Faculty Handbook
Section 2: Florida State University Administrative Structure
- Introduction
- Statewide Structure
- Florida State University Board of Trustees
- University President
- Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
- University Vice Presidents
- Executive Council
- University Council
- University Budget Advisory Committee
- Other University-Wide Committees
- Deans of the Colleges
- Department Chairs
- Institutes and Centers
- FSU Panama City Campus
- The Florida State University-Panama
Introduction
Florida State University is administered through the collaborative efforts of statewide entities, including the Board of Governors of the State University System and the Florida Department of Education, university-based entities, including the FSU Board of Trustees, the University administration, and, within the University, the schools, colleges, departments, centers, and institutes that carry out the University’s educational, research, and public service missions. Each of the two satellite campuses, FSU-Panama City, and FSU-Panama, has a separate administrative process, as well. The powers and duties of each administrative unit may be defined by the Florida Constitution, by Florida statutes or administrative rules, by the FSU Constitution, and by policies established by the University administration, college, or department. The conduct of University business is subject to the open meeting and records requirements of the Florida “Sunshine” laws, set forth in Florida Statutes Section Chapter 286. This chapter provides an overview of FSU’s administrative structure, at the statewide, university, and academic unit levels.
Statewide Structure
The constitutional mandate for Florida public higher education is set out in Article IX of the Florida Constitution. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm? Mode=%0bConstitution&Submenu=3&Tab=statutes#A09. Section 1(a) of Article IX provides that “[a]dequate provision shall be made by law . . . for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of institutions of higher learning.” A single State University System, comprised of all public universities, is constituted by Section 7(b) of Article IX. There are 11 public universities in the state of Florida, comprising the State University System. For more information on the universities in the system, visit the State University System link on the Board of Governors Web site: http://www.flbog.org/aboutsus/universities/.
Each university in the statewide system is subject to the governance structure prescribed in Section 7(b)-(d) of Article IX. The purposes of the governance system, detailed in Section 7(a) of Article IX, are “to achieve excellence through teaching students, advancing research and providing public service for the benefits of Florida’s citizens, their communities and economies.” According to Section 7(d) of Article IX, a Statewide Board of Governors serves as the primary statewide governance and management body for the university system.
The responsibilities of the Statewide Board of Governors are set forth in Section 7(d) of Article IX. The Statewide Board of Governors is charged to “operate, regulate, control, and be fully responsible for the management of the whole university system.”
These responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- defining the distinctive mission of each constituent university and its articulation with free public schools and community colleges,
- ensuring the well-planned coordination and operation of the system, and
- avoiding wasteful duplication of programs.
Section 7(d) of Article IX subjects the Board’s management to the powers of the Legislature to appropriate funds, and the board is required to account for such expenditures as required by law.
The Board of Governors is composed of 17 members, “dedicated to the purposes of the state university system.” Fourteen members are citizen members appointed by the Governor, and confirmed by the Senate. The remaining three members are the Commissioner of Education, the President of the Advisory Council of Faculty Senates and the Chair of the Florida Student Association. http://www.flbog.org/about/board/
Members of the Board of Governors sit for staggered seven-year terms, according to Section 7(d). The Florida Legislature has prescribed the method for staggering the terms of the initial Board of Governors appointees in Florida Statutes Section 1001.70.
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?mode=View%20percent
%2020Statutes&SubMenu=1&App_mode=Display_Statute&Search
_String=1001.70&URL=CH1001/Sec70.HTM
The Florida Constitution also designates a State Board of Education, pursuant to Section 2, Article IX. The State Board of Education is composed of seven members appointed by the Governor for four-year terms, and is charged with supervision of the state ’s system of free public education. The State Board of Education appoints the state Commissioner of Education, and is responsible for aspects of state university oversight. Pursuant to Florida Statutes Section 1001.74 (21), the State Board of Education ratifies the appointment of university presidents.
The State Board of Education also heads the state Department of Education; the Commissioner of Education serves as the Executive Director of the Department of Education.
