McNeese State University

Section 2:
Core Requirements
2.1	2.2	2.3
2.4	2.5	2.6
2.7.1	2.7.2	2.7.3
2.7.4	2.8	2.9
2.10	2.11	2.12
Section 3:
Comprehensive Standards
3.1.1	3.2.1
3.2.2.1	3.2.2.2	3.2.2.3
3.2.2.4	3.2.3	3.2.4
3.2.5	3.2.6	3.2.7
3.2.8	3.2.9	3.2.10
3.2.11	3.2.12	3.2.13
3.2.14	3.3.1	3.4.1
3.4.2	3.4.3	3.4.4
3.4.5	3.4.6	3.4.7
3.4.8	3.4.9	3.4.10
3.4.11	3.4.12	3.4.13
3.4.14	3.5.1	3.5.2
3.6.1	3.6.2	3.6.3
3.7.1	3.7.2	3.7.3
3.7.4	3.7.5	3.8.1
3.8.2	3.8.3	3.9.1
3.9.2	3.9.3	3.10.1
3.10.2	3.10.3	3.10.4
3.10.5	3.10.6	3.10.7
Section 4:
Federal Requirements
4.1	4.2	4.3
4.4	4.5	4.6
4.7	4.8

McNeese State University
Compliance Plan for Reaffirmation

Section 3.2.1: Governance and Administration

Judgment of Compliance

Compliance

Partial Compliance

Non-compliance

Requirement

The governing board of the institution is responsible for the selection and the evaluation of the chief executive officer.

Narrative

McNeese State University is in compliance with Comprehensive Standard 3.2.1.

The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors, the governing board for McNeese State University, is responsible for the selection and evaluation of the University's chief executive officer.

Constitutional Mandate

Louisiana Revised Statute 17:3303 authorizes this body to select the presidents of universities within its system:

RS 17:3303. Heads of colleges and universities
A. There shall be a head of each college and university, who shall be appointed by its board, taking into consideration the recommendations of the president or chief executive officer of the system. The board shall adopt an appropriate title by which each head shall be designated. The head of each college and university shall serve at the pleasure of the board, at a salary fixed by the board.
B. (1) The appointment by any board of the head of a college or university is subject to confirmation by the Board of Regents. (2) The Board of Regents shall act on confirmation on the proposed head of a college within seven days of submission. Failure to do so within such time period shall constitute confirmation (Louisiana Revised Statutes R.S. 17:3303).

Board of Supervisors Authority to Select University President

The Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System Bylaws articulate the authority of the Board to select the chief executive officer of state institutions: "In its supervision and management of the institutions under its administration, the Board shall have the authority to [. . . ] elect the heads of institutions as prescribed by law" (Bylaws, C18, 9).

Presidential vacancies at member institutions within the University of Louisiana System are filled by Board of Supervisors appointment upon recommendation of the System President. The appointment follows a systematic search procedure that begins when the incumbent president notifies the Board of his/her intention to resign or retire. The process, detailed in the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors Board Rules, is outlined in summary form below: Chapter III of Rules, page III-2, Chief Executive Vacancies

• Upon notification of a president's desire to resign or retire, the Chair of the Board of Supervisors for the ULS system appoints a search committee which includes at least six board members and a faculty member from the affected institution.
• The search committee visits the campus and solicits input from the Student Government Association, Faculty Senate, and alumni associations regarding desired qualifications.
• The search committee prepares a statement of minimum qualifications for the position. Except in exceptional cases, the candidate is expected to have an earned doctorate from an accredited institution and commensurate experience at an institution of higher education.
• The Board may elect to use applicant clearing houses, national publications and networks, System and campus webpages, newspapers, other announcements, and search firms or search consultants in the search and selection process (ULS Rules, FS.III.II.A-1).
• The search committee makes its recommendation to the System President, who then selects the president.

Board of Supervisors Policy and Procedures for Evaluation of President

In addition to assuming responsibility for selecting the chief executive officer of each state institution, the Board of Supervisors also stipulates policies and procedures for evaluation of that office. The University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors Board Rules articulate the duties and responsibilities of the president and provide for regular review of performance. Evaluation of an institution’s president is intended to serve the following purposes:

• Ensure that the institution is well managed;
• Aid presidents in improving their performances;
• Ensure that “sound institutional goals are being followed;”
• Identify areas of improvement in management and planning (Board of Supervisors Rules, Section IV.D, 8).

McNeese State University Policy and Procedure for Evaluation of President

McNeese State University's policy for regular evaluation of the President and Provost was formally adopted in 2002 and updated in 2005. In keeping with the requirements established by the governing board, the University identifies the purposes of evaluation of president and provost as follows:

In compliance with the requirements of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and in order to uphold systematic analysis for the improvement of the institution, an evaluation system for the assessment of the President and Provost has been established at McNeese State University. This process is in accordance with recommendations of the consulting firm of Penson-Strawbridge.
The purpose of the evaluation is to maintain a system for the performance management of these positions, as well as assess the quality and substance of the administrative performance in the context of the University’s mission. Consequently, the evaluation must reflect the functions of the administrative duties and expectations while developing a positive climate for growth in professional competence and leadership. (MSU Policy and Procedures for Evaluating the President and Provost)

The procedure for evaluation of the President and Provost at McNeese State University can be found in the MSU Policy and Procedures for Evaluating the President and Provost:

Evaluation of the President will be performed on an annual basis. Components of the evaluation include the completion of the ULS Institution President’s Evaluation and the Annual Review of the President’s Performance and Effectiveness Form. [. . .] In addition, the University will cooperate with cyclical Presidential evaluations recommended by the Board of Supervisors.
Component 1 – ULS Institution President’s Evaluation. The President will outline yearly individual performance goals and means by which these goals will be measured. Achievement of goals is reported to the ULS each year.
Component 2 – Annual Review of the President’s Performance and Effectiveness Form. During the academic year, the Annual Review of the President’s Performance and Effectiveness Form, which contains job specific and general performance rating scale items and an open-ended question, will be completed by faculty and staff selected according to their job duties. Persons outside the institution such as members of the Alumni Board, Foundation Board, and others will also evaluate the President. The Office of Institutional Research and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Academic Support provide technical and data-gathering support. (MSU Policy and Procedures for Evaluating the President and Provost)

In addition to periodic evaluation by outside consultants, the President is evaluated annually by the following individuals on campus: “[T]he Executive Staff, academic deans, Library Director, persons reporting directly to the President, chair of committees appointed by the President, and selected members of the Alumni and Foundation Boards” (MSU Policy and Procedures for Evaluating the President and Provost).

Dr. Robert D. Hebert has served as the chief executive officer of the institution since 1987. As chief executive officer, President Hebert provides comprehensive leadership for all University programs and operations. He is accountable to the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors for management of the institution's resources. Because of his exemplary leadership during exigent circumstances brought about by Hurricane Rita during the Fall 2005 semester, President Hebert was presented with an “Outstanding President” award by the McNeese student body and given a standing ovation during a University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors Executive Session meeting.