Powers, Duties, and Responsibilities of the Policy Commission

Powers, Duties, and Responsibilities of the Policy Commission

Governance

Adoption of a statewide master plan for higher education.

Approval of institutional compacts and updates.

Determining which institutions are in compliance with their compacts and thus should share in newly appropriated funds.

Establishing benchmarks and performance indicators for institutions to meet to receive additional appropriations.

Underlined – Jointly with the Council.Asterisk – MU and WVU exempt.

West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission

Governance (Continued)

Establishing a rule for governing boards to follow in adopting institutional rules, guidelines, or other policy statements.

Develop a long-range policy agenda for higher education.

Establish peer groups for each institution.

Report annually to the Legislature on the performance of higher education.

Identify needs and priorities for capital investments.

Approve the hiring of Presidents by governing boards.



Approve institutional master plans outlining missions, degree programs, physical plant needs, personnel needs, and enrollment levels.

Approve the compensation from all sources for Presidents.

Promulgate joint rules governing the institutions when deemed necessary.

Establish geographic areas of responsibility for institutions.*MU and WVU were given statewide responsibility.



Establishment of a uniform classification system for classified employees.

Establish a rule governing purchases by institutions*(MU and WVU may have own rule).

Take whatever actions deemed necessary to fulfill the duties of the Policy Commission.

Prepare institution and statewide report cards.

Receive input and recommendations from various advisory and constituent groups.



Acquire legal services as needed.

Make appointments to certain other boards and commissions.

Employ a Chancellor and review his or her performance at the end of each contract period.

Withdraw powers of a governing board for up to 2 years in certain circumstances.

Rescind delegation of powers of BOGs to Presidents (Except MU and WVU).



• Establish a rule for BOGs when considering capital projects.

• Development and implementation of statewide data systems.

• Establish policies for licensing of private and public degree granting institutions.

• Oversight of the Rural Health Initiative and Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences.

Academic

Implement a uniform standard for the requirement of remedial or developmental courses.

Expand distance learning and technology.

Assure maximum transferability of credits from one institution to another.

Review and approve academic programs offered by institutions. *(Approval of Marshall University and WVU programs only if offered in new location.)


Finance

Make annual budget requests on behalf of the institutions.

Allocating appropriations by the Legislature.

Develop and adopt a financing policy for higher education.

Establish guidelines for capital projects and review and approve institutional projects with a potential to exceed $1 million dollars in costs. *(Approval of Marshall University and WVU individual projects exempted.)

Adopt tuition and fee policies and approve tuition and fee increases for institutions. *(Approval of Marshall University and WVU increases exempted.)


Finance (Continued)

Assess institutions for the payment of statewide services, obligations, or initiatives.

Establish a retirement plan for all public higher education employees.

Issue and redeem system-wide capital revenue bonds or institutional bonds as requested.


Financial Aid

Administration of statewide financial aid and scholarship programs.

Promulgation of rules governing PROMISE.


Powers, Duties, and Responsibilities of the Governing Boards

Governance

Determine, control, supervise and manage the financial, business and education policies and affairs of the institution.

Develop a master plan for the institution.

Update and meet goals of the institutional compact.

Include faculty, students, and classified employees in planning and decision making when those groups are affected.

Administer management of a personnel system, subject to Policy Commission rules, including classification, compensation, and discipline.



Solicit and utilize or expend voluntary support.

Appoint and compensate the President, with Policy Commission approval.

Discipline or terminate the President.

Conduct written performance evaluations of the President consistent with state code and rules.

Submit an annual report to the Policy Commission on the institution’s performance in relation to master plan and compact.



Delegate, with prescribed standards and limitation, its powers to the President when the delegation is deemed necessary and prudent and notify the Commission of the delegation. *(Commission may rescind delegation except for MU and WVU.)


Finance

Direct the preparation of budget requests for submission to the Policy Commission.

Enter into contracts on behalf of the institution.

Purchase or acquire all materials, supplies, equipment, and printing required.

Adopt salary increase policies.

Issue revenue bonds with Commission approval.


Academic

Periodically review, at least every five years, all academic programs at the institution and address the viability, adequacy and necessity of each program in relation to the master plan and compact.

Conduct periodic studies of its graduates and their employers to determine placement patterns and effectiveness of the education experience.

Ensure that the sequence and availability of academic programs and courses are such that students may complete programs in a normal time frame.

Approve the teacher education programs offered by the institution.


Documents

Powers, Duties, and Responsibilities of the Policy Commission