ADMINISTRATIVE LAW SECTION NEWSLETTER VOLUME XXXVLL, NO. 2 ' JANAUARY 2016 Agency Snapshot: State University System of Florida Board of Governors by Vikki Shirley and Iris Elijah

Background: Dean Colson Agency Clerk and General The State University System of Daniel Doyle, Jr. Counsel: Florida Board of Governors (Board) Patricia Frost Vikki Shirley was created by an amendment to Tonnette Graham State University System Board of the Florida Constitution in Novem­ H. Wayne Huizenga, Jr. Governors ber 2002. Article EX, section 7 of the Ned Lautenbach 325 West Gaines Street Florida Constitution created a con­ Alan Levine Suite 1614 stitutionally autonomous governance Wendy Link Tallahassee, Florida 32399 structure for all public universities. Edward Morton [email protected] The Board is responsible for operating, Katherine Robinson (850) 245-0466 regulating, controlling, and managing Pam Stewart the entire State University System Norman Tripp Hours for Filings: (SUS). Responsibilities include the 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. establishing SUS higher education The Board is comprised of seven­ policies, appointing five of the eleven teen members, fourteen of whom are Vikki Shirley joined the Board citizen members of the university appointed by the Governor, and con­ as General Counsel in February boards of trustees, establishing the firmed by the Senate for a term of 2006. Beginning in August 2014, Ms. powers and duties of the university seven years. The remaining three seats Shirley assumed the responsibilities boards of trustees, preventing waste­ are held by the chair of the advisory of corporate secretary and Agency ful or duplicative facilities and pro­ council of faculty senates, the Com­ Clerk. Prior to joining the Board, Ms. grams, ensuring articulation with missioner of Education, and the chair Shirley was a partner at the law firm public schools and community col­ of the Florida Student Association. of Huey, Guilday, Tucker, Schwartz, leges, and ensuring the well-planned and Williams, P.A. Ms. Shirley has coordination and operation of the SUS. Chancellor: Marshall Criser III practiced in the areas of appellate, The SUS includes Florida A&M Uni­ The Chancellor serves as the chief administrative, state, and federal versity, Florida Atlantic University, executive officer of the Board, charged civil litigation Ms. Shirley holds a Florida Gulf Coast University, Flor­ with the implementation of all Board bachelor's degree in political science ida International University, Florida regulations, policies, guidelines, and from the University of Florida and a Polytechnic University, Florida State resolutions. The Chancellor assists University, New College of Florida, the Board with the development of Juris Doctor from the Florida State University of Central Florida, Uni­ policies, programs, and procedures to University College of Law. versity of Florida, University of North guide the operations of the SUS and Florida, University of South Florida, advises the Board on best practices Number of Lawyers on Staff: 2 and University of West Florida. Each in higher education. The Chancel­ SUS institution is governed by a board lor is responsible for the preparation Kinds of Cases: of trustees. Boards of trustees are and submission of annual legislative The Office of the General Counsel comprised of thirteen members, six of budget requests for the SUS and the is responsible for a broad range of whom are appointed by the Governor Board office to the Board. As the chief legal services to the Board, Chan­ and five appointed by the Board. These executive officer, the Chancellor serves cellor, and Board staff. These ser­ appointees are confirmed by the Sen­ as the Board's liaison for communica­ vices include, but are not limited to, ate for a five-year term. The remain­ tions with university boards of trust­ providing legal advice and counsel ing two members are the respective ees, university presidents, the Legisla­ regarding educational law and policy university's chair of the faculty senate ture, the Office of the Governor, other matters to the Board and the Chan­ and president of the student body. state entities, external organizations, cellor, issuing written legal opinions, The boards of trustees are responsible the media, and the public. overseeing litigation, preparing andI for administering their constituent Chancellor Criser took office in or reviewing contracts, developing universities and are dedicated to the January 2014 after serving as presi­ Board regulations and rules, and ana­ purposes of the SUS. dent of AT&T Florida. Chancellor lyzing proposed legislation affecting Criser has a long history in education, the Board and SUS. The Office of the Board members: having formerly served as vice chair General Counsel also works closely Mori Hosseini, Chair of the University of Florida's board of with university general counsels to Tom Kuntz, Vice Chair trustees. He has also been a member create consistent SUS practices and Richard Beard III of the Higher Education Coordinating interpretation of Board regulations Matthew Carter II Council since 2009. and state and federal law.

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