may serve unlimited terms.

(B) Duties of the chair: The chair shall preside at all meetings of the board of trustees, appoint or provide for the election of individuals to serve in advisory capacities for special objectives of an ad-hoc basis, and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law or action of the board of trustees.

(C) Duties of the first vice-chair: The first vice-chair shall preside at meetings of the board of trustees in the absence of the chair and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the board. The first vice-chair will be the immediate next chair.

(D) Duties of the second vice-chair. The second vice-chair shall preside at the meetings of the board of trustees in the absence of the chair and/or first vice-chair and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the board. The second vice-chair will be the immediate next first vice-chair.

(E) Duties of the secretary: The secretary shall keep a correct journal of all proceedings, cause the agenda and other pertinent materials to be distributed to board members prior to regular meetings, and perform all other duties imposed by statute.

(F) Presiding officer, chair, first vice-chair and second vice-chair absent: In the absence of the chair, first vice-chair and second vice-chair, the board shall by majority vote, choose a chair pro tem.

Last updated September 12, 2022 at 8:39 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 3357.09
Amplifies: 3357.09
Prior Effective Dates: 10/5/2009

Rule 3357:15-11-03 | District and place of business.

• Effective: July 26, 2019
• Promulgated Under: 111.15

(A) The Stark state college service district is comprised of Stark and Summit counties.

(B) The permanent principal place of business of the Stark state college district is designated as "Stark State College, 6200 Frank Avenue NW, North Canton, Ohio 44720," in accordance with the requirements of section 3357.06 of the Revised Code.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 3357.09
Amplifies: 3357.09
Prior Effective Dates: 10/5/2009

Rule 3357:15-11-04 | Meetings.

• Effective: June 7, 2021
• Promulgated Under: 111.15

The board of trustees will normally meet once a month throughout the calendar year. If there is no pressing business to transact, any regular meeting may be omitted by the board chair with common consent of the majority of the board members.

(A) Regular meetings. The regular meetings of the board of trustees shall be determined for the year at the annual organizational meeting. The date, time, and place of regular meetings shall be designated at that time. The chair may change any date, time, and/or place of any regular meeting by giving a three-day written notice to each member of the board; or board members may make such change by agreement at the prior regular meeting and give a three-day written notice to each board member absent at such prior regular meeting.

(B) Special meetings. Special meetings may be called by the chair or at the request of no less than three members of the board of trustees. Written notice of such special meetings, stating the time and place of such meeting and purpose or purposes for which the same is called, must be given to each member at least three days prior to the date of said meeting. Any trustee may waive such notice and, by attendance at any special meeting, shall be deemed to have waived notice thereof.

Any representative of the news media may obtain notice of all special meetings by requesting in writing that such notice be provided. A request for such notification shall be addressed to: "Office of the President, Stark State College, 6200 Frank Avenue, NW, North Canton, Ohio 44720." The request shall provide the name of the individual media representative to be contacted, the mailing address, and the telephone number(s). The college shall maintain a list of all representatives of the news media who have requested notice of special meetings pursuant to this section. In the event of a special meeting not of an emergency nature, the college shall notify all media representatives on list of such meeting by doing at least one of the following:

(1) Posting special meeting notification and agenda on college web site.

(2) Sending a written notice, which must be mailed no later than three calendar days prior to the day of the special meeting.

(3) Notifying such representatives by telephone no later than twenty-four hours prior to the special meeting. Such telephone notice shall be considered complete if a message is left for the representative, or if, after reasonable effort, the college has been unable to provide such telephone notice.

(4) In the event of a special meeting of an emergency nature, the college shall notify all media representatives on the list of such meeting by providing either a written notice or a telephone notice as described above. In such event, however, the notice need not be given twenty-four hours prior to the meeting, but shall be given as soon as possible.

(5) In giving the notices required by this paragraph, the college may rely on assistance provided by any member of the college staff, and such notices shall be considered complete if given by such member in the manner provided herein.

(C) Open meetings. All meetings of the board of trustees shall be open to the public. In keeping with division (F) of section 121.22 of the Revised Code, any person may be informed of the time and place of all regularly scheduled meetings and the time, place, and purpose of all special meetings by:

(1) Information on College web site, including board meeting dates, agenda and minutes.

(2) Writing to the following address: "Stark State College, 6200 Frank Avenue, NW, North Canton, Ohio 44720."

(3) Calling the following telephone number during normal business hours: [phone].

(D) Any person wishing to utilize recording and/or transmission devices at a public session of a board of trustees meeting shall do so from a recording area designated by the board chair and identified by prominent signage. The board chair may limit the number of persons recording and/or transmitting during the meeting due to space limitations. Any person recording and/or transmitting a public session of a board of trustees meeting must do so at their own expense without use of college equipment. If at any time the board chair feels the recording and/or transmitting of the public session is a disruption of the proceedings, any such person shall be directed by the board chair to stop.

Last updated June 7, 2021 at 10:35 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 3357.09
Amplifies: 3357.09

Rule 3357:15-11-05 | Board attendance.

• Effective: January 16, 2022
• Promulgated Under: 111.15

Am. Sub. S.B. 226, enacted by the general assembly, provides that "any member of a board of trustees of an institution of higher education who fails to attend at least three-fifths of the regular and special meetings held by that board during any two-year period forfeits his position on that board." There is no appeal mechanism.

Attending regular meetings via electronic communication.

(A) Definitions:

Electronic communication: live, audio-enabled communication that permits the trustees attending a meeting, the trustees present in person at the place where the meeting is conducted, and all members of the public present in person at the place where the meeting is conducted to simultaneously communicate with each other during the meeting.

