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Brigham Young University. Board of Trustees

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1903-

Administrative History

The Brigham Young University Board of Trustees (est. 1903) is the highest administrative authority for Brigham Young University and acts as the final policy-making body of the University, holding the power to make all rules and regulations necessary for the government, continuance, and maintenance of the University.

The Board of Trustees may perform any action that they feel necessary and proper for the welfare and government of the institution, so long as their actions do not violate the law, the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the University. As such, the Board of Trustees has power to fill all vacancies in the University and final say in the hiring, promoting and dismissing of University faculty; to set and determine the curriculum to be pursued at the University; to sell or mortgage property; and to locate, change or modify buildings as they see fit.

When the University was created in 1903, it inherited the earlier structure for the Board of Trustees of the Brigham Young Academy. In this form, the Board consisted of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a few General Authorities of the Church, prominent local individuals, and descendants of Brigham Young. In 1939, the Board of Trustees was restructured by Heber J. Grant as part of a movement to streamline the LDS Church's educational programs, and all members of the General Church Board of Education became members of the Board of Trustees. In this form, the Board exists today as the highest authoritative body of the Brigham Young University.

The Board of Trustees is presided over by the sitting President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the following have served as its presidents: Joseph F. Smith (1903-1918), Heber J. Grant (1918-1945), George Albert Smith (1945-1951), David O. McKay (1951-1970), Joseph Fielding Smith (1970-1972), Harold B. Lee (1972-1973), Spencer W. Kimball (1973-1985), Ezra Taft Benson (1985-1994), Howard W. Hunter (1994-1995), Gordon B. Hinckley (1995-2008), Thomas S. Monson (2008-2018), Russell M. Nelson (2018- ).

Citation:
BYU organizational history, via WWW, April 1, 2013 (Brigham Young University Board of Trustees est. 1903, highest administrative authority for Brigham Young University, acts as the final policy-making body of the University, holding the power to make all rules and regulations necessary for the government, continuance, and maintenance of the University, may perform any action necessary and proper for the welfare and government of the institution, so long as their actions do not violate the law, the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the University, power to fill all vacancies in the University and final say in the hiring, promoting and dismissing of University faculty, set and determine the curriculum to be pursued at the University, sell or mortgage property, and to locate, change or modify buildings as they see fit, inherited the structure for the Board of Trustees of the Brigham Young Academy, consisted of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a few General Authorities of the Church, prominent local individuals, and descendants of Brigham Young, in 1939 the Board of Trustees was restructured by Heber J. Grant as part of a movement to streamline the LDS Church's educational programs and all members of the General Church Board of Education became members of the Board of Trustees, the Board exists today as the highest authoritative body of the Brigham Young University, presided over by the sitting President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph F. Smith (1903-1918), Heber J. Grant (1918-1945), George Albert Smith (1945-1951), David O. McKay (1951-1970), Joseph Fielding Smith (1970-1972), Harold B. Lee (1972-1973), Spencer W. Kimball (1973-1985), Ezra Taft Benson (1985-1994), Howard W. Hunter (1994-1995), Gordon B. Hinckley (1995-2008), Thomas S. Monson (2008-2018), Russell M. Nelson (2018- ))

Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:

Board of Trustees meeting minutes, 1954-1970

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 2 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains copies of the minutes from Brigham Young University Board of Trustees meetings. Materials date from between 1954 and 1970.

Dates: 1954-1970

Board of Trustees minutes, 1875-1985

 Series
Identifier: UA 6 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains minutes from meetings of the Board of Trustees. Includes records of administrative actions, including personnel decisions. Materials date from between 1875 and 1985.

Dates: 1875-1985

Board of Trustees minutes and statistical reports, 1951-1972

 Series
Identifier: UA 6 Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains minutes and statistics from the Board of Trustees. Also includes information on fund-raising activities. Materials date from between 1951 and 1972.

Dates: 1951-1972

Board of Trustees records

 Collection
Identifier: UA 6
Scope and Contents

Contains the minutes from meetings of the Brigham Young University Board of Trustees. The minutes deal with the administration of Brigham Young University. They include information on faculty, finances, students, athletics, and other matters.

Dates: 1875-1985

Indices to the Board of Trustees minutes

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 5635
Scope and Contents

Contains indices of minutes for various boards and committees tied to the administration of Brigham Young University. Includes index cards with information concerning administrative matters as well as information concerning individuals. Dates range from 1919 to 1988.

Dates: 1919-1988