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Faculty Handbook
University Administration
Board of Regents
Members of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents are appointed by the governor of the State of Texas with approval of the senate. The term of office for each regent is six years. Three new appointments or reappointments are made every two years. 02.01
Chancellor
The chancellor is the chief executive officer of The Texas A&M University System and reports to and is responsible to the Board of Regents for the general management and success of the System. The chancellor is delegated authority to do all things necessary to fulfill such responsibility, including the authority to negotiate, execute and administer contracts and legal documents and instruments for and on behalf of The Texas A&M University System or its members. 02.02
President
The president is the chief executive officer of the University and is elected by the Board of Regents. The president is responsible to the chancellor and the Board of Regents for the operation and management of the University. The president is charged by the board with developing and maintaining efficiency and excellence within the University.
As chief executive officer of the University and the administrative arm of the Board of Regents, the president recommends policies for consideration by the board and is responsible for the implementation of these policies once they have been approved. The president has the final authority to approve, reject or modify recommendations of the faculty and administrative staff on matters which do not require board action. Except in cases where the Board of Regents or the chancellor chooses to assume this responsibility, the president is the official spokesperson for the University. The president is responsible for the annual evaluation of all senior administrative personnel who report directly to the president. The president provides written and oral evaluations of all vice presidents, the chief information officer, athletic director and the director of Panhandle-Plains Historic Museum. The written evaluations are retained in the personnel file of the senior administrative staff member. 02.05
Administrative Officers
The administrative officers at West Texas A&M University are five vice presidents, six deans and one chief information officer, who have been delegated specific executive authority by the president of the University.
The vice presidents and chief information officer report directly to the president and are expected to keep the president fully informed and seek the president’s advice regularly on all matters related to University administration and management. It is the responsibility of each of the academic deans to inform the provost/vice president for academic affairs and the responsibility of the vice presidents to review in advance with the president any proposed investigations or studies which may result in recommendations for substantive changes in University policy. It is the responsibility of each vice president to consult with the president on a regular basis regarding any actual or potential problems, concerns or issues related to the faculty, staff or students which may affect the well-being or interests of the University.
The vice presidents and chief information officer are responsible for reviewing all recommendations, reports and documents which are transmitted to the president to assure that they are factually accurate, of high professional quality and consistent with the policies and procedures of this handbook.
Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs
The provost/vice president for academic affairs is the chief academic officer and is responsible for the administration of the colleges and the Graduate School and Research. The academic deans report to the provost/vice president for academic affairs. Other administrative personnel who report directly to the provost/vice president for academic affairs include the associate vice president for academic affairs, assistant vice president for academic affairs, University librarian, directors of continuing education and institutional research. The provost/vice president for academic affairs annually evaluates these personnel and provides written and oral evaluations, which are filed in the provost office and the Office of Personnel Services. The provost/vice president for academic affairs is chairperson of the Council of Deans, which advises the vice president on matters related to academic affairs.
The Office of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs is the focal point of recommendations to the president regarding academic policy, including personnel policies affecting faculty. The provost/vice president for academic affairs makes recommendations regarding the allocation of available academic resources, monitors faculty workloads, and is responsible for the coordination of faculty recruitment and improvement. This vice president also reviews recommendations of the academic deans and department heads regarding appointments, salary increments, promotions, tenure, and terminations of faculty and academic staff, and transmits them to the president with recommendations.
The provost/vice president for academic affairs also is responsible for the administration of programs related to completion of degree requirements on the undergraduate and graduate levels, academic planning and programs and the content of the West Texas A&M University Catalog.
Vice President for Business and Finance
The vice president for business and finance is the chief financial officer and is responsible for the general financial operation of the institution, including accounting and auditing of financial records, preparation of the University budget, and the biennial legislative appropriation request and institutional budget control. The vice president for business and finance assists the president in administering University monies and properties, capital improvements and debt financing, supervising contractual relationships, arranging the acquisition of properties and representing the University in the institution’s financial relations with the State of Texas and other governmental agencies and organizations. The vice president for business and finance also has responsibility for supervising the operation of business and University Administration accounting services, fire and safety office, University Bookstore, Post Office, personnel services, purchasing and inventory services, print shop, University Police Department, Buffalo Gold Card office, and physical plant and payroll services. The vice president for business and finance annually evaluates the directors of these officers and provides written and oral evaluations of all. Written evaluations are retained in the vice president’s office and the personnel office.
