IC 23-13-20
Chapter 20. University of Evansville
IC 23-13-20-1
Body corporate and politic; powers of board
Sec. 1. The University of Evansville is a body corporate and
politic. The board of trustees of the university has perpetual
succession and has full power to do the following:
(1) Make contracts.
(2) Sue and be sued.
(3) Plead and to be impleaded.
(4) Acquire, hold, and convey real and personal property,
manage and dispose of property and all money belonging to the
corporation in the manner that seems to the trustees to be best
adapted to promote the objects and purposes of the university.
(5) Own, lease, mortgage, pledge, sell, exchange, or otherwise
dispose of real and personal property, to borrow money, and to
issue, sell, and pledge its obligations and evidences of
indebtedness, and to mortgage its property to secure the
payment of indebtedness.
(6) Have and to use a common seal and to alter and renew the
seal at pleasure.
(7) Make bylaws consistent with the charter of the university.
(8) In conjunction with the faculty, confer upon those whom
they deem worthy all honors and degrees usually conferred by
colleges and universities.
As added by P.L.1-1989, SEC.49.
IC 23-13-20-2
Objects of corporation
Sec. 2. The objects of the corporation are to promote the general
interests of education, and to qualify men and women to engage in
the employments and professions of society and to discharge
honorably and usefully the various duties of life. The profession of
a particular religious faith shall not be required of a person who
becomes a student.
As added by P.L.1-1989, SEC.49.
IC 23-13-20-3
Location of university
Sec. 3. The university shall be located at or near the city of
Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana.
As added by P.L.1-1989, SEC.49.
IC 23-13-20-4
Board of trustees; members; amendment of charter; bylaws
Sec. 4. (a) The university has forty-one (41) trustees.
(b) The board of trustees consists of the following members:
(1) Twenty-four (24) members elected at large by the members
of the board of trustees.
(2) Six (6) members elected by the South Indiana Conference of
The United Methodist Church.
(3) Three (3) members elected by the Alumni Association of the
university.
(4) Three (3) members elected by the members of the freshman,
sophomore, junior, and senior classes of the university, voting
jointly.
(5) Three (3) members elected by the North Indiana Conference
of The United Methodist Church.
(6) The Bishop of the Indiana Area of The United Methodist
Church, who serves as an ex officio member.
(7) The president of the university, who serves as an ex officio
member.
(c) A trustee serves a term of three (3) years and until the trustee's
successor is elected and qualified.
(d) The university may amend its charter concerning the
following:
(1) The number of persons on its board of trustees.
(2) The structure, composition, and organization of its board of
trustees.
(3) The authority and procedure for and the manner of electing
or appointing members of the board of trustees.
(e) The university may amend its charter under subsection (d) by:
(1) the adoption of a resolution by a majority vote of its board
of trustees; and
(2) filing proof of the adoption, verified by at least a majority
of the board of trustees, and sworn to before a person
authorized to administer oaths, in the office of the secretary of
state.
(f) The charter is amended as of the date the required proof is
filed in the office of the secretary of state.
(g) Except as provided in this chapter, the bylaws adopted by the
board of trustees may prescribe the following:
(1) The qualifications required for members of the board.
(2) The manner of election of the members of the board.
(3) The terms of the members of the board.
(4) The duties and powers of the board.
(5) The manner of conducting the business of the board.
(6) The time and place for conducting meetings of the board.
(7) The manner for filling vacancies on the board.
(8) The method and procedure for altering the current number
of members of the board.
As added by P.L.1-1989, SEC.49.
IC 23-13-20-5
Board of trustees; officers; bonds; quorum; majority rule
Sec. 5. (a) The trustees shall elect the following officers:
(1) A chairman.
(2) One (1) or more vice chairmen.
(3) A secretary.
(4) A treasurer.
(5) The assistant secretaries, assistant treasurers, and other
officers provided for in the bylaws.
(b) The treasurer and all assistant treasurers shall give a bond in
the penal sum and with securities approved by the trustees before
entering upon the duties of office.
(c) Fourteen (14) trustees constitute a quorum for the transaction
of all official business. The majority of the members present at a
meeting determine the action of the board.
As added by P.L.1-1989, SEC.49.
IC 23-13-20-6
Board of trustees; election of president and instructors; courses;
tuition; ex officio and faculty members
Sec. 6. (a) The board of trustees has full power to elect in the
manner and for the time it deems expedient, a president of the
university, together with the professors and instructors necessary to
form an efficient faculty for the instruction of the various courses
taught. The courses shall be arranged and determined by the trustees
in conjunction with the faculty and the university senate.
(b) A professor or instructor may not be elected by the board of
trustees except upon nomination of the president of the university.
The trustees and faculty shall fix the rate of tuition and fees to be
paid by the students.
(c) The ex officio members of the board of trustees have the
rights, privileges, and duties of the elected trustees, including the
right to vote. Except for the president of the university, a member of
the board may not be a member of the faculty. If an elected member
of the board becomes a member of the faculty, the member is
removed from the board. The vacancy shall be filled by the board of
trustees until the next regular election.
As added by P.L.1-1989, SEC.49.
IC 23-13-20-7
Meetings; notice of special meetings; removal of trustee
Sec. 7. (a) The board of trustees shall meet each May or June in
the city of Evansville on a date determined by the board. The
president of the university, the chairman of the board of trustees, the
faculty of the university, any five (5) of the trustees, or the executive
committee appointed by the board may call a special meeting of the
board. Ten (10) days written notice of a special meeting must be
mailed to each member of the board of trustees at the member's last
known address.
(b) A working majority of the board of trustees may, at any time,
for good cause, declare a vacancy on the board due to lack of interest
or otherwise by a member, and appoint a successor. The retired
member shall receive notice of the removal by mail sent to the last
known address of the member. The trustee appointed to fill the
vacancy serves until the next election by the appointing authority.
As added by P.L.1-1989, SEC.49. Amended by P.L.3-1989, SEC.139.
IC 23-13-20-8
Application of funds; donations, devises, and bequests
Sec. 8. The board of trustees shall faithfully apply all funds
collected by the board according to its best judgment, in the erection
of suitable buildings, purchase of equipment, care of buildings and
grounds, the purchase of real and personal property, and in payment
of salaries to instructors, officers, and agents. The trustees may
receive for and on behalf of the university, donations, devises, and
bequests made either generally for the benefit of the university or for
purposes in harmony with the objects of the university.
As added by P.L.1-1989, SEC.49.
IC 23-13-20-9
Patronage of United Methodist Church
Sec. 9. The university is under the patronage of the Indiana Area
of The United Methodist Church and is entitled to all the privileges
and benefits accruing from time to time to institutions of The United
Methodist Church from patronizing conferences.
As added by P.L.1-1989, SEC.49.
IC 23-13-20-10
John C. Moore building
Sec. 10. A major building on the campus of the university must
bear the name of John C. Moore to honor and perpetuate the memory
of the founder of Moores Hill College.
As added by P.L.1-1989, SEC.49.