Ind. Code ch. 23-13-20

in effect

Ind. Code § 23-13-20-1 Body corporate and politic; powers of board

Sec. 1. The University of Evansville is a body corporate and politic. The board of trustees of the university has perpetual succession and has full power to do the following: (1) Make contracts. (2) Sue and be sued. (3) Plead and to be impleaded. (4) Acquire, hold, and convey real and personal property, manage and dispose of property and all money belonging to the corporation in the manner that seems to the trustees to be best adapted to promote the objects and purposes of the university. (5) Own, lease, mortgage, pledge, sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of real and personal property, to borrow money, and to issue, sell, and pledge its obligations and evidences of indebtedness, and to mortgage its property to secure the payment of indebtedness. (6) Have and to use a common seal and to alter and renew the seal at pleasure. (7) Make bylaws consistent with the charter of the university. (8) In conjunction with the faculty, confer upon those whom they deem worthy all honors and degrees usually conferred by colleges and universities. As added by P.L.1-1989, SEC.49.

Ind. Code § 23-13-20-2 Objects of corporation

Sec. 2. The objects of the corporation are to promote the general interests of education, and to qualify men and women to engage in the employments and professions of society and to discharge honorably and usefully the various duties of life. The profession of a particular religious faith shall not be required of a person who becomes a student. As added by P.L.1-1989, SEC.49.

Ind. Code § 23-13-20-3 Location of university

Sec. 3. The university shall be located at or near the city of Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana. As added by P.L.1-1989, SEC.49.

Ind. Code § 23-13-20-4 Board of trustees; members; amendment of charter; bylaws

Sec. 4. (a) The university has forty-one (41) trustees. (b) The board of trustees consists of the following members: (1) Twenty-four (24) members elected at large by the members of the board of trustees. (2) Six (6) members elected by the South Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church. (3) Three (3) members elected by the Alumni Association of the university. (4) Three (3) members elected by the members of the freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior classes of the university, voting jointly. (5) Three (3) members elected by the North Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church. (6) The Bishop of the Indiana Area of The United Methodist Church, who serves as an ex officio member. (7) The president of the university, who serves as an ex officio member. (c) A trustee serves a term of three (3) years and until the trustee's successor is elected and qualified. (d) The university may amend its charter concerning the following: (1) The number of persons on its board of trustees. (2) The structure, composition, and organization of its board of trustees. (3) The authority and procedure for and the manner of electing or appointing members of the board of trustees. (e) The university may amend its charter under subsection (d) by: (1) the adoption of a resolution by a majority vote of its board of trustees; and (2) filing proof of the adoption, verified by at least a majority of the board of trustees, and sworn to before a person authorized to administer oaths, in the office of the secretary of state. (f) The charter is amended as of the date the required proof is filed in the office of the secretary of state. (g) Except as provided in this chapter, the bylaws adopted by the board of trustees may prescribe the following: (1) The qualifications required for members of the board. (2) The manner of election of the members of the board. (3) The terms of the members of the board. (4) The duties and powers of the board. (5) The manner of conducting the business of the board. (6) The time and place for conducting meetings of the board. (7) The manner for filling vacancies on the board. (8) The method and procedure for altering the current number of members of the board. As added by P.L.1-1989, SEC.49.

Ind. Code § 23-13-20-5 Board of trustees; officers; bonds; quorum; majority rule

Sec. 5. (a) The trustees shall elect the following officers: (1) A chairman. (2) One (1) or more vice chairmen. (3) A secretary. (4) A treasurer. (5) The assistant secretaries, assistant treasurers, and other officers provided for in the bylaws. (b) The treasurer and all assistant treasurers shall give a bond in the penal sum and with securities approved by the trustees before entering upon the duties of office. (c) Fourteen (14) trustees constitute a quorum for the transaction of all official business. The majority of the members present at a meeting determine the action of the board. As added by P.L.1-1989, SEC.49.

Ind. Code § 23-13-20-6 Board of trustees; election of president and instructors; courses; tuition; ex officio and faculty members

Sec. 6. (a) The board of trustees has full power to elect in the manner and for the time it deems expedient, a president of the university, together with the professors and instructors necessary to form an efficient faculty for the instruction of the various courses taught. The courses shall be arranged and determined by the trustees in conjunction with the faculty and the university senate. (b) A professor or instructor may not be elected by the board of trustees except upon nomination of the president of the university. The trustees and faculty shall fix the rate of tuition and fees to be paid by the students. (c) The ex officio members of the board of trustees have the rights, privileges, and duties of the elected trustees, including the right to vote. Except for the president of the university, a member of the board may not be a member of the faculty. If an elected member of the board becomes a member of the faculty, the member is removed from the board. The vacancy shall be filled by the board of trustees until the next regular election. As added by P.L.1-1989, SEC.49.

Ind. Code § 23-13-20-7 Meetings; notice of special meetings; removal of trustee

Sec. 7. (a) The board of trustees shall meet each May or June in the city of Evansville on a date determined by the board. The president of the university, the chairman of the board of trustees, the faculty of the university, any five (5) of the trustees, or the executive committee appointed by the board may call a special meeting of the board. Ten (10) days written notice of a special meeting must be mailed to each member of the board of trustees at the member's last known address. (b) A working majority of the board of trustees may, at any time, for good cause, declare a vacancy on the board due to lack of interest or otherwise by a member, and appoint a successor. The retired member shall receive notice of the removal by mail sent to the last known address of the member. The trustee appointed to fill the vacancy serves until the next election by the appointing authority. As added by P.L.1-1989, SEC.49. Amended by P.L.3-1989, SEC.139.

Ind. Code § 23-13-20-8 Application of funds; donations, devises, and bequests

Sec. 8. The board of trustees shall faithfully apply all funds collected by the board according to its best judgment, in the erection of suitable buildings, purchase of equipment, care of buildings and grounds, the purchase of real and personal property, and in payment of salaries to instructors, officers, and agents. The trustees may receive for and on behalf of the university, donations, devises, and bequests made either generally for the benefit of the university or for purposes in harmony with the objects of the university. As added by P.L.1-1989, SEC.49.

Ind. Code § 23-13-20-9 Patronage of United Methodist Church

Sec. 9. The university is under the patronage of the Indiana Area of The United Methodist Church and is entitled to all the privileges and benefits accruing from time to time to institutions of The United Methodist Church from patronizing conferences. As added by P.L.1-1989, SEC.49.

Ind. Code § 23-13-20-10 John C. Moore building

Sec. 10. A major building on the campus of the university must bear the name of John C. Moore to honor and perpetuate the memory of the founder of Moores Hill College. As added by P.L.1-1989, SEC.49.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/23Fetched: 10/17/2026