The Board of Trustees of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College shall be composed of 25 members, whose term of office shall be six years, except as to those who are members ex officio and to those who are student members. Three members shall be appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate. During the legislative session of 1955, the Governor shall appoint one member for a term of two years, one member for a term of four years, and one member for a term of six years and it shall be the duty of the Governor during the session of the Legislature prior to expiration of the term of office of any of the members to appoint for the term of six years a successor to the member whose term is expiring. The terms of office of the Trustees shall expire on the last day of February in the respective years of expiration, and the terms of office of their successors shall thereafter begin on March 1 and expire on the last day of February.

Nine members shall be those who have been heretofore elected by the Legislature as members of the Board of Trustees of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, and whose terms have not expired, and their successors, and it shall be the duty of the Legislature at its session during which the terms of office of any class of the members expire to elect three successor members for terms of six years. The terms shall commence on March 1 in the year of election. The nine Trustees and their successors shall also constitute the Board of Trustees of the Vermont Agricultural College.

Nine members shall be those who have been heretofore elected on behalf of the University of Vermont as members of the Board of Trustees of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College and whose terms have not expired, and their successors, and it shall be the duty of said nine Trustees to elect successors to fill vacancies occurring among their number upon expiration of the terms of office of any of them or otherwise. The nine Trustees and their successors shall also constitute the Board of Trustees of the University of Vermont.

Two members shall be students enrolled at the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College. Their terms of office shall be two years. Prior to February 1, 1978, the Associated Directors for the Appointment of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College Student Trustees, Incorporated shall select and appoint one student for a term of one year and one student for a term of two years, both of whom shall be enrolled as full-time undergraduate or full-time graduate students. Annually thereafter, the Directors shall meet to select and appoint one student trustee for a term of two years in accordance with the provisions of this section. The Directors shall fill any vacancy occurring among the student trustee members upon the expiration of the term of office of any of them or otherwise. A student shall be eligible to serve as a Trustee, provided the student is a full-time undergraduate or full-time graduate student matriculating in accordance with the degree qualifications and requirements established by the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College and if the student remains in that status throughout the length of the term of office. The term of office of a Student Trustee shall begin on March 1 following the date of appointment, and the term of office shall end the last day of February in the year of expiration. Any student elected hereunder shall have reached the age of 18.

All Trustees so appointed and elected as hereinbefore provided, shall, together with his or her Excellency, the Governor of the State, and the President, who shall be, ex officio, a member, constitute an entire Board of Trustees of the corporation known as the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, who shall have the entire management and control of its property and affairs, and in all things relating thereto, except in the elections to fill vacancies, as aforesaid, shall act together jointly, as one entire Board of Trustees; provided, that all future elections or appointments to the Board of Trustees shall be made with special reference to preventing any religious denominational preponderance in the Board. The Board shall annually, at its first regular meeting after the election of new trustees, elect one of its members to serve as Chair.