Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That Germanicus Kent, John T. Temple, Seth S. Whitman, John K. Towner, Simon P. Doty, John Quincy Rollins, Daniel H. Whitney and Benjamin Sweet, be, and they are hereby created a body corporate and politic, by the name of “Trustees of Belvidere College,” and by that name to remain and have perpetual succession. The College shall be located at or near Belvidere, in the county of Winnebago. The number of trustees shall not exceed thirteen exclusive of the president or presiding officer, who shall, ex officio, be a member of the board of trustees. For the present the aforesaid individuals shall constitute the board of trustees, who shall fill the remaining vacancies at their discretion.

Sec. 2. The object of said incorporation shall be the promotion of the general interest of education, and to qualify young men to engage in the several employments of society, and to discharge honorably and usefully the various duties of life.

Sec. 3. The corporate powers hereby bestowed shall be such only as are essential or useful in the attainment of said object, and such as are usually conferred on similar bodies corporate, to wit: To have perpetual succession; to make contracts; to sue and be sued, to plead and be impleaded; to grant and receive by its corporate name, and to do all other acts as natural persons may; to accept and acquire, purchase or sell property, real, personal, or mixed; in all lawful ways to use, employ, manage, dispose of such property, and loan all monies belonging to said corporation, in such manner, not inconsistent with law, and as shall seem to the trustees best adapted to promote the objects aforesaid; to have a common seal, and to alter or change the same; to make such by-laws as are not discordant with the laws of the United States and this State; and to confer on such persons as may be considered worthy,

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such collegiate or honorary degrees, as are usually conferred by similar institutions.

Sec. 4. The trustees of said College shall have authority, from time to time, to prescribe and regulate the course of studies pursued in said College, and in the preparatory department attached thereto; to fix the rate of tuition, room rent, and other college expenses; to appoint instructors, and such other officers and agents, or all of them, as said trustees shall deem the interests of the said College require; to fill all vacancies among instructors, officers and agents; to erect necessary buildings; to purchase books and chemical and philosophical apparatus, and other suitable means of instruction; to put in operation, if deemed expedient, a system of manual labor; to make rules for the general management of the affairs of the College, and for the regulation of the conduct of the students, and to add, as the ability of the said incorporation shall increase, and the interests of the community shall require, additional departments for the study of any or all of the liberal professions; Provided, always, That no theological department shall ever be established in said College.2

Sec. 5. If any trustee shall be chosen president of the College, his place as trustee shall be considered vacant, and the remaining trustees shall fill the vacancy. The trustees shall have power to remove any trustee from office for any dishonorable or criminal conduct; Provided, That no such removal shall take place without giving to such trustee notice of the charges exhibited against him, and an opportunity to defend himself before the board; nor unless two-thirds of the whole number of the trustees for the time being, shall concur in such removal. The trustees for the time being, in order to have perpetual succession, shall have power, as often as a trustee shall be removed from office, die, resign, or remove out of the State, to fill such vacancy. A majority of the trustees, for the time being, shall be a quorum to do business.

Sec. 6. The trustees shall faithfully apply all funds by them collected, according to their best judgment, in erecting suitable buildings; in supporting the necessary instructors, officers and agents; in procuring books, maps, charts, globes, philosophical, chemical and other apparatus, necessary to aid in the promotion of sound learning in the institution; Provided, That if any donation, devise or bequest, shall be made for particular purposes, accordant with the objects of the institution, the same shall be applied in conformity with the express condition of the donor or devisor; provided, also, That lands donated or devised as aforesaid, shall be sold or disposed of within three years from and after such donation or devise, unless the

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lands held in perpetuity by said institution, together with such donation or devise, shall not exceed six hundred and forty acres.3

Sec. 7. The treasurer always, and all other agents when required by the trustees, before entering upon the duties of their appointments, shall give bonds, respectively, for the security of the corporation, in such penal sum, and with such securities as the board of trustees shall approve. And all process against said corporation shall be by summons, and the service of the same shall be by leaving an attested copy with the president or treasurer of the College, at least thirty days before the return day thereof.

Sec. 8. The said College and its preparatory department shall be open to all denominations of christians; and the profession of any particular religious faith shall not be required of those who become students. All persons, however, may be suspended or expelled from said institution, whose habits are idle or vicious, or whose moral character is bad.4

Approved, 1st March, 1837.