Job Description

The Young Alumnae Trustee is one of five Alumnae Trustees on the Wellesley College Board of Trustees. Every third year since 1974, a member is nominated from the members of the Wellesley College current graduating class, the first year alum class, and the second year alum class. The Young Alumnae Trustee serves a three-year term beginning July 1 of the year in which they are selected. Specifically, the Young Alumnae Trustee:

• Annually attends three 2 - 5 day meetings of the board of trustees that are usually held in October, February, and April plus Commencement Day in May, to share the young alum perspective and to provide other trustees with a sense of student and academic life. Meetings have typically been held on Wednesday - Friday;

• Serves on trustee committees, reading background materials, studying the issues, and keeping abreast of problems confronting educational institutions; and

• At least once during their term, the Young Alumnae Trustee may be asked by the Alumnae Association to speak at a College or WCAA event.

The College is governed by its trustees, and the Young Alumnae Trustee has the same vote as any other trustee. In their role as fiduciaries and stewards of the College, the trustees have the responsibility to:

• Preserve the autonomy and integrity of the institution, in order to ensure the College’s ability to pursue its mission for the benefit of present and future generations of Wellesley students.

• Participate regularly and faithfully in board and committee meetings, other Board functions, and, to the extent their time permits, other campus events.

• Prepare for meetings by reading agendas and supporting material, participate in those meetings by sharing experiences and skills and asking questions in order to contribute to the board’s efforts to make informed and thoughtful decisions.

• Review, approve and monitor the College’s strategic planning. Make decisions consistent with the mission and strategic objectives of the College, integrating long-range planning into the processes of the board and its committees.

• Review performance and effectiveness of the President. As needed, recruit and appoint the President of the College.

• Recognize the distinction between management of the College and its governance: the board is a corporate body that approves College policies and monitors their implementation and the administration is responsible for day-to-day management.

• Maintain an appropriate degree of confidentiality of board and committee processes and protect the confidentiality of the executive sessions of the board. Individual trustees have a responsibility to support majority action, even if they disagree.

• Serve willingly on board committees and accept leadership positions and other special assignments when asked.

• Serve the College as a whole, rather than represent the interests of any constituency, according to individual judgment and conscience. Trustees should not make judgments on the basis of information received from individuals or groups who have a perceived or real grievance or particular cause. Substantive information should be referred to the President or the Board of Trustees' Chair; only they are authorized to speak for the College or its governing board.

• Oversee the College’s resource development efforts and engage actively in all aspects of fundraising.

• Support the College financially by taking the lead in gift giving and serving as an example to others in the Wellesley community. Within their capacity to do so, Trustees are expected to make Wellesley one of their highest charitable-giving priorities. While it is expected that most trustees will assume their expenses associated with attending board meetings, for the Young Alumnae Trustee it is recognized this is likely to be more difficult. Therefore, as needed, all travel expenses for board meetings will be paid by the College.

• Avoid any situation that could cause even the appearance of a conflict of interest. Any potential or actual conflict should be disclosed and handled in accordance with board policy.