How Does the Board of Trustees Operate?

Every student at AUBG has heard the term Board of Trustees (BoT) at least once during their time at the university. However, few know who these people are exactly and what role they play in shaping the AUBG community.

 

Purpose of the Board of Trustees

 

AUBG is overseen by the Board of Trustees,  a group that currently consists of 18 people, and is responsible for guiding the strategic direction of the university. 

 

Officially, the university is a not-for-profit organization registered both in Bulgaria and the United States. According to Bulgarian law, such institutions need to have a supervisory body that regulates their decision-making process. 

 

This is a common structure among universities. In the case of AUBG, the Board of Trustees serves this regulatory function and is in charge of providing oversight, strategic guidance, and implementing important decisions. 

 

How is the Board of Trustees formed, and who leads it?

 

BoT members are elected based on their ability to contribute meaningfully to the university's development and their commitment to the goals of the organization. Candidates have two options to become part of the Board: be nominated by a current member or apply for the position independently. 

 

Being part of the Board of Trustees is voluntary and unpaid. One mandate of a BoT member is for three years, and each of them can serve no more than six terms, or 18 years in total. 

 

The board also has a Chair, whose role is to steer the meetings and discussions of the BoT. The Chair is selected depending on how the expertise of the candidate aligns with the strategic goals set out by the university. In January 2025, Dr. Chris Potts became the new Chair of the Board of Trustees, replacing Dr. Michael Marvin. 

 

How are students, faculty, and administration represented in the Board of Trustees?

 

Right now, Laura Kelly sits as a Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees. The role consists of preparing reports that are handed to the board. The Faculty Representative also gathers information about the concerns and accomplishments of  AUBG faculty and makes a presentation based on them, which is shared with board members during meetings. 

 

The Board of Trustees also has a clerk who connects the university’s administration with the board members, a role occupied by Velina Zankova. In her words, the clerk supports the board in terms of logistics and has to make sure that all the laws and regulations are followed through various institutions and documents.

 

Additionally, there is also a Student Representative to the BoT, who is annually elected through voting by all AUBG students. Its role is to be the bridge between the student body and the members of the board. Radko Mishev is the current Student Representative to the Board of Trustees. 

 

What are the functions of the Board of Trustees?

 

It is important to note that the BoT does not create the strategic plan that AUBG follows, but only approves it. The strategic plan is developed by the university’s president with the support of the leadership team. The role of the board is to make sure the plan aligns with the policies of the university and positively impacts the future of AUBG. 

 

They review and ratify the annual budget of AUBG as well as monitor the financial stability of the institution. Furthermore, the board initiates fundraising campaigns for the university. Members also have the power to approve or deny the appointment of AUBG’s president, as well as other crucial leadership positions. 

 

BoT is not in charge of hiring or releasing university staff, but members can express their stance regarding such topics and discuss it with the president and leadership team. 

 

During the academic year, the BoT meets three times. They need a majority of members to be present in order to begin discussions. However, when it comes to significant decisions such as amending bylaws or discussing major transformations, only a two-thirds majority is required. Most sessions can be attended by AUBG faculty and staff, but the board can also decide to have a private meeting, attended only by its members. 

 

The AUBG Board of Trustees has a significant impact on the decisions regarding the future of the institution, however, they do not hold absolute power. If they conduct a violation of certain regulations, a member of any university body can appeal to the Board or the district court in Blagoevgrad.

Edited by: Toma Krumov and Eka Iakobadze