Proposed Revision to 204.3 - Commissioner of Higher Education; Duties
Statutory authority:
The
board shall appoint a commissioner of higher education and prescribe his terms
and duties. (Article X, Section
9(2)(c), Montana Constitution)
Board policy:
The
Commissioner of Higher Education shall be the chief executive officer of the
Montana University System. The
Commissioner of Higher Education is responsible to the Board of Regents. The duties of the Commissioner shall be as
follows:
1. Execute, administer, and assure the
implementation of the policies, decisions and rules of the Board of
Regents. The Commissioner shall have
broad delegated authority to carry out the duties and responsibilities
enumerated herein, including the authority to interpret and secure implementation
of Board policy and to establish administrative regulations and policy for the
proper governance of the system.
2. Supervise and direct unit presidents with
regard to the execution, administration, interpretation, and implementation of
Board policy in regard to system issues.
The Commissioner shall give guidance and direction as needed in general
campus execution and administration of Board policy.
3. Advise the Board concerning the selection
and removal of unit presidents.
4. Prepare, with the assistance of each campus
administration, and present to the Board a suggested budget for the Montana
University System as well as an allocation of state appropriations to the units
of the university system. All budget
requests approved by the Board requiring approval by the Governor or
Legislature shall be presented to the Governor and to the Legislature solely by
the Commissioner except when otherwise specifically authorized by the Board or
the Commissioner.
5. Sign, on behalf of the Board, contracts and
documents which have been authorized by the Board except when otherwise
delegated by the Board.
6. Act as the person through whom all matters
shall be presented to the Board and to committees of the Board, including
reports, recommendations and suggestions from units, their faculty members,
employees, students and agents of the executive and legislative branches of
state government.
7. Act as the sole official representative of
the Board and the university system to the legislature and its committees
except when otherwise specifically authorized by the Board or Commissioner.
8. Act as the sole person through whom policies
of the Board shall be announced. The
presidents of the units shall not make any announcements of the Board's
policies until authorized to do so by the Commissioner.
9. Select, remove and, with the concurrence of
the Board, fix the compensation of personnel as may be necessary for the Office
of the Commissioner of Higher Education.
10. Direct
the Deputy Commissioner of Vocational-Technical Education in the
performance of the deputy's duties.
Insofar as is practical, the relationship between the vocational-technical
center directors and the Commissioner, acting through the deputy, shall be
consistent with the provisions of this policy.
11. Act
as coordinating officer for all inter-unit councils and committees.
12. Act
as the official designee of the Board to perform any duty or hold any office
required by state or federal law not otherwise assigned by the Board.
13.
Perform any other duties requested by the Board or impliedly necessary to carry
out the above noted tasks.
History:
Item 2-901-R0973, September 10, 1973, as amended November 7, 1975, March 23, 1976, July 11, 1977 and June 14, 1990.
