WHEREAS, The Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, with the approval of the Governor of the Commonwealth given on April 7, 1832, did enact "that the Gettysburg Gymnasium be, and hereby is, erected into a College, for the education of youth in the learned languages, the arts, sciences and useful literature", and
WHEREAS, the name and style of the College became Pennsylvania College of Gettysburg, and
WHEREAS, the reason given for the chartering of the College was 'The literary and scientific institution in Gettysburg, Adams County, in this Commonwealth, known by the name of Gettysburg Gymnasium, is resorted to by a large number of young men from different portions of this State and elsewhere, and promises to exert a salutary influence in advancing the cause of liberal education, particularly among the German portion of our fellow citizens,' and
WHEREAS, by an amendment approved November 14, 1921, by the Court of Common Pleas of Adams County, Pennsylvania, the corporate name of the College was changed to Gettysburg College, and
WHEREAS, under the Charter of April 7, 1832, the College was enabled to serve the cause of liberal education in changing times,
NOW, THEREFORE, the Charter of Gettysburg College as restated and amended shall provide:
ARTICLE I - NAME AND LOCATION
- The name of this corporation is GETTYSBURG COLLEGE.
- The registered office of the Corporation is Pennsylvania Hall, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
- The purpose of Gettysburg College is to serve the cause of liberal education in changing times, by providing a community of learning both inside and outside the classroom committed to the discovery, exploration, and evaluation of the ideas and actions of humankind, and to the creative extension of that developing heritage, and the promotion of music, the arts, theater, leadership and volunteerism within the local, regional and global communities.
- The Trustees on their own initiative, or the Faculty, by and on the order of or with consent of a duly convened quorum of the Trustees, may award and confirm such degrees, as are properly granted by institutions of learning with respect to the liberal arts, sciences, or professions, or branches thereof, to such students of said College or to such other persons as by reason of their proficiency in learning, or other meritorious distinction, shall be deemed entitled thereto, and to grant to such persons, whether graduates or other persons so honored, diplomas or certificates, under the common seal of Gettysburg College, to authenticate and perpetuate the memory of such graduation or award.
ARTICLE III - GOVERNANCE
- Gettysburg College shall be under the management, direction, government and control of a Board of Trustees which shall neither exceed forty (40) nor have less than (26) in number as covered in the Bylaws.
- The Board of Trustees shall possess and exercise all powers bestowed upon it by the Constitution and statutory law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Board shall appoint the President of the College and provide administration and faculty consonant with the stated purpose of the College. The Board may from time to time delegate its authority in specific areas of responsibility by Bylaw or resolution.
- The elected members of the Board of Trustees shall be selected and serve in accordance with the Bylaws.
- Meetings of the Board of Trustees shall be called, constituted and conducted at such times and in such manner as the Bylaws may provide.
ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP OF THE CORPORATION
The corporation shall have no members.
ARTICLE V – ASSETS
The corporation shall maintain, at all times, an unencumbered endowment of no less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00)
ARTICLE VI - FACULTY
The President, Provost, and the several professors and preceptors of professional rank for the time being holding such respective positions, shall constitute the Faculty of Gettysburg College, and, subject to such rules and regulations as may be enacted by the Trustees from time to time, shall have full charge of the government and discipline of the students of said College. It is intended that this corporation will employ regularly a minimum of eight persons as members of the faculty in the various categories of professor, associate professor, assistant professor, and instructor.
ARTICLE VII - REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION AND COURSES OF STUDY
The requirements for admission to, and of the courses of study to be pursued in, the institution shall be as stated in the most recent catalog issued from time to time by the College.
ARTICLE VIII - NON-PROFIT CHARACTER AND TERM OF EXISTENCE
Gettysburg College is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
No part of the net earnings of the college shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its trustees, officers or other private persons, except that the college shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of its purposes. No substantial part of the activities of the College shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the College shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements), any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the college shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
Upon the dissolution of Gettysburg College, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a Court of competent jurisdiction of the county in which the principal office of the college is then located, exclusively for such purposes, or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.
ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS
Amendments to this Charter may be undertaken at any time in accordance with the statutory law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as it may exist from time to time.