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?mode=View%20Statutes
&SubMenu=1&App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=20.15&
URL=CH0020/Sec15.HTM
Florida State University Board of Trustees
The Florida Constitution and Florida Statutes mandate that each public university in Florida will be administered by a board of trustees, under the governance of the Statewide Board of Governors. Accordingly, The Florida State University is administered by the Florida State University Board of Trustees. http://trustees.fsu.edu/
The composition of the Board of Trustees is detailed in Section 7(c) of Article IX of the Constitution, and in Florida Statutes Section 1001.71(1). The board is comprised of 13 members, “dedicated to the purposes of the state university system.” Among the 13 members, 11 are “citizen members.” Six of the citizen members are appointed by the governor, and five citizen members are appointed by the board of governors. All 11 appointed citizen members are confirmed by the state senate, and serve staggered terms of five years. Two of the 13 members are appointed from the university community.
The President of the Faculty Senate serves as one such member, and the President of the Student Body of the University serves as the other. http://trustees.fsu.edu/org/index.html?trustees
Citizen members of the Board of Trustees serve staggered terms of five years. The Florida Legislature has established a method for staggering the terms of the initial appointees to the Board, in Florida Statutes Section 1001.71(1). Board members receive no compensation for their service, but may receive reimbursements for travel and per diem expenses.
The University President serves as the corporate secretary of the Board of Trustees, pursuant to Florida Statutes Section 1001.75, and is responsible to the Board of Trustees for all operations of the university and for setting the agenda for board meetings in consultation with the chair.
The board’s powers and duties are defined by Florida statute and by the Statewide Board of Governors. The powers and duties of the board, as prescribed by the Florida Legislature, are set out in Florida Statutes Section 1001.74. The board is responsible for making cost-effective policy decisions appropriate to the University’s mission, the implementation of high-quality education programs, measurement of performance, and information reporting. The board’s operating procedures, ethics statement, and committee structure, as well as its meeting schedule and agendas, are available through the Board of Trustees’ Web site: http://trustees.fsu.edu/.
University President
The President of The Florida State University serves as the chief executive officer of the University, and is responsible for the operation and administration of the University. The President is selected by recommendation of the board of trustees, ratified by the State Board of Education, as detailed in Florida Statutes Section 1001.74 (21).
The Florida Legislature has defined the powers and duties of the President’s office, in Florida Statutes Section 1001.75. The President is responsible for, among other things, preparing budget requests, establishing personnel policies, governing admissions, approving and administering contracts, administering the university’s program of intercollegiate athletics, recommending degree programs, recommending a schedule of tuition and fees, and organizing the University to efficiently and effectively achieve the goals of the University.
The Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration, the Vice President for Student Affairs, and the Vice President for University Relations report directly to the President. Other offices reporting directly to the President include the Office of the General Counsel, the Office of Audit Services, and the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Office of the Provost and
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
The Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs is the chief academic officer and second ranking officer of the University, acting for the President in the President’s absence. The Provost/Executive Vice President supervises the allocation of resources in academic areas, leads the development and improvement of research activities, evaluates university academic activity, and fosters improvement in teaching and student support. The Provost also serves as Director of the Institute for Academic Leadership, a State University System of Florida program for new academic administrators.
