General Counsel | LSCS Policy Manual |

Governance and Board of Trustees Policy

LONE STAR COLLEGE SYSTEM DISTRICT
BOARD POLICY MANUAL
Fourth Edition

Table of Contents

I.A.1. Legal Status of Texas Public Junior Colleges and/or Districts

I.A.1.01 Status Derived from Texas Constitution and Education Code
I.A.1.02 Definition

I.A.2. LSCS Legal Status

I.A.2.01 District Established
I.A.2.02 District Name
I.A.2.03 Change of Name
I.A.2.04 Junior College District Service Areas
I.A.2.05 New Campuses or College Districts
I.A.2.06 Extension of District Boundaries

I.A.3. System Foundations

I.A.3.01 System Purpose
I.A.3.02 System Program Offerings
I.A.3.03 Statement of Mission
I.A.3.04 Value Statements
I.A.3.05 Biennial Review
I.A.3.06 Multi-cultural Education
I.A.3.07 Multi-College Operating Philosophy

I.A.4. Institutional Effectiveness

I.A.4.01 Plan

I.A.5. Administrative Organization Plan

I.A.5.01 Governance Structure
I.A.5.02 Participatory Governance

I.A.6. Equal Educational and Employment Opportunities – Policy

IA.6.01 Non-Discrimination Policy

I.B. BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES, POWERS AND DUTIES

I.B.1. Board Governance

I.B.1.01 General
I.B.1.02 Fulfill Responsibilities
I.B.1.03 Adhere to Ethical Standards
I.B.1.04 Act as a Unit
I.B.1.05 Represent the Common Good
I.B.1.06 Set the Policy Direction
I.B.1.07 Employ, Evaluate and Support the Chancellor
I.B.1.08 Create a Positive Climate
I.B.1.09 Monitor Performance
I.B.1.10 Support and Be Advocates for the System
I.B.1.11 Public Responsibility
I.B.1.12 Duties and Requirements of Board Officers

I.B.1.12.1 The Board Chair
I.B.1.12.2 The Board Vice-Chair
I.B.1.12.3 The Board Secretary
I.B.1.12.4 The Assistant Secretary

I.B.1.13 Self-Evaluation

I.B.1.13.1 Board Organization
I.B.1.13.2 Policy Role
I.B.1.13.3 Community Relations
I.B.1.13.4 Policy Direction
I.B.1.13.5 Board-Chancellor Relations
I.B.1.13.6 Standards for Lone Star College System Operations
I.B.1.13.7 Institutional Performance
I.B.1.13.8 Board Leadership
I.B.1.13.9 Advocating for the Lone Star College System
I.B.1.13.10 Board Education
I.B.1.13.11 Board Goals

I.B.2. Responsibilities, Powers and Duties

I.B.2.01 Powers Reserved
I.B.2.02 Responsibilities
I.B.2.03 Powers and Duties
I.B.2.04 Taxing Authority
I.B.2.05 Board Authority
I.B.2.06 Transacting Business
I.B.2.07 Individual Board Member Authority
I.B.2.08 Staff Authority

I.B.3. Ethics

I.B.3.01 Statement of Ethics

I.4. Conflict of Interest

I.B.4.01 Substantial Interest Affidavit and Abstention From Vote
I.B.4.02 Separate Vote
I.B.4.03 Conflicts Disclosure Statements
I.B.4.04 Prohibited Acts
I.B.4.05 Definitions
I.B.4.06 Prohibited Practices

I.C. BOARD MEMBERS: ELIGIBILITY, ELECTIONS, APPOINTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

I.C.1. Board Members – Eligibility and Benefits

I.C.1.01 Qualifications
I.C.1.02 Residence – Defined
I.C.1.03 Compensation and Expenses
I.C.1.04 Reimbursement of Costs and Expenses
I.C.1.05 Board Member Tuition Waivers
I.C.1.06 Benefits - Former Members

I.C.2. Board Members – Elections and Appointments

I.C.2.01 Elections
I.C.2.02 All Positions At-Large
I.C.2.03 Filing Information
I.C.2.04 Write-in Voting
I.C.2.05 Residency Term – Pre-filed Candidacy
I.C.2.06 Residency Term – Write-in Candidacy
I.C.2.07 Appointment to Position on Board
I.C.2.08 Election of Unopposed Candidate
I.C.2.09 Loyalty Oath
I.C.2.10 Nepotism
I.C.2.11 Date of Election
I.C.2.12 Notice|
I.C.2.13 Polling Places Accessible
I.C.2.14 Voters with Disabilities
I.C.2.15 Bilingual Materials
I.C.2.16 Voting Rights Act
I.C.2.17 Early Voting
I.C.2.18 Canvass Returns
I.C.2.19 Plurality Vote Required
I.C.2.20 Statement of Officer and Oath of Office

I.C.3. Board Members – Vacancies and Removal from Office

I.C.3.01 Vacancies
I.C.3.02 Resignation
I.C.3.03 Non-Residence
I.C.3.04 Removal from Office

