Rule 10201: General Counsel to the Board of Regents

1.  Title 

General Counsel to the Board of Regents

2.  Rule and Regulation

Sec. 1  General Counsel to the Board of Regents.  The General Counsel to the Board of Regents is the principal officer to the Board in the administration of the responsibilities of the Office of the Board of Regents and the principal staff officer to each member of the Board of Regents in the discharge of his or her responsibilities. In addition to the specific duties and responsibilities set forth in Section 3 below, the General Counsel to the Board shall advise the Board regarding the design and implementation of policies and procedures by which the Board of Regents may more effectively fulfill its responsibilities regarding the governance and management of The University of Texas System and shall provide legal counsel on issues such as open meetings, public information, and standards of conduct.

Sec. 2  Appointment.  The General Counsel to the Board shall be elected by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Regents in office and shall hold office without fixed term, subject to the pleasure of the Board. The General Counsel to the Board shall report to and be responsible to the Board. 

Sec. 3  The duties and responsibilities of the General Counsel to the Board shall include the following:

3.1  Supervise.  The General Counsel to the Board shall supervise the Office of the Board of Regents and the U. T. System Audit Office.

3.2  Meetings.  The General Counsel to the Board shall make preparations, including Regental travel arrangements, for all meetings of the Board and its committees.

3.3  The Agenda.  Under the direction of the Chairman of the Board or the Chairman of a standing committee, the General Counsel to the Board shall prepare and distribute the Agenda and necessary supporting documentation for all meetings of the Board and its committees.

3.4  Open Meetings Act.  Under the direction of the Chairman of the Board or the Chairman of a standing committee, the General Counsel to the Board shall post notices of all meetings and the subject matter thereof as may be required under law.

3.5  Minutes.  The General Counsel to the Board shall oversee preparation of and sign the official Minutes of the Board and its committees.

3.6  Official Documents.  The General Counsel to the Board shall oversee filing in the Office of the Board of Regents all official documents, correspondence, and proceedings of the Board and its committees.

3.7  Seal.  The custody of the official seal of the System shall be with the General Counsel to the Board. 

3.8  Rules and Regulations.  The General Counsel to the Board shall be charged with the responsibility of keeping current the Official Copy of the Regents' Rules and Regulations and accessible on the web. Administrative officers will be notified of any changes or additions to the rules as soon as possible after the meeting at which they were adopted.

(a) The General Counsel to the Board is authorized to make minor and non-substantive editorial changes to the Regents' Rules and Regulations enacted by the Board as necessary to keep the Rules current and correct. In the event such editorial changes are necessary, the General Counsel to the Board will ensure that members of the Board, administrative officers, and members of the public have ready access to the current version of the Regents’ Rules and Regulations.

3.9  Reports.  As directed by the Board of Regents, the General Counsel to the Board shall:

(a) Define and establish routine reporting mechanisms, including determining the Board's information requirements; structuring reporting procedures; gathering and summarizing reports and data for presentation to the Board on a routine basis; and

(b) Prepare special reports, including requesting and gathering data from the U. T. System and any of the institutions; conducting necessary analyses of data; and summarizing facts and presenting reports for the Board's consideration.

3.10 Other Duties.  In addition, the General Counsel to the Board shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board of Regents or as are usual and customary and which assist the members of the Board in the discharge of their official duties.

Sec. 4  The Executive Director for Board Services, Associate General Counsels to the Board, and the Secretary to the Board shall be appointed by the General Counsel to the Board after consultation with the Chairman of the Board, and shall have such duties and responsibilities as shall be delegated by the General Counsel to the Board.

Sec. 5  The Secretary to the Board shall have such duties and responsibilities as shall be delegated by the General Counsel to the Board including the following:

5.1  Minutes.  The Secretary to the Board shall record and prepare the official Minutes and certified agendas of closed sessions of the Board and its committees. The official copy of the Minutes of the Board and its committees shall be kept in the Office of the Board of Regents, and certified excerpts from these Minutes shall be prepared by the Secretary to the Board as requested.

5.2  Official Documents.  The Secretary to the Board shall keep on file, archive, and preserve all official documents, correspondence, and proceedings of the Board and its committees and task forces.

5.3  Seal.  The Secretary to the Board shall affix such official seal to, and attest, all documents executed in the name of the Board that require attestation.

3.  Definitions

None

4.  Relevant Federal and State Statutes 

None 

5.  Relevant System Policies, Procedures, and Forms 

None 

6.  Who Should Know 

Administrators 

7.  System Administration Office(s) Responsible for Rule 

Office of the Board of Regents 

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