Section 3.2.10: Governance and Administration

Judgment of Compliance

Requirement

The institution evaluates the effectiveness of its administrators, including the chief executive officer, on a periodic basis.

Narrative

McNeese State University is in compliance with Comprehensive Standard 3.2.10.

The University evaluates the effectiveness of its administrators, including the chief executive officer, on a periodic basis.

Governing Agency Oversight of Administrator Evaluation

The University of Louisiana System's Board of Supervisors requires that every institution evaluate each faculty member and administrator on an annual basis and that the evaluation be filed in appropriate files. Procedures for evaluating the faculty and administrators are addressed in the ULS Bylaws:

Evaluation. Each institution shall evaluate each faculty member and administrator on an annual basis, and the evaluation shall be filed in appropriate files. The institution’s policy for faculty evaluations shall include definite and stated criteria, consistent with policies and procedures of the Board and the institution, for evaluating the performance of each faculty member. As part of its evaluative procedures, each institution will utilize a system of periodic faculty evaluations by students, with the improvement of teaching effectiveness as a major focus of such evaluations. Institutions are encouraged to utilize multiple sources of information (e.g., student ratings of instruction, peer evaluations, etc.) in their review processes. Evaluations are to assess performance in an appropriate mix of teaching, research, and service. Each university president will ensure that merit, i.e., adequacy of performance as determined by the evaluation system of the institution, shall be a primary factor in decisions of faculty retention, compensation, promotions, and other advancements. (ULS Bylaws, C-III.X.D)

Similarly, procedures for evaluating the President are also defined by the University of Louisiana System’s policies and procedures:

D. Evaluations of Presidents. The performance of the institution presidents shall be individually evaluated on a regular basis according to a process approved by the Board. The evaluations are intended to (1) fulfill Board responsibility for making certain that each institution is well managed, (2) help the presidents improve their performance, (3) make certain that sound institutional goals are being pursued, and (4) identify opportunities for improving the management and planning functions of the University of Louisiana System and its constituent universities. (ULS Bylaws C-III.IV.D)

University Process for Evaluation of Administrators

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 (Policy and Procedures for the Evaluation of the President and Provost).

The procedure for evaluation of the President and Provost at McNeese State University is outlined below.

Evaluation of the President is 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 complies with cyclical Presidential evaluations recommended by the Board of Supervisors. The components of the President’s evaluation are listed below:

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. ( University Policy and Procedures for the Evaluation of the President and Provost)

The annual evaluations of the President and Provost are administered by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness during the fall semester. The results of these evaluations are on file in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

In addition to on-campus evaluations, the University has commissioned an outside consulting firm to evaluate the President. A second firm was contracted to review the Executive Staff and the President. The purpose of the review was: 1) to foster improved performance of the institution; 2) to encourage improved performance of the president as part of his ongoing professional development; and 3) to inform the campus president and system president about how others are responding to the campus president's efforts, and how others perceive him, his accomplishments, and his prospects. Reports based on these evaluations are on file in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

Other administrators are evaluated annually by employees whose work they supervise. The institution evaluates the effectiveness of its administrators as specified in the Faculty/Staff Handbook:

207.1. Administrative Evaluations

The Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System requires that each institution evaluate each faculty member and administrator on an annual basis, and that the evaluation be filed in appropriate personnel files. Official job descriptions and procedures for evaluation of administrative performance for University employees at the level of director, department head, and above are kept on reserve at Frazar Memorial Library in the "Job Descriptions and Administrative Evaluations" binder. Administrators are evaluated annually by peers, supervisors, respective staffs and by persons with whom they interact in performing their administrative duties. Evaluation results are shared with the employee.

Administrators are evaluated by all other administrators with whom they interact in carrying out the duties of their position. All heads of budgetary units or units listed in the Master Plan/Progress Report participate in the evaluation process. Individual evaluators remain anonymous. Classified personnel do not participate in the administrative evaluations.

The Office of Institutional Effectiveness maintains and keeps the evaluator list current. Administrators who have been employed in their current position for less than one year are not evaluated, nor do they serve as evaluators. Persons serving as interim administrators are not evaluated. The Office of Institutional Effectiveness prepares and distributes the administrative evaluation forms to each person named as an evaluator. Results are returned to the President’s office. After data have been gathered from the evaluation, supervising administrators discuss results with individuals being evaluated. Results are presented using numerical scoring and may include additional written comments. If an evaluator ranks a category with a score at or below 2, the evaluator must provide a written comment. If a ranking of 2 or below is not accompanied by a written comment, the ranking is not tabulated in the total score.

The Deans and the Department Heads are evaluated annually during the spring semester. Policies dictating evaluation of academic administrators are informed by University of Louisiana System policy:

207.1.a.    Dean and Department Head Evaluations

Deans and department heads are evaluated by faculty within the college/department as a supplement to the administrative evaluations conducted every year. This evaluation allows the faculty a voice in evaluating their indirect and direct supervisors. Evaluations are conducted during the Spring semester. Evaluation results are shared with the respective dean and the dean, in turn, discusses results with the respective department head. Deans are evaluated for job performance by the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

An additional evaluation of Deans and Department Heads is administered by the Office of Academic Affairs. This evaluation process resulted from a recommendation from the Faculty Senate to introduce administrative evaluations for academic personnel. This evaluation supplements the administrative evaluations conducted each year. The additional evaluation gives faculty an opportunity to evaluate their indirect and direct supervisors.

Supporting Evidence

The administrative evaluation summaries for the President and Provost are available for inspection at the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

The administrative evaluation summaries for the Vice Presidents and lower level administrators are available at the Office of the President.

Evaluation Policy

Administrative Performance Evaluations

Administrative Performance Evaluation Results

President/Provost Evaluations

Dean/Department Head Evaluations

Outside Consultant Evaluations

President Evaluators

Provost Evaluators

ULS Board Rules re: Faculty and Administrator Evaluation Section X, D

Faculty/Staff Handbook--Executive Staff

Evaluation of Administrative Performance by Peer Evaluators