3.2.6 –
Governance and Administration
There is a clear
and appropriate distinction, in writing and practice, between the policy-making
functions of the governing board and the responsibility of the administration
and faculty to administer and implement policy.
_X__ Compliance
___ Partial
Compliance ___
Non-Compliance
Statement of Rationale for Judgment of
Compliance
There is a clear
and appropriate distinction, in writing 1 and practice, between the
policy-making functions of the governing board and the responsibility of the
administration and faculty to administer and implement policy.2
1 3.1 The Board shall
formulate, update, adopt and publish official policies to establish direction
for the System. The Chancellor is responsible for implementation of the
policies adopted by the Board. The Board requires of its members,
administrators, employees, agents, and students
compliance with all System Policies at all times. Noncompliance with System
Policies may be considered grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including
termination of employees or expulsion of students. (Source: System Policy)
2 The following are some examples of
documentation of practice:
1. Employee Handbook
Employee Handbook has an
acknowledgement form that each employee must sign which states that they have
received "the Employee Handbook and Various System Policies located in the
back of the Employee Handbook." A
introductory page in the handbook includes the following paragraph:
"As an employee, you are expected to
be familiar with and comply fully with all TAMU-T and The
2. There is a section in the Employee Handbook titled
"Employee Training Programs." (see below)
Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Training
Training on policies,
regulations, rules and procedures related to discrimination and sexual
harassment will be provided to each new employee within 30 days of hire.
Supplemental training on policies, regulations, rules and procedures related to
discrimination and sexual harassment will be provided to each employee
biennially.
Ethics Policy Training and Distribution
All new employees of the System will be provided a copy of the Ethics
Policy upon employment and will receive ethics training as part of the
employee's orientation. Copies of the Ethics Policy shall be distributed
to employees annually and/or whenever the policy is amended.
Documentation
All training required by these policies shall be documented in the
employee's permanent personnel file or stored electronically.
3. An email is sent to all
faculty and staff annually.
4. Direct link to the A&M System
Policy Manual (first bullet) from the A&M Texarkana homepage.
5.
When the administration receives new or revised System
Policies/Regulations, the notices
are forwarded to all faculty and staff.
The Chancellor
has approved several new and revised System Regulations listed below.
02.04.01 The Texas
A&M University System Legal Basis and Administrative Structure This
regulation was revised to delete a reference to the Texas Wildlife Damage
Management Services, which is no longer a System component, but a department
under the Texas Cooperative Extension.
21.01.04 Extension of
Credit This regulation was revised to add section 6.3, which requires
components to set tolerances below which an obligation need not be referred for
collection. In addition, the language was revised to be consistent with
policy manual style guidelines.
21.99.06 Surplus or
Salvage Property - This regulation was revised to clarify the language
and to add surplus and salvage guidance for assistance organizations designated
by school districts.
25.02.01 Travel
Regulations - This regulation was revised to clarify the language and
to ensure that all components are following the proper System and state
procedures for travel to Washington, D.C. and foreign destinations.
25.07.01 Contract
Administration Procedures and Delegations This regulation was revised
to update Legislative Budget Board contract reporting requirements and to make
it consistent with the changes to System Regulation 25.99.03.
25.99.03 Contracting for
External Consultants and Professional Services This regulation was
revised to apply the style guidelines throughout, add a reference to System
Regulation 33.99.16, Contract Workforce, in Section 1.3, clarify the procedures
for consulting services contracts in Section 4.5, and correct the language for
changes in statute.
31.01.02 Fair Labor
Standards This regulation was updated for changes in statute and to
clarify the language. Specifically, Sections 5 was revised to clarify
procedures regarding deductions in pay.
31.02.01 Administration
of Employee Benefit Programs This regulation was revised to clarify the
chain of authority set out in Section 1 and to make style changes throughout
the regulation. In addition, it was updated for change in statute
including a change of reference in Section 3.1(11) and an added HIPPA
requirement in Section 3.1(13).
31.02.02 Group Insurance
Program This is a new regulation that is the result of an effort to
streamline Section 31.02 of the policy manual and eliminate outdated procedures
and nonessential regulations. This regulation replaces System Regulations
31.02.02, Employee Benefit Enrollment, 31.02.04, State Contribution for Health
Insurance Premiums and 31.02.05, Group Insurance Programs, which have been
deleted from the policy manual.
31.03.02 Sick Leave This
regulation was revised to make the language consistent with current
statutes. In addition, it was revised to comply with the policy manual
style guidelines. Information on military leave was deleted from this
regulation as the System Human Resources Office is developing a new System
regulation to encompass military leave guidelines mandated by statute.
33.99.03 Performance
Evaluations for Nonfaculty Employees This
regulation was revised to update performance evaluation procedures.
34.01.01 Sexual
Harassment This new regulation was developed to satisfy the
requirements in System Policy 34.01 and to ensure uniform compliance with
sexual harassment procedures System-wide.
6. Memo of all faculty
from the president clarifying System policies and regulations and University
rules and procedures
Organizational unit responsible for this
requirement: Office of
the President