2.1-2.4
University Officers Reporting to the Board of Trustees
Effective Date: 07/31/2026
2.1 President
The Board shall select the University’s President, who shall not be a current Board member.
History
- 07/31/2026: Grammatical change
2.2 Duties and Powers of the President
The President of the University shall be the chief executive officer of the University with the powers inherent in that office including the defining of the duties and powers of subordinate officers except as the duties of such subordinate officers may be otherwise set forth in these bylaws or Board policies. Any grant of authority by the Board to any University employee except to the Internal Auditor, Board Secretary or Board Treasurer may, by and at the discretion of the President, but with notice to the Board of Trustees be transferred to any other University employee subject to applicable collective bargaining agreements and Board or University policy on tenure.
The President serves as a means of communication between faculty, staff, students and the Board of Trustees, and may recommend from time to time such measures as the interests of the University demand.
The President is charged with and granted the authority of general management, supervision and oversight of the properties, assets, students, staff, faculty, and other officers of the institution. The President shall designate at least one individual to fulfill the duties of the President’s Office at those times the President is unavailable. In the absence of a Presidential designation or in the event of unavailability of all President-designated representatives the Board Chair shall designate an individual to fulfill the duties of the President on an interim basis.
The President, or the President's designated representative, is authorized to add individuals to the salaried and hourly payrolls, to establish their duties, to grant leaves of absence, to determine and negotiate salary, wages, bonuses, overload compensation, benefits (including, but not limited to, health insurance, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, retirement programs and retirement benefits) and other conditions of employment with duly authorized officers and/or agents of certified collective bargaining units and with non-represented employees, and to discontinue, suspend or terminate employment of any employee subject to the following conditions:
- Sufficient funds must be available.
- Rates of pay must be in accordance with general wage and salary classification policies of the institution.
- Reappointments of untenured tenure-track faculty following university major review must have approval of the Board.
- Changes in duties, discontinuance of employment or decrease in pay may be accomplished only in accord with applicable rules, policies and agreements, including the academic tenure policy where applicable.
- Reports of retirement, resignation, and off-payroll actions taken hereunder shall be submitted for the approval of the Board at each regular meeting.
The President shall semi-annually report to the Board on the status of all positions reporting directly to the President and all in the one echelon immediately below those reporting directly to the President.
The President or the President's designated representative(s) is authorized to assess reasonable fines and penalties for failure to follow published rules, regulations and ordinances of the University unless a fine or penalty is set by the Board of Control or applicable law.
The President shall also have those further powers granted by Board policy.
History
- 01/28/1982
- 07/15/2010: Incorporated prior Policies 2.1, 2.2, and 3.2. Authorized President to reassign duties or authority except for Board direct reports; Appointed Board Secretary as Presidential successor in the absence of Presidential designation.
- 02/24/2011: Deleted approval of salary ranges.
- 04/29/2016: Appointed Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs as Presidential successor in absence of Presidential designation.
- 07/31/2026: Modernize language; grammatical changes
Effective Date: 07/31/2026
2.3 The Internal Auditor
There shall be an Internal Auditor, appointed by the President, who reports to the Board of Trustees and the President.
History
- 07/31/2026: Updated hiring and reporting structure
Effective Date: 07/31/2026
2.4 Duties and Powers of the Internal Auditor
The Internal Auditor shall:
- Conduct audits of any or all accounts of the University in all departments and locations, including agency accounts, for the purpose of confirming the accuracy of accounts, the proper authorization of expenditures, the adequacy of business procedures, and all other matters related to the propriety of the University's fiscal policies and operations. In the exercise of the duties, the Internal Auditor shall have free and unquestioned access to all records and other information concerned with financial affairs and the custody, control, and use of supplies, materials, and other property belonging to the University or used under its direction.
- Recommend changes or improvements in the University's business systems, methods, and practices, for the purpose of enhanced compliance or improved efficiency.
The position of Internal Auditor derives its authority from the Board of Trustees.
A copy of each individual audit report issued by the Internal Auditor must be submitted to the Chair of the Board, the President, and the Secretary of the Board as well as the Vice President of the area being audited. The Secretary will provide copies of the audit reports to other members of the Board. The Internal Auditor will also solicit feedback from the Board at least annually regarding the audit plan. If at any time the Internal Auditor finds any evidence of defalcations or serious misuse of University assets, a written report of such findings shall immediately be sent to the President of the University, Chair of the Board, Board Secretary, and Board Treasurer. The Board of Trustees will meet with the Internal Auditor at least once a year, and any other time at the Board’s discretion, to discuss Internal Audit operations.
History
- 04/17/1964
- 08/21/1964: Added Sec. 1.13; 1.12
- 08/11/1967: Sec. 1.01; 1.03
- 12/12/1969: Sec. 1.02
- 06/06/1975: Sec. 1.21
- 05/20/1977: Emergency procedures deleted.
- 07/18/1980: Sec. 1.03
- 01/28/1982
- 03/19/1982: Sec. 1.12
- 09/21/1984: Changed agenda mailing and meeting notice from ten to fourteen days and chairman to chair.
- 09/23/1988: Added senior academic office with the title of Provost in Sec. 2.02.
- 09/21/1989: Changed calendar to fiscal year in Sec. 1.03
- 07/19/1991: Changed Internal Auditor reporting structure and clarified 2.03
- 03/19/1993: Changed Internal Auditor reporting structure
- 09/24/1993: Changed name and structure of standing committee in Sec. 1.12 and 1.13, added to the title of Executive Vice President in Sec. 2.02
- 11/22/1996: Revised Sec. 2.03 indicating that written reports will be issued as completed
- 01/24/1997: Deleted restriction on six affirmative votes for Closed Session
- 01/21/2000: Updated to reflect the Board's compliance with the Constitution of the State of Michigan in Sec. 1.01, Sec. 1.08 and Sec. 1.09
- 04/29/2005: Deleted Section 2.02 The Executive Vice President
- 08/04/2005: Changed section 1.12 from one to two standing committees and deleted section 1.13
- 06/19/2008: Changed the number of times Board of Trustees meetings shall be held from six to five times a year in section 1.01
- 07/15/2010: Was previously Policy 2.03. Renumbered only.
- 04/29/2016: Changed reporting structure to the President.
- 07/31/2026: Simplify language, audit distribution, and minimum reporting obligations