(a) (1) The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall consist of twelve (12) members appointed by the Governor as follows:

(A) Three (3) members shall be selected from the current or recent membership of the boards of public two-year colleges. If the person selected is serving on the membership of the board of a public two-year campus, the person shall relinquish his or her membership on the board;

(B) Three (3) members shall be selected from the current or recent membership of the boards of public four-year colleges or university campuses. If the person selected is serving on the membership of the board of a public four-year campus, the person shall relinquish his or her membership on the board; and

(C)

(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 campus.

(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 board shall be appointed from any one (1) congressional district as the districts exist at the time of the appointment.

(3) No more than two (2) members of the board at any one (1) time shall be graduates of an undergraduate program of any one (1) state university or college.

(b)

(1) After the appointment of the initial board, the members to be appointed from recent or current boards of two-year and four-year campuses shall be appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the Senate.

(2) The Governor shall consult the Presidents Council before making an appointment under this section.

(c) Vacancies on the board shall be filled for the unexpired terms, and the appointments shall be made in the same manner as the positions vacated.

(d)

(1) The members of the board shall serve staggered terms of six (6) years.

(2) The terms of two (2) members shall expire each year.

(3) The members may serve no more than two (2) terms.

(e) An intensive orientation program designed by the council shall be mandatory for board members.

(f) The board annually shall elect from its membership a chair and other officers necessary to carry on its business.

(g)

(1) The 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 board shall, at the times that it desires, meet on the campuses of the respective institutions of higher learning in the state.

(h) Members of the board shall serve without compensation but may receive expense reimbursement in accordance with § 25-16-901 et seq.