Working directly with the Office of the Provost, the Dean of the Faculties and Deputy Provost serves faculty members by implementing academic policies, helping to resolve issues raised by individual faculty and faculty administrators, administering Human Resources activities related to the University Faculty, coordinating the tenure and promotion process, implementing the Academic Honor Policy, designing new faculty orientation, and facilitating the operation of the Faculty Governance System at The Florida State University. The Office of the Dean of the Faculties also includes the Office of Faculty Recognition which facilitates faculty application and nomination for awards, maintains a current list of faculty awards earned, and coordinates publicity for newly bestowed professional awards and memberships. As Deputy Provost, the Dean of the Faculties carries out the responsibilities of the Provost as Vice President for Academic Affairs in the absence of the Provost. http://dof.fsu.edu/forms/FSUConstitution.pdf The Dean of the Faculties also serves as a member of the University Executive Council, the University Budget Advisory Committee, and the University Council. http://dof.fsu.edu/
The Dean of The Graduate School heads The Graduate School. The Office provides assistance to graduate students in academic matters; offers advice on university-wide degree requirements; works with the Faculty Senate Graduate Policy Committee regarding approval and review of graduate degree programs; approves thesis and dissertation formats, and gives information about the availability of University level assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships. The Graduate School administers the interdisciplinary graduate program in Materials Science. http://gradstudies.fsu.edu/
The Dean of Undergraduate Studies also works directly with the Office of the Provost, and leads the Division of Undergraduate Studies. The Division works to assure that each undergraduate student at The Florida State University receives a strong educational foundation on which to build a successful academic program of studies. The Division supervises and monitors a number of state-wide and university-wide degree requirements; serves as the Academic Dean for most first and second-year students (except BFA and Music students, who are admitted directly into their degree-granting programs); coordinates advising for lower-division students in all non-BFA/Music programs; and sponsors and directs programs designed to promote retention and academic excellence. http://undergrad.fsu.edu/
The Vice President for Research, the Vice President for Planning and Programs, and the Deans of the Colleges of the University also report directly to the Office of the Provost.
Other offices reporting directly to the Office of the Provost include the Office of Admissions, Office of the Registrar, and the Office of Financial Aid.
University Vice Presidents
The Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration heads the Division of Finance and Administration, composed of 20 units, including: Administrative Services, Human Resources, Data and Financial Services, Employee Services, Facilities and Planning, Parking Services, Environmental Health and Safety, Insurance, and Technological Services. The FSU Police Department is a fully accredited law enforcement agency whose goal is to provide the University and surrounding community with a safe environment conducive to the goals of education and research. (See http://www.police.fsu.edu/ and http://www.vpfa.fsu.edu/.)
The Vice President for Planning and Programs is responsible for all accreditation activities and Academic & Professional Program Services, the Center for Professional Development, International Programs, the University Libraries, and the FSU Panama City Campus. In addition, the Vice President acts as university liaison to the National Research Council and coordinates Quality Enhancement Reviews. http://provost.fsu.edu/vppp/
The Vice President for Research leads the Office of Research/Division of Sponsored Research, providing assistance to University faculty seeking information and assistance in applying for or managing a grant or contract with an outside agency. Among many other services, the office advises faculty of resources available to identify agency funding sources, advises faculty of funding agency requirements for proposal submission, reviews and approves proposals for extramural funding, administers awards on behalf of FSU, and builds collaborative research partnerships. The Office of Research also oversees the Council on Research and Creativity and the Institutional Review Board (commonly known as the “Human Subjects Committee”). http://www.research.fsu.edu/
The Vice President for Student Affairs heads the Division of Student Affairs and administers Division personnel actions, budgeting, technology integration, foundation and development activities, student affairs research and other special topics. The Division of Student Affairs collaborates with students, faculty, and staff to create welcoming, supportive and challenging environments that maximize opportunities for student learning and success. The Division facilitates student development, and promotes civic and global responsibility. The Division of Student Affairs oversees the Center for Civic Education and Service, the International Student Center, University Housing, Health and Counseling services, Oglesby Union, and the Career Center. http://studentaffairs.fsu.edu/
The Vice President for University Relations oversees the Office of University Relations. The Office advances university development goals, fosters governmental relationships, and supervises the FSU Foundation. The office also has responsibility for alumni affairs, university communications and community support, and the activities of the Seminole Boosters. http://unirel.fsu.edu/
Executive Council
The Executive Council is composed of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of the Faculties and Deputy Provost, Vice President for Finance and Administration, Vice President for Student Affairs, Vice President for Research, Vice President for University Relations, Vice President for Planning and Programs, and the President of the Faculty Senate. The Director of Budget and Analysis is an ex officio, non-voting member. The Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs chairs the Council, and the Vice President for Finance and Administration is its Vice Chairperson. The Council serves as the internal operations committee guiding the day-to-day activities of the University along policy directions established by the President.
