Washington University Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is made up of 56 men and women from the corporate, professional, educational, governmental, and volunteer sectors of the St. Louis community and major cities nationwide and abroad. In addition, Emeritus Trustees are invited to attend meetings and serve on committees of the Board.

The Board of Trustees is legally responsible for the institution whose assets it holds in TRUST. Trustees must assure themselves that the institution is heading in the right direction and is well-managed. In short, they must fulfill their responsibilities, legal and moral, as TRUSTEES. The Trustees of Washington University: appoint the Chancellor; review and approve or disapprove annual budgets; review and approve or disapprove major capital expenditures; make final decision on awards of tenure and degrees, and on new degree programs; oversee the management of the endowment; oversee and participate in development programs; take an interest in and are supportive of the University’s people and its programs.

Board members exercise a policy and oversight role in contrast to the implementation and operational role of the administration, staff and faculty.

The Board meets quarterly in October, December, March, and May. The Executive Committee meets every month the Board does not meet, except for August.