Article II: Organization of the University Administration

 

Section 1: Chief Administrative Officers

A.   Chief administrative officers. The university President, the provost and senior vice president of academic affairs, the executive vice president and chief operating officer, and the vice president and general counsel, are the university’s chief administrative officers.

1.   Chief administrative officers shall be appointed by the president, subject to approval of the Board of Trustees.

2.   Under direction of the president, chief administrative officers have general authority to act for and on behalf of the university, and to obligate the university, subject to the provisions of these bylaws and applicable university policies. 

 

Section 2: President

A.   Employing the President. The Board of Trustees is solely responsible for employing the President of Wright State University. The President serves at the pleasure of the Board and shall be the chief executive officer responsible for the operation of the University as a whole. The Board delegates responsibility for day-to-day administration of the University to the President.

B.   Selecting, directing, fixing the compensation of, and removing the President. The Board retains sole authority and responsibility for selecting, directing, fixing compensation of, and removing the President. The Board may engage external professionals for advice and counsel when performing these responsibilities on behalf of the University.

C.   Performance evaluation of the President. On an annual basis at a time and place determined by the Board, the Board shall consider the performance of, set performance goals for, and establish the salary for the President, including the amount of any other payment(s), benefits, and perquisites due according to the President’s employment contract or approved by the Board.

D.  The President may delegate any of his/her authorities to any other member of the faculty or staff of the University, subject to any limitations as may be set forth by action of the Board of Trustees.

1.   A delegation under this section does not deprive the President of their authority or relieve the President for ultimate responsibility for administration of the University.

2.   Delegation of major areas of the President’s authority shall be in writing and shall be reported to the Board of Trustees prior to implementation.

 

Section 3: Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost

A.   The Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost shall, under direction of the President, be responsible for and have the requisite authority for the oversight of all academic programs and other instructional and faculty affairs of the University. The Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost shall report to the president.

 

Section 4: Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

A.   The Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer shall, under the direction of the President, be responsible for, and have the requisite authority for oversight of the University’s business, financial, and administrative operations. The Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer shall report to the President.

 

Section 5: Vice President and General Counsel

A.   The Vice President and General Counsel shall be appointed by the President, with approval of the Board, and concurrently by the Ohio Attorney General. The Vice President and General Counsel shall serve as the chief legal advisor to the University, chief administrative officers, and the Board of Trustees.

B.   The Vice President and General Counsel shall report to both the Board of Trustees and the President.

C.   The Vice President and General Counsel is authorized, in consultation with the Ohio Attorney General and the Board of Trustees, to engage special counsel to represent and advise the University.

 

Section 6: Principal Administrative Officials.

A.   The term “Principal Administrative Official” shall include members of the President’s Cabinet and other such administrative officials as determined by the President. The President shall notify the Board of Trustees of any actions taken regarding principal administrative officials.

B.   Principal administrative officers shall have the authorities and responsibilities delegated or assigned to them by the president.

 

Section 7: President’s Cabinet

A.   The President shall convene and maintain a President’s Cabinet consisting of such members as he or she designates. The primary responsibilities of the President’s Cabinet shall be to provide advice and counsel to the President, to discuss, deliberate and serve as the primary decision-making body on major university policy issues, information sharing, and other roles as the President shall determine.

 

Section 8: Faculty and Staff

A.   Within parameters as may be set forth by the Board of Trustees, the President and/or their designee(s) shall have authority to appoint and set compensation for such other administrators, faculty, and staff as are necessary to effectively carry out the operation of the University, and to delegate functions to them with the authority necessary for the proper discharge of their duties.

 

Section 9: Continuity of Operations

A.   The president shall submit to the board at least annually a continuity of operations plan which designates for the continuity of university leadership in the event key positions become vacant in an emergency.

 

Approval

(Board approval dates: June 14, 2024)