Vice President for Student Services
The vice president for student services is the chief student affairs officer and is responsible for supervising all matters relevant to student life. This administrator’s primary responsibility is to enhance the general welfare of the student body by being an effective voice for the students to the administration and to interpret administrative policy to the students to assure continued development of a quality student campus life. The vice president for student services administers the Code of Student Life and assumes responsibility for program development.
This officer provides overall direction to Food Services, Office of Life Services (Office of Career and Counseling Services, Office of Student Medical Services, Office of Student Disability Services and child care services), Office of Residential Living, Office of Student Development (Office of Educational Services, Jack B. Kelley Student Center, Virgil Henson Activities Center, Office of Recreational Sports, Office of Student Judicial Services, Office of Student Programs and Services, and Office of Wellness Services) and Office of Student Government. The vice president for student services annually evaluates the directors of these offices and provides written and oral evaluations of all. Written evaluations are retained in the vice president’s office and the personnel office.
Vice President for Enrollment Management
The vice president for enrollment management reports to the University president and is responsible for the development and implementation of a strategic plan to guide enrollment management decisions; plans, develops, implements and oversees assessment plans for recruitment and admissions initiatives; leads the establishment of close relations between the University and multiple constituencies to develop pools of diverse and qualified potential applicants; and interacts cooperatively with the various academic units on campus to ensure that the academic opportunities available at WTAMU are advertised and promoted to potential students and other constituencies. The vice president for enrollment management has the responsibility to provide innovative, collaborative and visionary leadership for the offices of admissions, registrar, financial aid, scholarships and related offices that result in increased student enrollment and persistence. The vice president for enrollment management annually evaluates the directors of these offices and provides written and oral evaluations of all. Written evaluations are retained in the vice president’s office and the personnel office.
Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Vice president for institutional advancement reports to the University president and has the responsibility to provide strategic direction, vision and management of the University’s overall institutional advancement efforts, including annual and major gift fund-raising and capital campaigns, community and public relations, alumni relations and marketing. The vice president for institutional advancement serves as executive director of the WTAMU Foundation; oversees the University’s comprehensive, integrated marketing/communications efforts; oversees operations of alumni and parents relations; and coordinates major gifts fund-raising with Alumni Relations, annual fund, athletics, and colleges and departments. The vice president for institutional advancement annually evaluates the direct reports and provides written and oral evaluations of all. Written evaluations are retained in the vice president’s office and the personnel office.
Chief Information Officer
The chief information officer is responsible for planning and managing all aspects of information technology, including telecommunication and network services, computer services and academic computing services. The chief information officer will be the primary architect for updating of information technology for the campus and will oversee the acquisition, deployment and operation of information technology. Other responsibilities include, but are not limited to: collaborate with department to encourage the use of technology, distance education and other alternative delivery systems; develop and manage information technology budgets; develop and implement policies relating to effective use, licensing and security of information technologies; and insure a high level of service to all campus technology users.
College Deans
College deans have the responsibility to provide leadership and direction to associate deans, department heads and faculty, encourage and stimulate growth and quality in programs, represent views of students and faculty in University planning and functions, assist students in articulation and progress in their college programs and advance and improve the image of the college and the University. Deans also are responsible for administrative duties, including curricular supervision and coordination, budget preparation, supervision of faculty evaluation, expenditure approval, student recruitment and retention, and external funding-raising.
Dean of Graduate School and Research
The dean has the responsibility to provide leadership for the associate dean, Graduate Council and graduate faculty, encourage the advancement of knowledge through quality research and instruction, stimulate academic inquiry, stimulate intellectual and artistic creativity, and assist graduate students with their degree program. The dean also has administrative duties, including supervision and coordination of graduate curricula, supervision of graduate faculty evaluation, and graduate student recruitment and retention. (See Bylaws of the Graduate School, Appendix XIII.)
Heads of Academic Departments
The heads of academic departments, who serve as members of the academic administration, are appointed annually. Each department head reports to the provost/vice president for academic affairs through the dean of the appropriate college. The department head is responsible for the proper implementation and administration of University policy and for seeing that the department’s business is transacted efficiently and expeditiously. The University Administration August 2007 Page 9 department head must articulate constructive departmental aspirations, standards and points of view and is responsible for maintaining communication, cooperation and rapport between the faculty and administration. Among the duties of the department head are the representation of faculty to the dean of the college, detailed review and objective evaluation of the accomplishments of the faculty, and submission of written recommendations through administrative channels regarding initial appointment, continuing employment, promotion, salary and tenure of faculty personnel within the department.
