2.3: The institution has a chief executive officer whose primary responsibility is to the institution and who is not the presiding officer of the board.
Narrative:
The University of Texas (UT) at Arlington’s chief executive officer is the President of the institution and is not a member of the UT System Board of Regents. The chief executive officer at UT Arlington is President James D. Spaniolo. President Spaniolo was appointed UT Arlington President by the Board of Regents in November of 2003 and took office in February of 2004. As evidenced by President Spaniolo’s résumé, he is highly qualified for the position. [1] President Spaniolo has a JD from the University of Michigan Law School, and before coming to UT Arlington he was the Dean of the College of Communication Arts and Sciences and a Professor of Journalism at Michigan State University.
Confirmation that the President’s primary responsibility is to the institution is evident in UT Arlington’s presidential job description which outlines the president’s: (a) functions, (b) duties and responsibilities, (c) accountability, (d) internal control, (e) working conditions and (f) required qualifications. [2] James R. Huffines is the current presiding officer of the Board. [3]
All UT System presidents are selected and appointed by the Board of Regents through the same selection process. The UT System Rules and Regulations of the Board of Regents, Series 20201, provides guidelines for selecting a new president, and the selection process begins with the appointment of a diverse advisory committee that screens candidates for the Board. According to Series 20201, Sections 2 [4] and 4, [5] and The UT Arlington Handbook of Operating Procedures, Section 2-101, [6] the President reports to the Executive Vice Chancellor and has “general authority and responsibility for the administration of the institution.” Section 4 responsibilities include:
4.1 Develop and administer plans and policies for the program, organization and operation of the institution
4.2 Interpret the System policy to the staff, and interpret the institution's programs and needs to the System Administration and to the public.
4.3 Develop and administer policies relating to students, and where applicable, to the proper management of services to patients.
4.4 Recommend appropriate operating budgets and supervise expenditures under approved budgets.
4.5 Nominate all members of the faculty and staff, maintain efficient personnel programs, and recommend staff members for promotion, retention, or dismissal for cause.
4.6 Ensure efficient management of business affairs and physical property; and recommend additions and alterations to the physical plant.
4.7 Serve as presiding officer at official meetings of faculty and staff of the institution, and as ex officio member of each college or school faculty (if any) within the institution.
4.8 Appoint, or establish procedures for the appointment of, all faculty, staff and student committees.
4.9 Cause to be prepared and submitted to the appropriate Executive Vice Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor and General Counsel for approval, the rules and regulations for the governance of the institution and any related amendments. Such rules and regulations shall constitute the Handbook of Operating Procedures for that institution. Any rule or regulation in the institutional Handbook of Operating Procedures that is in conflict with any rule or regulation in the Regents' Rules and Regulations, is null and void and has no effect.
4.10 Assume initiative in developing long-range plans for the program and physical facilities of the institution.
4.11 Assume active leadership in developing private fund support for the institution in accordance with policies and procedures established in the Regents' Rules and Regulations.
4.12 Develop and implement plans and policies to ensure that the institution remains in compliance with any accreditation requirements appropriate to the institution or its programs, including, for the health institutions and those academic institutions with student health services, the accreditation of hospitals, clinics and patient-care facilities.
