Bylaws, Governance Policies, Board of Regents Records

An act of the Nebraska Legislature, passed on February 15, 1869, established the University of Nebraska and created a Board of Regents as the governing body. Originally there were twelve regents, nine of them chosen by the Legislature in a joint session. The three remaining regents, the chancellor, the superintendent of public instruction, and the governor, were ex officio members. In 1877, after the approval of a new state constitution in 1875, six regents, elected by state electors, governed the university, with an individual term running six years. The state constitution amended in 1920 stated that regents were elected by popular vote from the six Nebraska districts, with two regents elected every two years. The Board consists of a president, vice-president, and a secretary appointed by the board. The Board of Regent focuses on general university policies and administration.