Section 2.1: Degree-granting Authority

Judgment of Compliance

Requirement

The institution has degree-granting authority from the appropriate government agency or agencies.

Narrative

McNeese State University is in compliance with Core Requirement 2.1.

The University is authorized to award associate, bachelor, master, and specialist degrees by the University of Louisiana System Board of Regents as prescribed in Louisiana Revised Statutes. The State of Louisiana has a two-tiered governing structure for higher education. The following statement articulates the commitment to shared governance between the two governing boards: “The responsibilities of the Board of Regents and those of the four management boards are carefully drawn to ensure a balance and distinction between coordinating, planning and policy-making and management implementation [. . .]." The Board of Regents is a policy-making and coordinating board only; it is not directly involved in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the various college campuses.

Oversight for day-to-day operations falls to one of the four higher education systems: The Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College System, The University of Louisiana System, The Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College System and the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. The University of Louisiana System is responsible for the management and supervision of McNeese State University as stipulated by Louisiana Revised Statute RS17:3217: “The University of Louisiana system is composed of the institutions under the supervision and management of the Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities [. . .]." Under Louisiana Revised Statute RS17:3351, the Board of Regents is the appropriate government agency which authorizes the University to award degrees:

Part VI: POWERS AND DUTIES OF MANAGEMENT BOARDS

3351: General powers, duties, and functions of college and university boards

A. Subject only to the powers of the Board of Regents specifically enumerated in Article VIII, Section 5 of the Constitution of Louisiana, and as otherwise provided by law, each postsecondary system management board as a body corporate shall have authority to exercise power necessary to supervise and manage the institution of postsecondary education under its control, including, but not limited to the following: [. . .] (15) Award certificates, confer degrees and issue diplomas certifying the same (R.S. 17:3351 (A)(5)(15)).

The Board of Supervisors acknowledges its authority to award degrees in its Bylaws:

C. Other Duties Powers, and Functions.

In its supervision and management of the institutions under its administration, the Board shall have the authority to [. . .] (15) award certificates, confer degrees, and issue diplomas certifying the same, as well as adopt, amend, or repeal rules and regulations pertaining to the conferring of degrees [. . .]. (Board of Supervisors Bylaws)

Louisiana Revised Statute R.S. 17:3352 articulates the conditions under which boards may confer degrees:

3352. Degrees; conditions

A. Each board shall confer degrees evidencing satisfactory completion of the principal courses of study and award diplomas in certification thereof at the colleges and universities under its jurisdiction. However, no degree shall be issued to a student who has failed to comply with all grade point requirements for obtaining such degree as published in the institution's catalog. Each board may provide for the issuance of certificates to evidence satisfactory pursuance of studies not leading to a degree. Any board also may confer appropriate honorary degrees on any persons who have made substantial achievements in literary, artistic, scientific, or technical fields of endeavor, but no degree, whether honorary or earned, shall be conferred except by vote of the board upon the recommendation of the president or chief administrative officer of the system, head of the college or university, and of the faculty of the appropriate college, school, or division of a college or university.

B. All earned degrees and certificates conferred by each board shall be recognized by the courts and other officials of Louisiana as entitling the graduates holding such degrees to the same rights, privileges and immunities in the state of Louisiana as the diplomas, degrees or certificates of any other institution of learning.

The University affirms its authorization to award degrees in the McNeese State University 2006-07 Catalog:

McNeese achieved Commission on Colleges/Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation in 1954 and maintains its regional accreditation status as a Level IV institution authorized to award associate, bachelor, master, and specialist degrees. The University also provides opportunities for continuing education in support of its mission to value lifelong learning. As a member of the University of Louisiana System and a selective admissions institution, McNeese offers degrees through six academic colleges: Business, Education, Engineering and Technology, Liberal Arts, Nursing, and Science. (Catalog, 15)

Supporting Evidence

Louisiana State Constitution Article VIII, Section 5, Board of Regents

Louisiana Revised Statutes Powers and Duties of Management Boards (Section A, 15)

Louisiana Revised Statutes 17:3352 Degrees, Conditions

ULS System Bylaws (Section V, C, 15)

Board of Regents Constitutional Authority (see Article VIII, Section 5, D 1 and 2)

RS 17:3217 University of Louisiana System

Louisiana Board of Regents Governance