Board of Visitors

Functional Statement
The Board of Visitors for the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine serves as an external advisory body to the Dean of the School. Members of the Board have attained prominence in their respective careers and are chosen because of their value in providing sound advice and counsel to the Dean.

The Board is advisory in nature. It has five primary functions:

• to provide advice and counsel to the Dean on matters for which such external advice is essential, such as long range planning, needs of the profession and consumers, human and fiscal resources, and physical facilities;
• to establish an important link between the School of Veterinary Medicine and external constituencies
• to assist in major development efforts
• to serve as an advocacy group for the School
• to provide advice on programs and projects which are vital to issues of or related to animal and human health.

The Board functions at the pleasure of the Dean. Meetings are held twice yearly, during the first week of April and the first week of October. Detailed agenda and supporting materials are provided two weeks prior to each meeting. The only officer of the Board is the Chairperson, nominated by the Nominating Committee and appointed by the Dean. The Chairperson serves a two-year term. The Dean and Chairperson may constitute sub-committees as appropriate.

The Nominating Committee and its Chair are appointed by the Dean and should be composed of one member from each of the membership years. The Chair should rotate annually and be held by a member who has served at least one year on the Board. The Nominating Committee, upon consultation with the Dean and other members of the Board, recommends new Board members. Membership begins on March 1 and terms expire on the last day of February.

Board membership is for a three-year term, renewable one time, with the possibility of reappointment after a one-year hiatus. Six new members are appointed annually, giving a total membership of eighteen. Board members who have served a maximum of two three-year terms automatically become members of the Emeritus Board of Visitors. Past Chairpersons are eligible for a third consecutive three-year term on the Board and are the only members exempt from the one-time maximum renewable membership requirement.

Membership on the Board of Visitors is a recognition of personal and professional achievement. The School acknowledges the need for advice from the Board's members and hopes for active participation in all the Board's stated goals. Appointment should be considered among the highest honors given by the School.