Adopted on May 16, 2006
The Nominating and Governance Committees ("Committees") are standing Committees of the Boards of Trustees ("Boards") of TIAA-CREF Funds ("Funds"), established to perform certain oversight functions for the Boards, to the extent permissible under applicable laws, with respect to promoting the best interests of the Funds and their shareholders through the implementation of sound governance policies and practices.
The organizational documents and the resolutions of the respective Boards, provide for the Boards' delegation of the authority, duties and responsibilities granted hereunder. The Committee shall address internal governance issues of the Funds. This Charter of the Committees, which has been approved by the Boards, constitutes a statement of the respective Committees' authority, structure, duties and responsibilities. It provides guidelines for the Committees' interactions with their respective Boards and the management of the Funds.
The Committees shall have authority to retain or obtain advice from internal or external advisors as appropriate, and shall have sole authority to (i) retain and terminate any search firm to be used to identify potential trustees, (ii) retain and terminate independent consultants to assist in the evaluation of trustee compensation, and (iii) approve fees and other retention terms for such consultants. The Committees may also appoint subcommittees.
Each Committee shall have at least three members (including the chair), and only independent trustees may be members. Trustees shall be considered independent as long as they are not "interested persons" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and otherwise independent in accordance with other applicable laws, rules, regulations and policies of the Boards pertaining to director independence. The Committees shall determine whether or not a member meets applicable independence requirements. Following the recommendation of the Committees, the Boards shall appoint members of the Committees, including the chair, annually. A majority of the members of the Committees shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Committees.
Each Committee shall meet at least three times annually, or more frequently as circumstances require. The Chairperson of the Committees, in consultation with the other Committee members, shall direct the meeting agendas and determine the frequency and length of the Committee meetings. The Committees shall regularly report to the Boards and shall regularly submit approved minutes of its meetings to the Boards.
The Committees shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
Approved by: Chairperson of the TIAA-CREF Nominating and Governance Committees
1. For TIAA Separate Account VA-1, this refers to the Management Committee.
2. TIAA-CREF Funds include CREF, TIAA-CREF Funds, TIAA Separate Account VA-1 and TIAA-CREF Life Funds.
3. The bylaws for CREF; the Declarations of Trust for TIAA-CREF Funds and TIAA-CREF Life Funds; and the Rules and Regulations for TIAA Separate Account VA-1.
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