The executive board of the college or university governing board has the central purpose of strengthening the board's performance by helping it function efficiently and effectively. Because the executive committee can undermine trustee morale by abusing its authority, the entire governing board must decide the extent of the powers delegated to the executive committee; this is typically accomplished in the bylaws which specify what the committee "can't" do; thus, the committee is implicitly empowered to act on all other matters. The committee should have a membership of approximately one-third the board's size, composed of the board's officers and the chairs of standing committees. The board chair should also chair the executive committee, and the committee should not meet more often than the board. The executive committee agenda should consist of: significant matters that cannot wait for a scheduled board meeting; matters referred to it by the board for study and possible resolution; issues generated by the committee itself; and, to conserve board time, routine matters requiring pro forma action. The responsibilities of the executive committee typically include: ensuring that the board fulfills its responsibilities; serving as a sounding board for the chief executive and administration; serving as the mechanism to oversee the institutional planning process and progress toward goals and objectives; monitoring the chief executive's performance, morale, health, and compensation; and acting on behalf of the full board in emergencies. (MSE)