(a)
(1) The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall consist of twelve (12) members appointed by the Governor as follows:
(A)
(i) Six (6) members who shall be:
(a) Qualified electors of the State of Arkansas; and
(b) Graduates of public two-year or four-year institutions of higher education within the state.
(ii) If an appointee under this subdivision (a)(1)(A) is serving as a member of a board of a two-year or four-year institution of higher education at the time of appointment to the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the appointee shall relinquish his or her membership on the board of the two-year or four-year institution of higher education; and
(B)
(i) Six (6) members shall be selected from business, industry, education, agriculturally related industry, and medical services and shall not be current members of a board of a public two-year or four-year institution of higher education.
(ii) At least one (1) of the appointees shall have a strong interest in and commitment to economic and workforce development.
(iii) At least one (1) of the appointees shall have experience in the knowledge-based technology field.
(2) No more than four (4) members of the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall be appointed from any one (1) congressional district as the districts exist at the time of the appointment.
(b) Vacancies on the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall be filled for the unexpired terms, and the appointments shall be made in the same manner as the positions vacated.
(c)
(1) The members of the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall serve staggered terms of six (6) years.
(2) The terms of two (2) members shall expire each year.
(d) An intensive orientation program designed by the Presidents Council shall be mandatory for members of the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
(e) The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board annually shall elect from its membership the Chair of the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board and other officers necessary to carry on its business.
(f)
(1) The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall meet at least one (1) time during each calendar quarter and at other times upon the call of the chair or of any other four (4) members.
(2) The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall, at the times that it desires, meet on the campuses of the respective public institutions of higher education in the state.
(g) Members of the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall serve without compensation but may receive expense reimbursement in accordance with § 25-16-901 et seq.