Faculty Service As Board Members In The Non-Profit Organizational Arena: An Act Of Altruism Complicated By Sarbanes Oxley

Abstract

Throughout higher education, a common approach to evaluate faculty consists of three components: scholarship, teaching, and service.  The service component can be broadly interpreted to encompass two themes, service on campus via committee assignments or service off campus with organizations in the surrounding community.  Serving as a board member for a local non-profit organization often fulfills the required service component.  Unfortunately, many board members do not have a clear understanding of what this responsibility entails. This paper will look at the responsibilities a board member assumes within the non-profit organization.  Consideration will also be given to these responsibilities from the perspective of Sarbanes-Oxley.