Who Gets to Decide?

From new academic courses to the annual budget to changes in the handbook, who gets to decide the issues at Guilford College? Oftentimes more than one decision-making layer is involved. With campus-wide input, a task group assembled a list of important issues that are decided on a regular basis and references to the decision-maker(s). What should be emphasized is that many decisions outside the classroom are made after wide consultation, and, in line with Quaker principles, gaining the "sense of the meeting" and reaching consensus.

The final decision-maker is listed at the end of the right column in bold. Two general principles are (a) many decisions are finally made by the President or the Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the President and (b) even when the final decision is made by someone else, the decision can still be overturned by the President and/or Board of Trustees who retain the ultimate authority at Guilford College in line with our articles of incorporation and bylaws. A college organizational chart is available for reference.

Do you have questions about any of the entries? Do you want clarity for a decision process affecting the campus broadly? Should we add it to the list, accompanied by an accurate reference to the appropriate decision-maker(s)? If so, e-mail Ty Buckner at rbuckner@guilford.edu.

To search for a keyword or phrase, press 'Ctrl F'

Decision On
 Decision Making
(last person, office or board listed makes the decision)
Academic Policies
 Associate Academic Dean, VP and Academic Dean, Faculty
Academic Policy (Issues of Plagiarism and Other Cheating)
 Instructor, Associate Academic Dean, VP and Academic Dean, Faculty
Refers cases to the judicial board if they cannot be resolved by Academic Dean's Office.

Academic Standards
 VP and Academic Dean, Faculty
In practice, academic departments set their own standards.

Admission of Students
 Office of Admission (traditional); Center for Continuing Education (adults)
Alumni Board Membership
 Alumni Board Nominating Committee, Alumni Relations, VP for Advancement, Alumni Board
Athletes, Recruitment of
 Coach, Athletic Director, VP for Enrollment and Campus Life
Former athletes could play a key role.

Athletic Facilities (Renovation, Construction, etc.)
 Coach, Athletic Director, VP/Deans, President, Board of Trustees
Athletic Rosters
 Coach
Athletic Scheduling
 Coach, Athletic Director
Board of Trustees Membership
 Trusteeship and Governance Committee, President, Board of Trustees
Board of Visitors Membership
 Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, Board of Visitors membership, Board of Visitors Governance Board
Bryan Lecture Series
 Office of Communications and Marketing, President, Donor
Budget
 Department Heads, Budget Committee, President, Board of Trustees
Calendar, Academic
 Registrar, VP and Academic Dean, VP/Deans, President
Campus Buildings and Grounds, Expenditures
 Facilities, VP/Deans, President, Board of Trustees
Capital Campaign, Next
 VP/Deans, President, Board of Trustees
Catalog, College
 Registrar, VP and Academic Dean
Registrar's Office ultimately decides based on Curriculum Committee decisions and other policy passed by faculty.

Class Schedules
 Individual Academic Departments, Registrar, VP and Academic Dean
Class schedules originate in individual departments, fine-tuned by Registrar and Academic Dean.

Classroom and Office Assignments
 Registrar, VP and Academic Dean
Classrooms assigned by Registrar; offices assigned by Academic Dean.

Commencement Speaker (Invited)
 College Community, Convocation and Celebrations Committee, President
Construction, Real Estate
 VP/Deans, President, Board of Trustees
Convocation, Fall
 Convocation and Celebrations Committee, VP and Academic Dean, President
Crisis, Student
 Faculty and Staff, Department Heads in Enrollment and Campus Life
Psychological emergencies, death in a student's family, etc.

Curriculum
 Curriculum Committee, Faculty
The President and the Board of Trustees can overrule, but Board has delegated authority to faculty.

Disability Disclosure
 Disabilities Services Coordinator
Compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act, Clery Act, FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)

Dismissal of Students, Academic
 Faculty, Department Heads and Associate Academic Dean, VP and Academic Dean
Judicial dismissals are handled through Campus Life Office.

