The Council is the governing body of 5CLIR, with authority to manage all educational, organizational, and budget matters of 5CLIR. The Council consists of six officers plus nine additional elected members. The Executive Committee is comprised of the officers. The nine at-large Council members are elected to staggered three-year terms.
The Historian is appointed by the President, with approval of Council, for a three-year term, reappointed on a year-to-year basis. The Liaison to Five Colleges, Inc. is appointed by the Executive Committee for a three-year term, reappointed on a year-to-year basis. The Ombudsman is appointed by the President, with approval of Council, for a one-year term, reappointed on a year-to-year basis.
2021-2022 5CLIR Council Members
| President* | Tyll van Geel | 6/30/2022 |
| Treasurer* | Monroe Rabin | 6/30/2022 |
| Asst. Treasurer* | Gene Fisher | 6/30/2022 |
| Vice President* | Frances Borden | 6/30/2022 |
| Secretary* | Darcy Johnson | 6/30/2022 |
| Past President* | Nancy Denig | 6/30/2022 |
| At Large | Elisa Campbell | 6/30/2022 |
| James Lee | 6/30/2022 | |
| Kip Fonsh | 6/30/2022 | |
| Kay Klausewitz | 6/30/2023 | |
| Pam Daniels | 6/30/2023 | |
| Bob Cohen | 6/30/2023 | |
| Michael Miller | 6/30/2024 | |
| Catharine Porter | 6/30/2024 | |
| Katy van Geel | 6/30/2024 | |
| Appointed positions | ||
| Five College Liaison | Larry Ambs | |
| Ombudsperson | Anne Lombard | |
| Historian | Sara Wright | |
| *=Executive Committee |