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Section III: Mission, Governance, and Institutional Effectiveness
SACS Comprehensive Standard

III-8.  The institution has a clearly defined and published organizational structure that delineates responsibility for the administration of policies. 

JUDGMENT OF COMPLIANCE

Yes, East Tennessee State University is able to provide a portfolio of evidence supporting compliance.

STATEMENT OF RATIONALE FOR JUDGMENT OF COMPLIANCE

East Tennessee State University provides a clearly defined and published organizational structure of administrative responsibilities (ETSU Organizational Structure, 2000).  The Chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) approved the latest revision of this structure in October 2000.  University policies are administered through this delineated administrative structure.  Vice presidents are empowered by delegation from the president to further organize the various colleges, departments, and offices within their areas of responsibility.  Reporting lines and areas of responsibility are also presented in our University Profile System.  Administrative policy is developed within these units in support of the mission of the university and objectives of individual units.  These unit organizational structures and policies are subject to review by the president and his designated system of advising and standing committees (ETSU Advisory & Standing Committees, Overview & Instructions), especially ETSU President's Council that receives recommendations from the academic council, student government association, faculty senate, and staff senate. The organizational structure of the institution is intrinsic to the annual university budget request, which is approved by the TBR.  The specific duties of the president and those reporting to him are provided in the following narrative.

The ETSU President serves as the executive head of the institution and all departments, exercises supervision to promote efficient operation and management of the institution, and executes directives of the TBR (ETSU Human Resources, President).  The president acts as the official liaison between the faculty and students of the institution with the chancellor, TBR, and state legislature.  The president also is responsible for all personnel recommendations and all aspects of fund-raising on behalf of the university, all subject to approval by the TBR or the chancellor.  The president delegates responsibility for functional areas of the university to a staff composed of a provost, vice presidents, and special assistants.

The ETSU Provost also serves as the Vice President for Academic Affairs.  As chief academic officer of the university, the provost is responsible for providing high quality programs of study to the university's student population.  As the vice president for academic affairs, this individual provides leadership, direction, and policy formation in the ETSU Division of Academic Affairs, which includes the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Applied Science and Technology, Education, the schools of Graduate Studies and Continuing Studies, University Libraries, special programs in Honors and International Studies, the offices of Research and Sponsored Programs and of Information Technology, and all student academic services (ETSU Human Resources, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs).

The ETSU Vice President for Student Affairs is responsible for the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning, Department of Public Safety, and all student affairs departments, including offices for Student Life and Leadership, Students with Disabilities, Housing and Residence Life, Campus Recreation, Career Development, Counseling Center, Center for Adult Programs and Services, University Center/I.D. Services, Multicultural Affairs, and Student Publications.  This individual also serves as the liaison between the university administration and the Student Government Association (ETSU Human Resources, Administration Vice President for Administrative and Student Affairs).  Effective July 1, 2001, this position will be divided.  The ETSU Division of Student Affairs will be led by the Dean of Students and report to the Vice President of Administration (ETSU Organizational Structure, 2001).

The ETSU Vice President for Business and Finance is responsible for administering and managing university accounting and financial operations, including the offices of Budget, Comptroller, Health & Safety, Human Resources, and the Physical Plant (ETSU Human Resources, Vice President for Business and Finance).

The ETSU Vice President for University Advancement administers and manages all development and fund-raising activities, alumni affairs, and community relations programs.  This individual also serves as the executive vice president of the ETSU University Foundation (ETSU Human Resources, Vice President for University Advancement).

The ETSU Vice President for Health Affairs provides leadership, direction and policy formation for the Division of Health Sciences, which includes the colleges of Medicine, Nursing, and Public and Allied Health.  This individual also serves as Dean of the James H. Quillen College of Medicine and as liaison between the university and the medical community (ETSU Human Resources, Vice President for Health Affairs/Dean of College of Medicine).

The ETSU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics is responsible for all athletic programs, including budget and strategic planning, supervision of coaches and staff, athletic marketing and promotions, media relations, scheduling athletic events, and ensuring compliance with regulations of the Southern Conference, NCAA, and TBR (ETSU Human Resources, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics).

The ETSU Executive Assistant to the President for University Relations is responsible for managing external and internal communications of the university, including relationships with the news media, campus community, governing boards and bodies, business and industry, alumni, donors, and the general public (ETSU Human Resources, Executive Assistant for University Relations).

The ETSU Executive Assistant to the President provides administrative support for all presidential activities, including managing the personnel, fiscal and other operations of the president's office (ETSU Human Resources, Executive Assistant to the President).

The ETSU Director of Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action at ETSU also serves as the Special Assistant to the President for Cultural Diversity.  This individual is responsible for providing guidance and compliance in all matters relating to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, promoting non‑discriminatory practices, coordinating desegregation programs, and advancing campus-wide goals toward greater cultural diversity (ETSU Human Resources, Special Assistant to the President for Cultural Diversity/Director of Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action).

The ETSU Assistant to the President for Legal Affairs is responsible for providing legal interpretations and opinions, advising on matters of legal concern, and educating the campus community about current legal practices and positions held by the TBR and about potential practices that may lead to individual or institutional liability (ETSU Human Resources, Assistant to the President for Legal Affairs).

The ETSU Director of Internal Audit is responsible for planning and conducting financial, operational, and compliance audits to determine the adequacy of the institution's systems of internal control and the degree of compliance with these controls (ETSU Human Resources, Director of Internal Audit).

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