Primary responsibilities of the department head in personnel management are recruitment, assignment, evaluation, reward, development/motivation and personal guidance. In curriculum management, duties include development, evaluation and scheduling. Fiscal management duties are budget planning/assessment, preparation and implementation. Facility management duties include monitoring maintenance and use of appropriate classroom, laboratory, office and storage facilities. Collegial leadership is also a primary responsibility of the department head.
Administrative duties of the department head are to communicate University policy and direction and to develop and implement department policy and direction to students and faculty through department meetings, individual discussions and meetings, memos and letters. The department head should advise the administration of departmental needs. The department head should develop a good rapport with faculty and students and maintain an open and fair attitude. Contacts with alumni and organizations employing program graduates should be maintained. The department head should provide visibility and vitality for department programs through involvement in professional service at the local, regional and national levels, support of research by faculty, student recruitment and service on University committees, and support of University policies and activities. The department head should demonstrate ability and achieve respect by providing quality and responsible leadership, quality teaching, research and service, making fair, equitable and defensible decisions, openly discussing issues, supporting faculty in the pursuit of achieving their full potential, and by being available for student counseling and advisement.
The department head, because of the varied demands of the assignment, must be a person with numerous abilities and strengths. An ideal department head, a leader with effective communication and listening skills, will be innovative, creative and open to new ideas; fair, objective and impartial; organized; decisive, honest and candid; friendly and approachable with a sense of humor; dedicated; realistic in departmental concerns; compassionate and sensitive; respected as an accomplished teacher/scholar; and willing to meet the time requirements of the position.
Given the varied duties of the department head, access to development programs are a must to continually assure quality leadership in the position. Development programs/opportunities, as available and possible, should include external and internal seminars/workshops in human relationships, leadership, communication, management, fiscal affairs and computer literacy. University Administration
University Librarians
Cornette Library’s professional librarians are an integral part of the West Texas A&M University community. Holding advanced academic degrees earned through professional education at the graduate level, they fulfill an indispensable and unique role in both the administrative and the educational processes.
Professional librarians are responsible for the acquisition, organization and control of library materials pertinent to the academic needs of the University. They fulfill teaching and research roles inasmuch as they instruct students and assist and advise faculty in scholarly pursuits. Without the expertise and assistance provided by the professional librarians, the University could not function effectively as a center of learning.
Because of the librarians’ essential role in the academic sphere, they elect a representative to Faculty Senate and, by appointment, serve on University committees. The University librarian reports to the provost/vice president for academic affairs.
University Councils/committees
In an effort to enhance the flow of information within the institution and bring to bear to the decision-making process the wealth of creativity and intellectual capital that exist throughout the University, the following standing committees will meet on a regular, periodic basis.
President’s Executive Committee
The President’s Executive Committee is composed of the University president and five vice presidents and meets weekly.
President’s Cabinet
The President’s Cabinet is composed of the University’s five vice presidents, chief information officer, director of communication and marketing services, athletic director and the executive director of Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum and meets by-monthly.
President’s Council
The President’s Council is composed of the University’s five vice presidents, chief information officer, executive director of development, director of communications services, athletic director, executive director of Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, associate vice president for academic affairs, assistant vice president for academic affairs, six deans, Faculty Senate president, Staff Council president, Student Body president, associate vice president for facilities and director of Cornette Library and meets monthly.
Council of Deans
The Council of Deans makes recommendations to the president through the provost/vice president for academic affairs on a wide range of academic issues designated by the president or the provost/vice president for academic affairs, including employment status and other matters related to the faculty and the development, implementation or discontinuance of academic programs and activities. The Council of Deans is chaired by the provost/vice president for academic affairs and consists of the deans of the College of Agriculture, Science and Engineering, College of Business, College of Education and Social Sciences, Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities, College of Nursing and Health Sciences and the Graduate School and Research and meets weekly.
Council of Department Heads
The Council of Department Heads serves an advisory function to the provost and discusses issues of common concern and interest. The council is composed of the heads of all academic departments.
University Council
University Council is composed of all vice presidents, deans, associate deans, department heads and directors across the University. The council, chaired by the president, is a forum for disseminating information and discussing issues.
Other Committees
In addition to the above councils and committees, a variety of other University councils and committees are appointed from time to time, both on a standing and ad hoc basis.