How Can Consent Agendas Reduce Board Meeting Times?

Consent Agendas: A Smarter Way to Handle Routine Board Matters

A consent agenda helps boards efficiently manage routine or non-controversial matters by grouping them into a single section for quick approval. This streamlined approach allows board members to review and approve multiple items in one go, saving valuable meeting time.

What Goes into a Consent Agenda?

Common items suitable for a consent agenda include:

• CEO and chair reports

• Committee or working group updates

• General appointment announcements

• Approval of previous meeting minutes

How Consent Agendas Work

1. Preparation – Before the meeting, the board secretary or relevant staff compile routine items that don’t need in-depth discussion, such as previous meeting minutes, standard financial reports, or committee updates.

2. Distribution – The consent agenda is shared with board members along with the full meeting agenda, giving them time to review everything beforehand.

3. Discussion (if needed) – At the meeting, the chair asks if any board member wants to pull an item for discussion. If no one objects, the entire consent agenda is approved without debate.

4. Vote – If an item is pulled for discussion, it’s briefly addressed before being voted on separately. If no items are pulled, the chair calls for a motion to approve the consent agenda as a whole. Once seconded, a vote is taken.

5. Approval – If there are no objections, the consent agenda is approved, allowing the board to move swiftly to more strategic discussions.

By adopting consent agendas, boards can keep meetings focused, efficient, and productive — spending less time on routine admin and more on big-picture decision-making.

[Updated: March 2025]