Donor Prospects
 Director of Prospect Management, VP for Advancement
Endowment Policies (Spending, Investment)
 Budget Committee, President, Board of Trustees
Enrollment Process and Requirements
 Admission Committee, Office of Enrollment (traditional); CCE Dean's Office (adults)
Events, Conference and other Special
 Director of Conference and Events, Director of Facilities and Campus Services
Family Weekend
 Department Heads in Enrollment and Campus Life, VP for Enrollment and Campus Life, President
Oversight of college's major ceremonies.

Financial Aid Application Process and Requirements
 Director of Financial Aid, Associate Dean for Enrollment, VP for Enrollment and Campus Life
Financial Aid, How Much a Student Receives
 Director of Financial Aid, Associate Dean for Enrollment, VP for Enrollment and Campus Life
Availability and eligibility are factors.

Friends Center Speakers and Programs
 Friends Center Director, Friends Center Steering Committee
Funding Needs of College
 President, Board of Trustees
Fundraising Goals
 Department Heads, Budget Committee, President, Board of Trustees
Gifts, Designation of
 Donors
Written documentation should be obtained.

Graduation Requirements
 Faculty, Registrar, Associate Academic Dean, VP and Academic Dean
Process starts with Curriculum Committee, then Clerk's Committee, then faculty. The President and the Board of Trustees can overrule, but Board has delegated authority to faculty.

Grant Approval Process
 Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, VP for Advancement, VP and Academic Dean (faculty grant approval), President
Health Center, Student (Operation of)
 Director of Student Health, Dean for Campus Life
Smooth and legal operation.

Hiring (Firing), Personnel
 Department Heads, Director of Human Resources, President
Homecoming Dates and Plans
 Alumni Relations, VP/Deans, President
Judicial Affairs and Student Discipline
 Associate Dean for Residence Life, Dean for Campus Life, VP for Enrollment and Campus Life
Legal compliance.

Opening of Academic Year
 Faculty, Department Heads, VP and Academic Dean
Readiness of the residence halls, check-in process, arrival of students on campus, etc. -- Campus Life Office.

Promotion & Tenure (Faculty)
 Faculty Affairs Committee, VP and Academic Dean, President, Board of Trustees
Public Safety Enforcement
 Director of Public Safety, Vice President for Finance and Administration
Enforcement of all college policy.

Publications Style and Content
 Office of Communications and Marketing
Quaker Club Fund
 Director of Guilford Fund, VP for Advancement
Quaker Principles, College's
 Friends Center, Friends Center Steering Committee, Quaker Life Committee of the Board of Trustees, Board of Trustees
Recruitment of Students
 Enrollment Staff, VP for Enrollment and Campus Life (traditional): Center for Continuing Education (adults)
Parents, alumni, faculty, staff, etc., could be involved.

Religious Programming, Campus
 Campus Ministry Coordinator, Guilford Council on Religious Organizations
Residence Halls, Operation of
 Resident Assistants, Residential Living Coordinator, Associate Dean for Residence Life, Dean for Campus Life
Smooth operations including crisis management, programming, maintenance of the facility, etc.

Scholarship Availability
 Director of Financial Aid, Associate Dean for Enrollment, VP for Enrollment and Campus Life
Financial Aid Office involved.

Strategic and Long-range Planning
 Strategic and Long-range Planning Committee, President, Board of Trustees
Student Programs
 Coordinator of Student Involvement and Leadership, Associate Dean for Residence Life, Dean for Campus Life
Maintaining a diverse, broad, indepth set of programs for students, student organizations, leadership development of students, etc.

Theme (College), Annual (I.e. Year of the Arts)
 College Community, Convocation and Celebrations Committee, VP/Deans, President
Tuition and Room and Board Charges
 Budget Office, Budget Committee, President, Board of Trustees
Weather-related Closings
 Director of Facilities and Campus Services, Dean for Campus Life, VP and Academic Dean