The University organization chart
In Topic four, you read information about the university organization chart. As you may recall, the Board of Trustees was at the top of the organization chart. That means that the Board has the ultimate responsibility for the working of the university.
The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has much to say about the Board:
SECTION 4: Governing Board The institution’s governing board holds in trust the fundamental autonomy and ultimate well-being of the institution.
As the corporate body, the board ensures both the presence of viable leadership and strong financial resources to fulfill the institutional mission. Integral to strong governance is the absence of undue influence from external sources.
1. The institution has a governing board of at least five members that: (a) is the legal body with specific authority over the institution.
(b) exercises fiduciary oversight of the institution.
(c) ensures that both the presiding officer of the board and a majority of other voting members of the board are free of any contractual, employment, personal, or familial financial interest in the institution.
(d) is not controlled by a minority of board members or by organizations or institutions separate from it. (e) is not presided over by the chief executive officer of the institution. (Governing board characteristics)
2. The governing board
a. ensures the regular review of the institution’s mission. (Mission review) b. ensures a clear and appropriate distinction between the policy-making function of the board and the responsibility of the administration and faculty to administer and implement policy. (Board/administrative distinction)
c. selects and regularly evaluates the institution’s chief executive officer. (CEO evaluation/selection)
d. defines and addresses potential conflict of interest for its members. (Conflict of interest)
e. has appropriate and fair processes for the dismissal of a board member. (Board dismissal)
f. protects the institution from undue influence by external persons or bodies. (External influence)
g. defines and regularly evaluates its responsibilities and expectations. (Board self-evaluation)
So the Board has three key responsibilities:
· hiring and evaluating the President,
· approving policies of the university, and
· ensuring the financial stability of the university.
Board membership varies from university to university. Each Board member may be asked to serve on a sub-committee of the Board in order to facilitate the work of the group. For example, Mississippi College has a 30-member boardLinks to an external site. who have various qualifications that should align with the University’s mission. The Board of Trustees typically uses a committee system to accomplish its work. MC uses the following Board committees:
1. Audit Committee
2. Business Affairs Committee
3. Academic Affairs Committee
4. Executive Committee
5. Personnel Committee
6. Development Committee
7. Christian Life/Student Affairs Committee
8. Law Committee
9. Building Committee
Auburn University uses a 16-member board. Visit Auburn’s website at http://www.auburn.edu/administration/trustees/Links to an external site. .
Baylor University refers to its Board as a Board of Regents. Visit Baylor’s website at https://www.baylor.edu/boardofregents/index.php?id=937243Links to an external site.
Wesleyan University uses a 30-member board. Visit Wesleyan’s website at https://www.wesleyan.edu/trustees/Links to an external site. .
As you can see, Boards of Trustees come in all shapes and sizes.
In Mississippi, all private universities have their own boards. The Junior/Community Colleges have one board called the State Board for Community Colleges. Please visit its website at https://www.mccb.edu/Links to an external site. .
Mississippi’s senior colleges and universities have their own board called the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. Please visit their website at http://www.ihl.state.ms.us/Links to an external site. .
Board members are chosen for a myriad of reasons. Since board members are responsible for the fiscal health of the university, they are expected to have knowledge of financial statements. Typically, they represent successful people who have knowledge that is relevant to the organization or university they oversee. An effective board should have diverse backgrounds—experiences, professions, genders, ages, races
