51³Ô¹ÏÍø

A Message from the Chair

Welcome!

I am honored to serve as chairperson of the Board of Trustees at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø. Like many members of the Bridgewater community, I was the first in my family to graduate from college. My Dad was a blacksmith and my Mom worked on her family's farm before they immigrated to the United States. Boston State College was my Bridgewater, so I am keenly aware of the transformational opportunity that BSU extends to you.

Bridgewater is a special place because of the extraordinary commitment of the faculty and staff. Daily, they actualize the mission and values of BSU. They fulfill that responsibility by providing students with the tools to successfully build their bridge to achieve their aspirations. I would suggest what differentiates Bridgewater is that the community is dedicated to the success of every student without exception.  

BSU is fortunate to have a totally engaged Board of Trustees. As their brief biographies in the following pages attest, they bring to the role of a trustee their distinguished and diverse professional careers. As one of Massachusetts largest public universities, educating, serving, and supporting approximately 10,000 students each year, the Board of Trustees takes very seriously our stewardship responsibility to BSU's students and families, faculty and staff, and to the citizens and taxpayers of the Commonwealth.

The Board of Trustees of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø is the institution’s governing body and is composed of citizens from the region and state who volunteer their time to serve. The Board has a fiduciary responsibility for the operation of the university, charged with reviewing and approving a range of academic and business matters including the annual budget and faculty tenure. The Board also appoints and reviews the performance of the President and the university on an ongoing basis.  

The Board consists of eleven members, all of whom (except a student member who is elected by the student body to a one-year term) are appointed by the Governor, with at least one member who is a BSU alumnus elected by the Alumni Association. Each member of the Board is elected to a five-year term and can serve for no more than two consecutive terms.

The full Board meets five times annually and conducts its meetings in accordance with the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law. We welcome your attendance at Board meetings – please see Board of Trustees Meetings for the upcoming schedule. The Board has 12 standing committees – Executive; Academic and Student Affairs; Finance and Operations; Honorary Degree Advisory; Alumni and Development; External Relations; Student Success and Diversity; University Safety and Security; Nominating; Presidential Review and Compensation; Racial Justice and Equity; and Audit. There is also an ad hoc committee for Enrollment and Marketing. These committees convene throughout the year to consider and report out policy and action recommendations to the full Board.

It is my privilege to serve the university as a Trustee and its Chairperson.

Regards,

Michael Taylor
Chairperson