Section 3.2.7: Governance and Administration

Judgment of Compliance

Requirement

The institution has a clearly defined and published organizational structure that delineates responsibility for the administration of policies.

Narrative

McNeese State University is in compliance with Comprehensive Standard 3.2.7.

The University ensures that employees have access to policies and procedures and to the administrative structure, which is published in the University organization chart. The organization chart reflects the administrative structure for the institution from the level of the president to the level of dean for academic areas and to the level of director and/or coordinator for academic support areas. The organization chart, available to University constituents both in print and electronic sources, clearly delineates lines of authority and responsibility. It is published in the Faculty/Staff Handbook and posted on the University homepage on the Human Resources webpage. The electronic and paper copies of both the Faculty/Staff Handbook and the Classified Civil Service Handbook ensure that University employees have access to policies and procedures that affect their day-to-day activities.

Administrative Lines of Authority

Vested as the chief executive officer of the University by the University of Louisiana System, the President serves as the official liaison between the faculty and students of the university and the Board of Supervisors and Board of Regents. The Provost, the Vice Presidents, and the Chief Information Technology Officer are empowered by the President to supervise the various colleges, schools, departments, and offices within their areas of responsibility. Responsibility for ensuring that University resources are used appropriately to promote academic goals lies within the purview of the deans and department heads. Similarly, University support services are managed by directors and coordinators.

Published in the University Catalog are names of deans and department heads for each academic unit section. The University Catalog also lists administrators for academic support units in each relevant section. The Faculty/Staff Handbook outlines the duties and responsibilities of Deans and Department Heads:

206.2. Deans

Deans are considered the chief officers of the college, providing academic and administrative leadership to support the University Mission. Deans develop and maintain effective communication within the respective college, with other campus personnel, and with external community constituents. They coordinate the activities of department heads so that clearly-defined goals related to program improvement, recruitment and retention, and student learning outcomes may be achieved. The Dean is responsible for upholding university policies and procedures, SACS and the respective accrediting agency requirements, evaluation of programs, and evaluation of faculty performance.

206.3. Department Heads

Department Heads are full-time ranked faculty members who represent the faculty of and have administrative responsibilities for their respective departments. They are generally responsible for the administration of their departments and the development of teaching and scholarship among departmental faculty. Department Heads oversee Program Coordinators and respective faculty, complete initial evaluations of faculty, determine course scheduling, and set strategies for program development and review, recruiting, and student retention.

Job responsibilities and lines of authority are also designated in Employee Job Descriptions. The Employee Job Description specifies duties and responsibilities for all campus positions. These documents are on file in the Frazar Memorial Library, the Office of Human Resources, and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. A copy of the form and a sample are provided as documentation.

Lines of Authority for Policy Development

Guidelines identifying lines of authority for the development of policies are also published on the University homepage under “Delineation of Authority”. The University “Policy on Policies” which outlines the process by which policies are implemented is published on the University homepage. The policy clearly identifies the process:

The following procedures are required for all institutional policies:

1. Institutional policies are brought before Executive Staff by the President, Vice President, Director of IE, or CITO overseeing the policy. Upon review, the Executive Staff makes a recommendation for approval to the President. The President is responsible for final approval for all institutional policies.

2. The President’s completed date and signature stamp are placed on all new institutional policies. Stamped institutional policies will be archived in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

3. Policy revisions should be noted as such and include the date of revision. Revised policies do not require additional approval unless the intent of the policy significantly changes. The revised policy should be submitted to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and placed in the Self Policy files.

4. The President, Vice President, Director of IE or CITO authoring new or revised policies is responsible for coordinating dissemination of institutional policies with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness as appropriate to the policy.

5. New policies or revisions to policy will be posted on the University Policy website at www.mcneese.edu/policy. The Office of Institutional Effectiveness will coordinate with other campus websites to ensure consistency of institutional policies.

Supporting Evidence

2005-06 Budget Request (excerpted)

Unclassified Employee Work Profile Form

Unclassified Employee Work Profile Sample

MSU Human Resources

Policy Delineation of Authority

McNeese State University Organizational Chart

McNeese State University Policy on Institutional Policies

Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Job Description 06-26-2006

Vice President of Administration and Student Affairs Job Description 06-27-2006

Academic Dean Job Description 06-26-2006