I.C.4. Board Member Development and Training

I.C.4.01 Purpose
I.C.4.02 Authority
I.C.4.03 Reimbursement of Development/Training Expenses
I.C.4.04 Frequency
I.C.4.05 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Training Programs
I.C.4.06 Fee Reimbursement for Training Programs
I.C.4.07 Conventions, Workshops, Press Conferences and Ceremonial Events
I.C.4.08 Open Government Training
I.C.4.09 Reporting
I.C.4.10 Board Member Orientation
I.C.4.11 Annual Plan

I.D. BOARD INTERNAL ORGANIZATION

I.D.1. Board Officers

I.D.1.01 Election of Officers
I.D.1.02 Reorganization
I.D.1.03 Duties and Requirements of Board Chair
I.D.1.04 Duties and Requirements of Vice Chair
I.D.1.05 Duties and Requirements of Secretary
I.D.1.06 Duties and Requirements of Assistant Secretary

I.D.2. Board Committees

I.D.2.01 Committee Structure
I.D.2.02 Special or Ad Hoc Committees
I.D.2.03 Audit Committee

I.D.3. Attorney and Advisory Committees

I.D.3.01 Attorney
I.D.3.02 Local Advisory Councils for Vocational Education

I.D.4. Board Evaluation

I.D.4.01 Self-Evaluation

I.E. BOARD MEETINGS

I.E.1. Meetings

I.E.1.01 Definitions
I.E.1.02 Open Meetings
I.E.1.03 Recording
I.E.1.04 Minutes
I.E.1.05 Notice Required – Lead Time and Accessibility
I.E.1.06 Inquiry During Meeting
I.E.1.07 Notice – Specificity of Agenda
I.E.1.08 Emergency Meeting or Emergency Addition to Agenda
I.E.1.09 Special Notice to News Media
I.E.1.10 Quorum
I.E.1.11 Voting
I.E.1.12 Meeting by Conference Call
I.E.1.13 Notice – Telephone Conference Call Meeting
I.E.1.14  Video-conference Call Meeting
I.E.1.15  Notice – Video-conference Call Meeting
I.E.1.16  Recording – Video-conference Call Meeting
I.E.1.17  Quality of Audio and Video Signals – Video-conference Call Meeting
I.E.1.18  Remote Participation
I.E.1.19  Internet Broadcast
I.E.1.20  Attorney Consultation
I.E.1.21  Legislative Committee of Agency Meeting
I.E.1.22  Passing Resolutions or Orders
I.E.1.23  Hearing-Impaired Persons
I.E.1.24  Calling Special Meetings
I.E.1.25  Calling Emergency Meetings
I.E.1.26  Meeting Space
I.E.1.27  Rules of Order
I.E.1.28  Discussions and Limitations
I.E.1.29 Faculty Representation
I.E.1.30  Place of Meeting
I.E.1.31  Time of Regular Meeting
I.E.1.32  Time of Meeting – Special or Emergency Meetings
I.E.1.33  Agenda
I.E.1.34  Notice to Members
I.E.1.35  Closed Meetings
I.E.1.36 Procedures for Closed Meetings
I.E.1.37 Vote or Final Action
I.E.1.38  Certified Agenda or Tape Recording
I.E.1.39  Preservation
I.E.1.40  Public Access to Closed Session Record
I.E.1.41  Prohibitions
I.E.1.42  Affirmative Defense
I.E.1.43  Public Comment
I.E.1.44 Disruption
I.E.1.45 Firearms at System Meeting
I.E.1.46 Public Participation
I.E.1.47 Limit on Participation
I.E.1.48 Complaints and Concerns
I.E.1.49 Communications not on Agenda
I.E.1.50 Board’s Response

I.F. POLICY AND BYLAW DEVELOPMENT

I.F.1. Policy and Bylaw Development

I.F.1.01 General
I.F.1.02  Policy Development
I.F.1.03  Policy Adoption
I.F.1.04  Policy Repeal
I.F.1.05  Policy Amendment
I.F.1.06  Administration in Policy Absence
I.F.1.07  Official Policy Manual
I.F.1.08  Harmony with Law

I.G. CHANCELLOR

I.G.1. Chancellor Position

I.G.1.01  Chancellor Serves at Pleasure of Board
I.G.1.02  Notice of Finalists Before Board Action
I.G.1.03  Duties and Authority Before Board Action
I.G.1.04  Emergency Authority in Absence of Normal Board Action
I.G.1.05  Performance Evaluation
I.G.1.06  Objectives and Procedures for Performance Evaluation
I.G.1.07  Chancellor Contract
I.G.1.08  Property Interest
I.G.1.09  Non-renewal
I.G.1.10  Resignation
I.G.1.11  Dismissal
I.G.1.12  Hearing
I.G.1.13  Hearing may be open or closed
I.G.1.14  Hearing Procedures
I.G.1.15  Suspension with Pay Pending Dismissal Hearing
I.G.1.16  Board Decision Final

I.H. FACULTY SENATE

I.H.1. Faculty Senate

I.H.1.01 The Board of Trustees, the Chancellor and Faculty Senate