The University Council is composed of the President, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of the Faculties and Deputy Provost, Vice President for Finance and Administration, Vice President for Student Affairs, Vice President for Research, Vice President for University Relations, Vice President for Planning and Programs, Director of Budget and Analysis, Assistant to the President for Human Resources, Assistant to the President for Contract Administration, Executive Assistant to the President, University General Counsel, Director of Internal Auditing, Assistant to the President for University Relations, President of the Faculty Senate, Chairperson of the Faculty Senate Budget Advisory Committee, and President of the Student Body. The Council meets at a time scheduled by the President, who serves as chair, to discuss matters relating to University-wide concerns.
University Budget Advisory Committee
The University Budget Advisory Committee is composed of the President (Chairperson), Provost and Vice President for Academic affairs (Vice Chairperson), Dean of the Faculties and Deputy Provost, Vice President for Finance and Administration, Vice President for Student Affairs, Vice President for Research, Vice President for University Relations, Vice President for Planning and Programs, the President of the Faculty Senate, the Chairperson of the Faculty Senate Budget Advisory Committee, and three Faculty Members appointed by the President from a list provided by the Faculty Senate Steering Committee for staggered three-year terms. The Director of Budget and Analysis is an ex officio, non-voting member. The Committee advises and consults with the President on budgetary matters pertaining to the implementation of the institution's mission and priorities; serves as the official group within the University having knowledge and information about University- wide budget planning, allocation, and management; discusses and establishes budgetary policies and procedure for fulfilling the university's priorities; advises and consults with the President on the annual budget allocations for the major divisions of the University presided over by the vice presidents and reviews expenditures in relation to allocations for the divisions; and advises and consults on budgetary amendments and reserve allocations affecting major divisions.
Other University-Wide Committees
The current list of other University-Wide Committees can be found at http://dof.fsu.edu.
Deans of the Colleges
The Deans of the Colleges serve as the administrative heads of the 16 Colleges, advancing the University’s academic mission. The Dean of each College is responsible for working with the Foundation to develop opportunities to enhance academic programs through private donations; administering the unit’s academic programs and policies pertaining to admissions, and determining requirements for majors, requirements for graduation, and the nature, content and scheduling of courses. The Deans report to the Provost and Executive Vice President. The Deans meet and work together regularly as members of the Council of Deans. Each College has bylaws, copies of which are on file with the Office of the Dean of the Faculties. http://www.fsu.edu/departments/
Department Chairs
Each of the Departments of the Colleges is headed by a Department Chair (for some Colleges, by a Program Director), and each program by a Program Director. Chairs or Coordinators report to Deans and serve at the pleasure of Deans and the President of the University. Units are expected to have written procedures for consultation of faculty in the unit prior to appointment of their Chair or Coordinator. Also, see Faculty Governance section. http://www.fsu.edu/departments/
Institutes and Centers
Institutes and centers are university entities established to coordinate research, service, and/or educational activities that supplement and extend existing instruction, research, and service at the universities. Institutes and centers are classified either as State of Florida institutes or centers, or as university institutes or centers. State of Florida institutes and centers have statewide missions, include two or more state universities, and are approved by the Florida Board of Governors. University institutes and centers are established by FSU, pursuant to university guidelines, as approved by the University President or Provost. http://www.fsu.edu/departments/
FSU Panama City Campus
FSU Panama City offers upper-division classes for students who have fulfilled their first two years of course work at community and junior colleges. The FSU Panama City campus serves seven counties in northwest Florida, including Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties. The Dean of the Panama City campus reports to the Vice President for Planning and Programs. http://www.pc.fsu.edu/
The Florida State University-Panama
The Florida State University-Panama is located on the Pacific shore of the Panama Canal, and is affiliated with Panama’s City of Knowledge. FSU-Panama awards Associate’s degrees and Bachelor’s degrees in the areas of Computer Science, Environmental Studies, Information Studies, International Affairs, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, and Social Sciences.