President Royce Money admits that few people on campus – faculty, staff or students – know much about the Board of Trustees. However, a five-year plan to transform the board will greatly impact ACU.

Currently, the number of board members stands at 54, but the university wants to reduce this number to a more manageable 25-30 over the next five years.

The Board of Trustees employs one person – the university president.

The board serves in a policy function and doesn’t meddle in management.

Money said the current figure is “an unwieldy number to govern properly; too many to have any efficiency.”

A sub-committee of the board researched university boards and concluded that other universities similar to ACU operate with a much smaller number of members.

ACU’s change will strengthen the board by making it a smaller, tighter-knit group whose members can hold one another accountable to their responsibilities.

The board, chaired by C. E. “Doc” Cornutt, acknowledged its own importance by voting to hold itself more accountable by doing three things.

They must attend at least three of the four meetings in a year, read literature on campus boards of trustees and higher education and make campus visits and meet recruiting obligations.

Money said the expectations of each board member have been raised, and the board means it. For the board to stay relevant, especially with the implementation of the 21st Century Vision, it must progress and adapt to changing environments.

Money wants to raise awareness and understanding of the board across campus. Out of his own curiosity, Money said he’s asked people across campus if they know a trustee.

The response – “Not a hand has gone up.”

Though the board may not be actively visible, it shapes policy at ACU and is vital to the progress of the university.

The reformation of the board is greatly needed for ACU to achieve its 21st Century Vision goal.