Governance and Board of Trustees Policy

Table of Contents: Section I - Governance and Board of Trustees

I.A. LEGAL STATUS OF DISTRICT

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.2.01 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 Single-Member Districts 
• 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.3.01 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