(B) Pursuant to section 3345.82 of the Revised Code, the board of trustees can conduct a meeting defined under (rule 3357:15-11-05 of the Administrative Code Meetings) using electronic communication so long as the following criteria in paragraphs (C) and (D) of this rule are met:

(C) Trustee's responsibility:

(1) Each trustee must be present annually for one-half of the regular meetings of the board. Trustees should provide at the annual organization meeting, the meetings they intend to attend in-person for the year.

(2) If a trustee intends to attend a board meeting through electronic communication, the trustee must notify the chairperson of the board within forty-eight hours of intent to attend. In the event of a declared emergency, the trustee must notify the chairman of the board as soon as practical. If the chairperson intends to attend electronically, they shall notify the vice-chairperson.

(D) Meeting conduct:

(1) During a meeting conducted by electronic communication, one-third of the trustees must be present in-person. If the chairperson determines within forty-eight hours of a scheduled meeting this criterion will not be met, they shall either:

(a) Work with trustees previously intending to attend by electronic means to attend in-person to meet the one-third requirement.

(b) Reschedule the meeting.

(2) During a meeting conducted by electronic communication, votes of the board of trustees are conducted using a roll call.

(3) The board of trustees will follow all other established procedures during a meeting conducted by electronic communications.

Last updated January 18, 2022 at 8:32 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 3357.09
Amplifies: 3357.09
Prior Effective Dates: 10/5/2009

Rule 3357:15-11-06 | Procedures.

• Effective: March 11, 2024
• Promulgated Under: 111.15

The following procedures shall be followed in conducting the business of the board of trustees:

(A) Oath of office. Each member appointed to the board of trustees of the Stark state college district, before entering upon his or her official duties, shall take and subscribe to the following oath:

"I, (Name), promise and swear to support the Constitution of the United States and the constitution of this state and to honestly, faithfully, and impartially perform and discharge the duties of the office of Member, Board of Trustees, Stark State College district, to which I have been appointed, for the term beginning (Date) and ending at the close of business (Date)."

(B) Compensation. Trustees shall serve without compensation, but may be paid their necessary expenses when engaged in the business of the board.

(C) Legal advisor. The attorney general shall be the attorney for the Stark state college district and shall provide legal advice in all matters relating to its powers and duties.

(D) Communications. Communications relating to policy, sent or received by employed staff, shall be reported to the board of trustees by the president where appropriate.

(E) Public requests. The order of business at any regular or special meeting of the board of trustees shall include an opportunity for members of the public to address the board, provided that the following regulations have been met:

(1) Any person desiring to bring a matter to the attention of the board must submit a written request to the president not less than five working days prior to the regular or special meeting of the board. Such request must include the subject to be brought before the board and the name, address, and telephone number of each person who will participate in the presentation.

(2) Any individual or group that has followed the procedure stated above will be afforded time to address the board on the subject designated. Each participant must state name and address upon addressing the board.

(3) No more than five minutes per person and/or fifteen minutes maximum shall be allotted for the entire presentation on a designated subject.

(4) Any person granted an appearance before the board on a matter involving a board employee shall be heard in executive session only.

(5) Disruptive conduct will not be permitted at any meeting of the board nor will defamatory or abusive remarks be tolerated. Anyone who engages in such disruptive conduct shall be denied further speaking privileges and may be subject to removal by the board chair.

(6) The board does not obligate itself to consider any request or proposal presented.

(F) Quorum. A majority of the sitting board members present for a meeting shall constitute a quorum to act on any matter (i.e. if a nine-member board has two current vacancies, then four trustees must be present for a quorum to be achieved). Should a quorum not be present, a roll call shall be made and a notation made of those absent. The meeting can then be adjourned.

(G) Rules of order. Robert's Rules of Order shall be taken as the authority in the transaction of business should the procedure not be defined elsewhere by the board of trustees, the Ohio board of regents, or state statute.

(H) Order of business. The normal order of business shall be as shown. The board may, however, alter the order of business by common consent of the members in order to accommodate the time schedule of guests or individual members of the board:

(1) Call to order

(2) Recognition of visitors

(3) Roll call

(4) Public requests

(5) Agenda changes

(6) Executive session

(7) Consent agenda

(8) Old business

(9) New business

(10) Board of trustees work session

(11) Correspondence

(12) Board activity dates

(I) Conflict with state laws. No policy, procedure, rule, or regulation shall be operative if it is found to be in conflict with any laws of the state of Ohio.

(J) Indemnification of trustees and officers. Each trustee and officer of Stark state college now or hereafter serving as such, shall be indemnified by the legal entity against any and all claims and liabilities to which one has or shall become subject by reason of serving or having served as such trustee or officer, or by reason of any action alleged to have taken, omitted, or neglected by such trustee or officer; if acting in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the legal entity, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe conduct was unlawful; and the legal entity shall reimburse each person for all legal expenses reasonably incurred in connection with any such claim or liability.

(K) The amount paid to any officer or trustee by way of indemnification shall not exceed actual, reasonable, and necessary expenses incurred in connection with the matter involved.

Last updated March 13, 2024 at 11:46 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 3357.09
Amplifies: 3357.09

Rule 3357:15-11-07 | INSTRUCTIONAL FEE WAIVED.

• Effective: February 14, 2015
• Promulgated Under: 111.15

All instructional and general fees for credit, audit, or non-credit courses offered are waived for board of trustees members taking classes at Stark state college.

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 3357:15
Amplifies: 3357:15