Compliance Narratives

Judgment of Compliance

Narrative

At Sam Houston State University (SHSU), the President, who serves as the institution’s chief executive officer, has ultimate responsibility for and exercises appropriate control over the University’s educational, administrative, and fiscal programs and services. This control is evidenced by the job classification description for the President [1]. The “Nature and Purpose of Position” includes the following:

The President is the Chief Executive Officer of Sam Houston State University and is responsible for the development, maintenance and utilization of the university’s resources in such a manner that its goals, and objectives are achieved in the most effective and efficient manner, and in accordance with the desired philosophy as determined by the Board of Regents. [1]

This document also outlines eighteen primary responsibilities of the President. Primary responsibility number two states the following:

The President shall be answerable to the Board of Regents and shall have discretionary powers broad enough to effectively administer the University within the policies and guidelines as set forth by the Board of Regents. The President shall have such powers as may be from time to time delegated by the Board. [1]

SHSU is a member of the Texas State University System (TSUS). Chapter 4, Section 2.1 of the TSUS Rules and Regulations states the following:

The President shall be answerable to the Board of Regents and shall have discretionary powers broad enough to effectively administer the University within the policies and guidelines as set forth by the Board of Regents. The President shall have such powers as may be from time to time delegated by the Board. [2]

TSUS Rules and Regulations Chapter 4, Section 2.2 [2] and its subsections outline the duties and responsibilities of the President to control the University’s educational, administrative, and fiscal programs and services. These include, but are not but not limited to the following:

• Section 2.21 – “Developing and maintaining efficiency and excellence within the [University], including maintenance of appropriate accreditations”
• Section 2.25 – “Recommending appropriate operating budgets and supervising expenditures under approved budgets”
• Section 2.26 – “Nominating to the Chancellor and Board the appointment, reappointment, promotion, retention, or dismissal of all members of the faculty and administrative officers”
• Section 2.28 – “Managing efficiently [University] business affairs and physical property; recommending additions and alterations to the physical plant; and developing long range plans for all [University] programs and physical facilities”
• Section 2.29 – “Serving as presiding officer at official meetings of [University] faculty and staff and as an ex officio member of each college or school faculty”
• Section 2.2(10) – “Appointing campus committees, councils, and teams and appointing or establishing procedures for the appointment of faculty, and staff”
• Section 2.2(11) – “Causing to be prepared and submitted to the System Administration for review the faculty, staff, and student handbooks for the governance of the [University]”
• Section 2.2(12) – “Leading private fund development support for the [University] in accordance with policies and procedures”
• Section 2.2(13) – “Administering all [University] contracts, agreements, or purchases as delegated under the System Rules and Regulations”

To effectively exercise appropriate control of the University’s educational, administrative, and fiscal programs and services, the President is the direct supervisor of the administrative officers of each of the six University divisions, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Vice President for University Advancement, the Vice President for Finance and Operations, the Vice President for Enrollment Management, and the Vice President for Information Technology, as well as the Director of Athletics [3]. These Vice Presidents, the Director of Athletics, and the Chief of Staff to the President all comprise members of the President’s Cabinet [4]. The President’s Cabinet meets regularly to study, review, and make recommendations on matters brought up by the committee members; to consider University-wide issues and make recommendations where appropriate; to disseminate information on University-wide activities; and to coordinate, where necessary, University-wide activities and policies. Examples of minutes from President’s Cabinet meetings are provided [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11].

As part of the President’s primary job duties, the President exercises appropriate control of educational and administrative services and programs through serving as presiding officer at official meetings of faculty and staff of the University, and as an ex officio member of each college or school faculty. Additionally, the President nominates to the Board of Regents the appointment or reappointment of all members of the faculty and administrative offices at SHSU, as well as recommends such individuals to the Board of Regents for promotion, retention, or dismissal. The President also develops and maintains efficient personnel programs for all SHSU employees, including faculty and administrative officers. Finally, the President exercises control of University fiscal programs by recommending appropriate operation budgets and supervising University expenditures under approved budgets [1].

Supporting Documentation