The Board of Regents consists of the Commissioner of Education and twelve citizens of the State of Florida appointed by the Governor, one of the Regents being a full- time student of the State University System. The Governor's appointments to the Board of Regents are subject to approval of three members of the Cabinet and confirmation by the Senate. Except for the Commissioner of Education and except for the full-time student member who serves for one year, the Regents serve terms of six-years. Except in counties with a population in excess of 900,000 no member shall be selected from any county to serve with any other member from the same county, with the exception of the student member, who shall be elected at large, and the Commissioner of Education.
Members may be removed for cause at any time upon the concurrence of a majority of the members of the State Board of Education. The Regents serve without pay but are remunerated for actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties and in traveling to and from meetings.
The Board of Regents, through the Division of Universities of the Department of Education, has the responsibility "for adopting systemwide rules and policies; planning for the future needs of the State University System; planning the programmatic, financial and physical development of the system; reviewing and evaluating the instructional, research, and service programs at the universities; coordinating program development among the universities; and monitoring the fiscal performance of the universities."
The Board of Regents appoints a Chancellor, who is the chief administrative officer of the Board. The Chancellor serves at the pleasure of the Board.
Laws governing the Board of Regents may be found in Chapters 240 and 243, Florida Statutes, 1991.